Esmeralda Longtail
Urbanus esmeraldus (Butler, 1877)
Family: Hesperiidae
Subfamily: Pyrginae
Identification: Long tails. Upperside is dark blackish brown; body and wing bases are iridescent blue-green. Males have a costal fold enclosing scent scales on the forewing. Dark row on hindwing underside consists of separate spots.
Wing Span: 1 3/8 - 1 5/8 inches (3.5 - 4.2 cm).
Life History: Eggs are laid on young leaves of the host plant, which caterpillars eat.
Flight: Many flights from April-October in Mexico; August in South Texas.
Caterpillar Hosts: Beggar\'s ticks (Desmodium).
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Open subtropical woods and edges.
Range: Brazil and Paraguay north through the tropics to Mexico. A rare stray north to the lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas.
Conservation: Not necessary for a rare stray.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
Comments: NULL
Get your BAMONA Gear!
Please donate!
We depend on donations to keep Butterflies and Moths of North America freely available. We want to express our gratitude to all who showed their support by making a contribution this year. You can donate to support this project at any time.
Advertise with us!
Do you have a product or service that you think would interest BAMONA users? If you would like to advertise on this website, contact us by email, or use the contact form and select the "Advertising" category.
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 verified sightings
Observation date: Oct 12, 2024
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Nov 03, 2024
Observation date: Aug 14, 2024
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Aug 27, 2024
Observation date: Aug 02, 2024
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Aug 08, 2024
Observation date: Jul 11, 2024
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Aug 01, 2024
Observation date: Dec 08, 2023
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: Panamá Province, Panama
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Dec 20, 2023
Observation date: Aug 12, 2022
Submitted by: Rosa Ruperto
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Nov 13, 2022
Observation date: Mar 11, 2015
Submitted by: tom murray
Region: Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 26, 2022
Observation date: Oct 25, 2022
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Oct 25, 2022
Observation date: Jun 13, 2022
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Oct 06, 2022
Observation date: Aug 14, 2020
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Oct 06, 2022
Observation date: Aug 20, 2022
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: Panama
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Sep 14, 2022
Observation date: Oct 05, 2010
Submitted by: Doug Taron
Region: Veracruz-Llave, Mexico
Verified by: Doug Taron
Verified date: Jan 12, 2013
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: BAMONA (Lynn & Gene Monroe)
Region: United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Nuevo Leon, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Tamaulipas, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004