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 1 - 24 of 2025 verified sightings
Observation date: Dec 04, 2025
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Dec 12, 2025
Observation date: Oct 28, 2025
Submitted by: marilynne
Region: Palm Beach County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Nov 02, 2025
Observation date: Nov 01, 2025
Submitted by: Alison Davies
Region: Lexington County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Nov 02, 2025
Observation date: Aug 09, 2025
Submitted by: tnjbodker
Region: Roane County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 24, 2025
Observation date: Aug 23, 2025
Submitted by: Pcasteel
Region: Davidson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 24, 2025
Observation date: Oct 20, 2025
Submitted by: Allison Anderson
Region: Berkeley County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Oct 21, 2025
Observation date: Oct 17, 2025
Submitted by: ReggieGal
Region: Lake County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 20, 2025
Observation date: Oct 14, 2025
Submitted by: Alison Davies
Region: Lexington County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Oct 15, 2025
Observation date: Oct 13, 2025
Submitted by: twofried
Region: Galveston County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 14, 2025
Observation date: Sep 23, 2025
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Sep 30, 2025
Observation date: Sep 17, 2025
Submitted by: tjabour
Region: Palm Beach County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 28, 2025
Observation date: Sep 11, 2025
Submitted by: ReggieGal
Region: Lake County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 13, 2025
Observation date: Sep 12, 2025
Submitted by: Alison Davies
Region: Lexington County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Sep 13, 2025
Observation date: Aug 22, 2025
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Aug 28, 2025
Observation date: Aug 10, 2025
Submitted by: KristyBaker
Region: Cameron County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 17, 2025
Observation date: Aug 12, 2025
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Dare County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Aug 13, 2025
Observation date: Jul 09, 2025
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Aug 08, 2025
Observation date: Jul 23, 2025
Submitted by: caitlynmarie1225
Region: Pasco County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 24, 2025
Observation date: Aug 01, 2024
Submitted by: Team-Chick
Region: Virginia, York County, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 05, 2025
Observation date: Jun 14, 2025
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Jun 25, 2025
Observation date: Feb 18, 2025
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Feb 25, 2025
Observation date: Nov 21, 2024
Submitted by: marilynne
Region: Palm Beach County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Nov 22, 2024
Observation date: Nov 08, 2024
Submitted by: Jovi16
Region: Texas, Travis County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 09, 2024
Observation date: Oct 19, 2024
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Nov 03, 2024
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