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 361 - 384 of 2030 verified sightings
Observation date: Sep 30, 2019
Submitted by: mathgeek
Region: Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Nov 26, 2019
Observation date: Nov 22, 2019
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Nov 25, 2019
Observation date: Nov 05, 2019
Submitted by: Thomlinson
Region: Jasper County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 09, 2019
Observation date: Nov 07, 2019
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Nov 07, 2019
Observation date: Aug 24, 2016
Submitted by: Debo Boddiford
Region: Allendale County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Nov 03, 2019
Observation date: Oct 23, 2019
Submitted by: AJ Trently
Region: Hardin County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Nov 03, 2019
Observation date: Nov 02, 2019
Submitted by: JoyceSw
Region: Marion County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Nov 02, 2019
Observation date: Oct 18, 2019
Submitted by: Debo Boddiford
Region: Allendale County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Oct 29, 2019
Observation date: Oct 24, 2019
Submitted by: loyallonghorn
Region: Fort Bend County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 27, 2019
Observation date: Oct 24, 2019
Submitted by: alinart
Region: Leon County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 24, 2019
Observation date: Oct 20, 2019
Submitted by: David Allio
Region: Wakulla County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 21, 2019
Observation date: Oct 19, 2019
Submitted by: loyallonghorn
Region: Fort Bend County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 21, 2019
Observation date: Oct 16, 2019
Submitted by: Michael Weisensee
Region: Charlotte County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 16, 2019
Observation date: Oct 15, 2019
Submitted by: petesmall13
Region: Indian River County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Oct 15, 2019
Observation date: Oct 14, 2019
Submitted by: cahill1942
Region: Grayson County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 14, 2019
Observation date: Oct 12, 2019
Submitted by: Michael Weisensee
Region: Sarasota County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 14, 2019
Observation date: Oct 10, 2019
Submitted by: Michael Weisensee
Region: Charlotte County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 13, 2019
Observation date: Oct 10, 2019
Submitted by: Michael Weisensee
Region: Charlotte County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 13, 2019
Observation date: Oct 05, 2019
Submitted by: canunning
Region: Davidson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Oct 10, 2019
Observation date: Oct 06, 2019
Submitted by: creaghzy
Region: Shelby County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Oct 10, 2019
Observation date: Oct 09, 2019
Submitted by: Emergenurse
Region: Warren County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Oct 10, 2019
Observation date: Oct 08, 2019
Submitted by: loyallonghorn
Region: Fort Bend County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 10, 2019
Observation date: Oct 04, 2019
Submitted by: Michael Weisensee
Region: Charlotte County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 04, 2019
Observation date: Oct 04, 2019
Submitted by: Michael Weisensee
Region: Charlotte County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 04, 2019
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