Long-tailed Skipper
Urbanus proteus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Family: Hesperiidae
Subfamily: Pyrginae
Identification: Tails are long. Upperside is dark blackish brown; body and wing bases are iridescent blue-green. Males have a costal fold enclosing scent scales on the leading edge of the forewing. Dark row on underside of hindwing is a complete band.
Wing Span: 1 3/4 - 2 5/16 inches (4.5 - 6 cm).
Life History: Adults roost upside down under leaves and limbs. To seek females, males perch 3-6 feet above the ground in sunlit openings. Females lay eggs under leaves in clusters of up to 20. Caterpillars feed on leaves and live in shelters of rolled leaves.
Flight: Two to three broods throughout the year in south Florida and South Texas.
Caterpillar Hosts: Vine legumes including various beans (Phaseolus), hog peanuts (Amphicarpa bracteata), beggar's ticks (Desmodium), blue peas (Clitoria), and wisteria (Wisteria).
Adult Food: Flower nectar from a variety of plants including bougainvillea, lantana, and shepherd's needle.
Habitat: Brushy fields, edges of woods, gardens, and other disturbed open habitats.
Range: Argentina north through Central America, the West Indies, and Mexico to peninsular Florida and South Texas. Occasionally strays and colonizes north to Connecticut, southern Illinois, eastern Kansas, southern Arizona, and southern California.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: Urbanus proteus caterpillars are sometimes pests on snap beans.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 289 - 312 of 2030 verified sightings
Observation date: Sep 21, 2020
Submitted by: pkondrashov
Region: St. Johns County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 19, 2020
Observation date: Oct 06, 2020
Submitted by: Amy Boimare
Region: Harrison County, Mississippi, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 08, 2020
Observation date: Sep 26, 2020
Submitted by: mcframpus
Region: Dorchester County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Oct 07, 2020
Observation date: Oct 06, 2020
Submitted by: urntonlyone123
Region: Jasper County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Oct 06, 2020
Observation date: Oct 04, 2020
Submitted by: CA Ivy
Region: Adair County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 05, 2020
Observation date: Sep 21, 2020
Submitted by: scvirginia
Region: Charleston County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Oct 05, 2020
Observation date: Sep 26, 2020
Submitted by: mcframpus
Region: Dorchester County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Oct 04, 2020
Observation date: Oct 03, 2020
Submitted by: Michael Weisensee
Region: Hillsborough County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 03, 2020
Observation date: Sep 13, 2020
Submitted by: little coon
Region: Williamsburg County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Oct 02, 2020
Observation date: Sep 06, 2020
Submitted by: Olive C
Region: Gwinnett County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Sep 28, 2020
Observation date: Sep 26, 2020
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Charleston County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Sep 28, 2020
Observation date: Aug 26, 2020
Submitted by: rosacmchenry@sb...
Region: Texas, McLennan County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 27, 2020
Observation date: Sep 24, 2020
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Charleston County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Sep 25, 2020
Observation date: Sep 22, 2020
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Charleston County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Sep 24, 2020
Observation date: Sep 22, 2020
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Charleston County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Sep 24, 2020
Observation date: Sep 23, 2020
Submitted by: Michael Weisensee
Region: Sarasota County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 23, 2020
Observation date: Aug 21, 2020
Submitted by: Thebluerose22
Region: Chilton County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 23, 2020
Observation date: Aug 11, 2020
Submitted by: MrDupuis
Region: Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 20, 2020
Observation date: Sep 18, 2020
Submitted by: Barb Brandt
Region: Fulton County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Sep 19, 2020
Observation date: Sep 13, 2020
Submitted by: Npatrick213
Region: Madison County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Sep 18, 2020
Observation date: Sep 14, 2020
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Charleston County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Sep 17, 2020
Observation date: Sep 11, 2020
Submitted by: Ccampbell
Region: Cobb County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Sep 16, 2020
Observation date: Sep 12, 2020
Submitted by: Debo Boddiford
Region: Candler County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Sep 16, 2020
Observation date: Sep 13, 2020
Submitted by: p_stritch
Region: Berkeley County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Sep 13, 2020
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