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 505 - 528 of 2032 verified sightings
Observation date: Sep 30, 2018
Submitted by: tnjbodker
Region: Cocke County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Oct 04, 2018
Observation date: Sep 26, 2018
Submitted by: GCSnelling
Region: Craighead County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 26, 2018
Observation date: Aug 12, 2018
Submitted by: Niayre
Region: Cobb County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Sep 26, 2018
Observation date: Sep 15, 2018
Submitted by: loyallonghorn
Region: Fort Bend County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 20, 2018
Observation date: Sep 05, 2018
Submitted by: thomass
Region: Orleans Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 18, 2018
Observation date: Sep 05, 2018
Submitted by: thomass
Region: Orleans Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 18, 2018
Observation date: Sep 10, 2018
Submitted by: Cousin Bee
Region: Bay County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 10, 2018
Observation date: Sep 03, 2018
Submitted by: loyallonghorn
Region: Harris County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 03, 2018
Observation date: Sep 03, 2018
Submitted by: loyallonghorn
Region: Harris County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 03, 2018
Observation date: Sep 02, 2018
Submitted by: Papillon
Region: Citrus County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 03, 2018
Observation date: Sep 02, 2018
Submitted by: Sharron.dupree@...
Region: Orleans Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 02, 2018
Observation date: Sep 02, 2018
Submitted by: ZenGardner
Region: Madison County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 02, 2018
Observation date: Sep 02, 2015
Submitted by: Smalltowngirl
Region: Hawkins County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Sep 01, 2018
Observation date: Aug 30, 2018
Submitted by: Sue Gregoire
Region: Schuyler County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Sep 01, 2018
Observation date: Aug 30, 2018
Submitted by: daalmo
Region: Georgetown County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Aug 30, 2018
Observation date: Aug 29, 2018
Submitted by: smccombs66
Region: Jasper County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Aug 30, 2018
Observation date: Aug 29, 2018
Submitted by: loyallonghorn
Region: Fort Bend County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 29, 2018
Observation date: Aug 22, 2018
Submitted by: Papilio
Region: Citrus County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 27, 2018
Observation date: Aug 26, 2018
Submitted by: Papillon
Region: Citrus County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 27, 2018
Observation date: Aug 25, 2018
Submitted by: lawandasmithmobley
Region: Grant Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 25, 2018
Observation date: Aug 25, 2018
Submitted by: Jeff Trahan
Region: Caddo Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 25, 2018
Observation date: Aug 19, 2018
Submitted by: Jeff Trahan
Region: Bossier Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 25, 2018
Observation date: Aug 23, 2018
Submitted by: Lona0378
Region: Assumption Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 24, 2018
Observation date: Aug 22, 2018
Submitted by: AvgJoe
Region: Limestone County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 24, 2018
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