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 481 - 504 of 2032 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 10, 2018
Submitted by: elopm
Region: Johnson County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Nov 01, 2018
Observation date: Oct 28, 2018
Submitted by: Bert Fontcuberta
Region: St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 28, 2018
Observation date: Oct 26, 2018
Submitted by: katrohrer
Region: Lee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 27, 2018
Observation date: Oct 21, 2018
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Charleston County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Oct 22, 2018
Observation date: Oct 20, 2018
Submitted by: Cardinal52
Region: Duval County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 20, 2018
Observation date: Oct 13, 2018
Submitted by: Stonecarver
Region: Alabama, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 20, 2018
Observation date: Oct 17, 2018
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe (Matthew Campbell)
Region: Anderson County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Oct 19, 2018
Observation date: Sep 17, 2018
Submitted by: Jeff Trahan
Region: Liberty County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 17, 2018
Observation date: Oct 15, 2018
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe (Matthew Campbell)
Region: Abbeville County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Oct 17, 2018
Observation date: Oct 11, 2018
Submitted by: crbmno
Region: Orleans Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 15, 2018
Observation date: Oct 14, 2018
Submitted by: loyallonghorn
Region: Fort Bend County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 15, 2018
Observation date: Oct 13, 2018
Submitted by: Cardinal52
Region: Duval County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 14, 2018
Observation date: Oct 12, 2018
Submitted by: hydapse
Region: Fort Bend County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 13, 2018
Observation date: Sep 19, 2018
Submitted by: Metanoia88
Region: Bay County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 13, 2018
Observation date: Sep 19, 2018
Submitted by: Jeff Trahan
Region: Leon County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 13, 2018
Observation date: Sep 18, 2018
Submitted by: Jeff Trahan
Region: Wakulla County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 13, 2018
Observation date: Oct 12, 2018
Submitted by: TNKSC
Region: Cumberland County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Oct 12, 2018
Observation date: Oct 03, 2018
Submitted by: BLoflin
Region: Georgetown County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Oct 12, 2018
Observation date: Oct 03, 2018
Submitted by: BLoflin
Region: Georgetown County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Oct 10, 2018
Observation date: Sep 30, 2018
Submitted by: HSVGardenGirl
Region: Saline County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 09, 2018
Observation date: Oct 04, 2018
Submitted by: Dstoeckel
Region: Lee County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 08, 2018
Observation date: Sep 27, 2018
Submitted by: katrohrer
Region: Lee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Oct 08, 2018
Observation date: Oct 06, 2018
Submitted by: HHowell
Region: Grainger County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Oct 08, 2018
Observation date: Oct 06, 2018
Submitted by: ButterBelle
Region: Putnam County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Oct 07, 2018
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