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 385 - 408 of 2030 verified sightings
Observation date: Oct 04, 2019
Submitted by: FLMom
Region: Pinellas County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 04, 2019
Observation date: Aug 10, 2019
Submitted by: rppenland
Region: Loudon County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Oct 04, 2019
Observation date: Jul 14, 2019
Submitted by: StaceyTavarez
Region: Knox County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Oct 04, 2019
Observation date: Oct 04, 2019
Submitted by: ButterBelle
Region: Putnam County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Oct 04, 2019
Observation date: Sep 24, 2019
Submitted by: Lambys
Region: Suffolk County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Oct 03, 2019
Observation date: Oct 02, 2019
Submitted by: steve.hoppin
Region: Scott County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Oct 02, 2019
Observation date: Oct 01, 2019
Submitted by: curtis.lehman
Region: Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Oct 01, 2019
Observation date: Sep 30, 2019
Submitted by: loyallonghorn
Region: Fort Bend County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 01, 2019
Observation date: Sep 30, 2019
Submitted by: TomObrock
Region: Lee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 30, 2019
Observation date: Sep 29, 2019
Submitted by: Michael Weisensee
Region: Sarasota County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 30, 2019
Observation date: Sep 29, 2019
Submitted by: Michael Weisensee
Region: Sarasota County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 30, 2019
Observation date: Sep 28, 2019
Submitted by: Michael Weisensee
Region: Sarasota County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 28, 2019
Observation date: Sep 28, 2019
Submitted by: Michael Weisensee
Region: Sarasota County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 28, 2019
Observation date: Sep 28, 2019
Submitted by: Michael Weisensee
Region: Sarasota County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 28, 2019
Observation date: Sep 19, 2019
Submitted by: sbcsmith-rickboeth
Region: Grundy County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Sep 28, 2019
Observation date: Sep 27, 2019
Submitted by: Michael Weisensee
Region: Charlotte County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 27, 2019
Observation date: Sep 27, 2019
Submitted by: Michael Weisensee
Region: Charlotte County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 27, 2019
Observation date: Sep 27, 2019
Submitted by: Michael Weisensee
Region: Charlotte County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 27, 2019
Observation date: Sep 20, 2019
Submitted by: Michael Weisensee
Region: Charlotte County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 25, 2019
Observation date: Sep 18, 2019
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Charleston County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Sep 20, 2019
Observation date: Sep 18, 2019
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Charleston County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Sep 20, 2019
Observation date: Sep 15, 2019
Submitted by: loyallonghorn
Region: Fort Bend County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 16, 2019
Observation date: Sep 14, 2019
Submitted by: sbcsmith-rickboeth
Region: Grundy County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Sep 14, 2019
Observation date: Sep 08, 2019
Submitted by: loyallonghorn
Region: Fort Bend County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 13, 2019
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