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 313 - 336 of 2030 verified sightings
Observation date: Sep 06, 2020
Submitted by: AshNota
Region: Washington County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 11, 2020
Observation date: Sep 07, 2020
Submitted by: tstoddard
Region: York County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Sep 08, 2020
Observation date: Sep 07, 2020
Submitted by: Mapper
Region: Johnson County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 07, 2020
Observation date: Sep 03, 2020
Submitted by: Grismo
Region: Carroll County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Sep 04, 2020
Observation date: Aug 31, 2020
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Charleston County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Sep 04, 2020
Observation date: Aug 13, 2020
Submitted by: psweet
Region: Lake County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 31, 2020
Observation date: Aug 29, 2020
Submitted by: tomnix
Region: Tompkins County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Aug 30, 2020
Observation date: Aug 28, 2020
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Charleston County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Aug 29, 2020
Observation date: Aug 23, 2020
Submitted by: Geniveve
Region: Greenville County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Aug 25, 2020
Observation date: Aug 17, 2020
Submitted by: Debo Boddiford
Region: Chatham County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Aug 24, 2020
Observation date: Aug 19, 2020
Submitted by: 210_LJH
Region: Davidson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Aug 22, 2020
Observation date: Aug 20, 2020
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Charleston County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Aug 21, 2020
Observation date: Aug 19, 2020
Submitted by: Charleine
Region: Georgia, Walton County, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Aug 20, 2020
Observation date: Aug 19, 2020
Submitted by: Dallasyork97
Region: Chattooga County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Aug 20, 2020
Observation date: Aug 18, 2020
Submitted by: ndrulard
Region: Cobb County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Aug 19, 2020
Observation date: Aug 17, 2020
Submitted by: therapypetz
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 18, 2020
Observation date: Aug 17, 2020
Submitted by: Dallasyork97
Region: Georgia, Walker County, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Aug 18, 2020
Observation date: Aug 15, 2020
Submitted by: Wendelin
Region: Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Aug 18, 2020
Observation date: Aug 16, 2020
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Charleston County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Aug 17, 2020
Observation date: Aug 10, 2020
Submitted by: Becky Cover
Region: Rockdale County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Aug 13, 2020
Observation date: Aug 03, 2020
Submitted by: Hollikay001
Region: Clay County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 11, 2020
Observation date: Aug 09, 2020
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Charleston County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Aug 10, 2020
Observation date: Aug 04, 2020
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Charleston County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Aug 05, 2020
Observation date: Aug 01, 2020
Submitted by: KShell
Region: Dixie County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 04, 2020
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