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 337 - 360 of 2030 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 27, 2020
Submitted by: Bluefox122
Region: South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Aug 03, 2020
Observation date: Jul 26, 2020
Submitted by: GinaT
Region: Hillsborough County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 28, 2020
Observation date: Jul 11, 2020
Submitted by: schaarschmidt
Region: Hamilton County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Jul 25, 2020
Observation date: Jul 18, 2020
Submitted by: Tommie Rogers
Region: Georgia, Walker County, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Jul 22, 2020
Observation date: Jul 19, 2020
Submitted by: Mlcombs
Region: Gwinnett County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Jul 20, 2020
Observation date: Jul 14, 2020
Submitted by: Jess D
Region: Paulding County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Jul 15, 2020
Observation date: Jul 12, 2020
Submitted by: pegreinhart
Region: St. Johns County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 12, 2020
Observation date: Jul 07, 2020
Submitted by: Diane R Halpin
Region: Marion County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 07, 2020
Observation date: Jun 14, 2020
Submitted by: loyallonghorn
Region: Fort Bend County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jun 26, 2020
Observation date: Jun 20, 2020
Submitted by: farmgirl478
Region: Hancock County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Jun 21, 2020
Observation date: Oct 06, 2018
Submitted by: schaarschmidt
Region: Hamilton County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Jun 18, 2020
Observation date: Jun 17, 2020
Submitted by: Diane R Halpin
Region: Marion County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 17, 2020
Observation date: Oct 25, 2019
Submitted by: alexakurowski
Region: Sarasota County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 10, 2020
Observation date: Sep 10, 2016
Submitted by: mouser
Region: Orange County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 27, 2020
Observation date: May 09, 2020
Submitted by: therapypetz
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 11, 2020
Observation date: Sep 18, 2019
Submitted by: Palmiera
Region: Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Apr 24, 2020
Observation date: Apr 08, 2020
Submitted by: Diane R Halpin
Region: Marion County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 08, 2020
Observation date: Jan 29, 2016
Submitted by: dbrookens
Region: Martin County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 29, 2020
Observation date: Jan 12, 2017
Submitted by: dbrookens
Region: St. Lucie County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 29, 2020
Observation date: Mar 21, 2020
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Berkeley County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Mar 23, 2020
Observation date: Feb 11, 2020
Submitted by: andrewkearns
Region: Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Feb 11, 2020
Observation date: Jan 16, 2020
Submitted by: TomObrock
Region: Leon County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 18, 2020
Observation date: Oct 28, 2019
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Escambia County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 06, 2020
Observation date: Dec 22, 2019
Submitted by: Tindomul1of9
Region: St. Lucie County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 06, 2020
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