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Moths are amazing creatures. Take photographs and share your moth sightings with us to document the moths where you live.
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 409 - 432 of 2030 verified sightings
Observation date: Sep 13, 2019
Submitted by: Dixielife74
Region: Lamar County, Mississippi, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 13, 2019
Observation date: Sep 09, 2019
Submitted by: GinaT
Region: Hillsborough County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 13, 2019
Observation date: Sep 24, 2017
Submitted by: Debo Boddiford
Region: Barnwell County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Sep 10, 2019
Observation date: Aug 19, 2019
Submitted by: Jazzejan
Region: Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Sep 09, 2019
Observation date: Sep 04, 2019
Submitted by: bc70124
Region: Orleans Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 05, 2019
Observation date: Sep 01, 2019
Submitted by: bjones7777
Region: Haywood County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Sep 04, 2019
Observation date: Sep 01, 2019
Submitted by: AJ Trently
Region: Haywood County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Sep 04, 2019
Observation date: Aug 24, 2019
Submitted by: Jonathan Clark
Region: Rapides Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 01, 2019
Observation date: Aug 31, 2019
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Georgetown County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Sep 01, 2019
Observation date: Aug 29, 2019
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 31, 2019
Observation date: Aug 30, 2019
Submitted by: GLG
Region: Walton County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 31, 2019
Observation date: Aug 26, 2019
Submitted by: Argyle
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 27, 2019
Observation date: Aug 06, 2019
Submitted by: ezettler
Region: Alachua County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 27, 2019
Observation date: Aug 17, 2019
Submitted by: GinaT
Region: Hillsborough County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 26, 2019
Observation date: Aug 24, 2019
Submitted by: loyallonghorn
Region: Fort Bend County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 25, 2019
Observation date: Aug 22, 2019
Submitted by: lpearce
Region: Madison County, Mississippi, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 24, 2019
Observation date: Aug 19, 2019
Submitted by: Jonathan Clark
Region: Catahoula Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 21, 2019
Observation date: Aug 20, 2019
Submitted by: Brendavent
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 21, 2019
Observation date: Aug 18, 2019
Submitted by: loyallonghorn
Region: Fort Bend County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 18, 2019
Observation date: Nov 13, 2016
Submitted by: TCollins
Region: Texas, Kerr County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 18, 2019
Observation date: Aug 15, 2019
Submitted by: GinaT
Region: Hillsborough County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 17, 2019
Observation date: Aug 12, 2019
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 12, 2019
Observation date: Aug 08, 2019
Submitted by: Joe C Adams
Region: Georgia, White County, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Aug 10, 2019
Observation date: Aug 03, 2019
Submitted by: Joe C Adams
Region: Georgia, White County, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Aug 10, 2019
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