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 217 - 240 of 2030 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 14, 2021
Submitted by: Debo Boddiford
Region: Georgia, Screven County, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Aug 20, 2021
Observation date: Aug 14, 2021
Submitted by: Debo Boddiford
Region: Georgia, Screven County, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Aug 20, 2021
Observation date: Aug 08, 2021
Submitted by: CatBarnhardt
Region: Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Aug 09, 2021
Observation date: Aug 04, 2021
Submitted by: D Grimes
Region: Brooks County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Aug 07, 2021
Observation date: Jul 12, 2021
Submitted by: LauraSea
Region: Nassau County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 14, 2021
Observation date: Sep 07, 2020
Submitted by: michellelynn1982
Region: Orange County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 11, 2021
Observation date: Jul 04, 2021
Submitted by: LauraSea
Region: Nassau County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 10, 2021
Observation date: Sep 01, 2019
Submitted by: systanfield
Region: Richland County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Jul 07, 2021
Observation date: Sep 10, 2020
Submitted by: asredden
Region: Ascension Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jul 06, 2021
Observation date: Jul 05, 2021
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Charleston County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Jul 06, 2021
Observation date: Jul 03, 2021
Submitted by: KShell
Region: Dixie County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 04, 2021
Observation date: Jun 27, 2021
Submitted by: tirvine2020
Region: Alachua County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 30, 2021
Observation date: Jun 18, 2021
Submitted by: therapypetz
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 22, 2021
Observation date: Aug 11, 2019
Submitted by: Tom Raub
Region: Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jun 20, 2021
Observation date: May 09, 2021
Submitted by: H Hooper
Region: Leon County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 10, 2021
Observation date: Sep 15, 2020
Submitted by: stumped.by.skippers
Region: Providence County, Rhode Island, United States
Verified by: Harry Pavulaan
Verified date: Apr 12, 2021
Observation date: Aug 19, 2019
Submitted by: KShell
Region: Dixie County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 07, 2021
Observation date: Jan 21, 2021
Submitted by: DVL
Region: Lee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 18, 2021
Observation date: Oct 14, 2019
Submitted by: Wade Wander
Region: Sussex County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: Jack Connor
Verified date: Feb 17, 2021
Observation date: Aug 12, 2010
Submitted by: Mark Hutchinson
Region: Hernando County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Feb 04, 2021
Observation date: Jun 27, 2012
Submitted by: Mark Hutchinson
Region: Hernando County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Feb 04, 2021
Observation date: Jan 30, 2021
Submitted by: sdgoebel
Region: Hernando County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Feb 02, 2021
Observation date: Sep 03, 2017
Submitted by: plawryniuk
Region: Newport News, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Jan 09, 2021
Observation date: Sep 12, 2018
Submitted by: plawryniuk
Region: Virginia, York County, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Jan 05, 2021
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