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 169 - 192 of 2030 verified sightings
Observation date: Sep 22, 2014
Submitted by: KaseyC
Region: Clarke County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jan 20, 2022
Observation date: Aug 27, 2020
Submitted by: K. S. Veitch
Region: Laurel County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jan 01, 2022
Observation date: Dec 15, 2021
Submitted by: paige_b
Region: Texas, Orange County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Dec 30, 2021
Observation date: Sep 19, 2019
Submitted by: woodfox89
Region: Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: Allen B
Verified date: Dec 24, 2021
Observation date: Oct 17, 2021
Submitted by: larryheine@gmail.com
Region: New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Dec 16, 2021
Observation date: Sep 25, 2021
Submitted by: digginflowers
Region: Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Nov 26, 2021
Observation date: Nov 14, 2021
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Nov 19, 2021
Observation date: Sep 08, 2013
Submitted by: dlb1117
Region: Forrest County, Mississippi, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 11, 2021
Observation date: Nov 09, 2021
Submitted by: dlb1117
Region: Forrest County, Mississippi, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 11, 2021
Observation date: Nov 04, 2021
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Nov 07, 2021
Observation date: Sep 20, 2017
Submitted by: Daniel Taylor
Region: Worcester County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 06, 2021
Observation date: Sep 07, 2018
Submitted by: jwilkinson
Region: Howard County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 04, 2021
Observation date: Sep 22, 2018
Submitted by: Mfmassimini
Region: Baltimore County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 04, 2021
Observation date: Oct 18, 2018
Submitted by: jwilkinson
Region: Howard County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 04, 2021
Observation date: Nov 01, 2021
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Charleston County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Nov 03, 2021
Observation date: Jul 28, 2018
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Alachua County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 29, 2021
Observation date: Oct 23, 2021
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 29, 2021
Observation date: Oct 21, 2021
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 29, 2021
Observation date: Oct 27, 2021
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 29, 2021
Observation date: Oct 27, 2021
Submitted by: MichelleM
Region: Barrow County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Oct 29, 2021
Observation date: Oct 19, 2021
Submitted by: RobinR
Region: Chatham County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Oct 23, 2021
Observation date: Oct 18, 2021
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 19, 2021
Observation date: Oct 17, 2021
Submitted by: Stan C
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 18, 2021
Observation date: Oct 15, 2021
Submitted by: llmclean4691
Region: Anson County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Oct 17, 2021
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