Eastern Tailed-Blue
Cupido comyntas (Godart, [1824])
Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Polyommatinae
Identification: One narrow tail on hindwing. Upperside of male iridescent blue; summer females uniformly brown, spring females smaller with much blue at the wing bases. Underside of hindwing pale gray with black bar at end of cell, distinct black spots, and three large orange spots at outer margin near tail.
Wing Span: 7/8 - 1 1/8 inches (2.2 - 2.9 cm).
Life History: Males patrol near the host plants during daylight hours. Females lay eggs on flower buds; caterpillars eat buds, flowers, and seeds. The caterpillar hibernates, pupating the following spring. Although most Lycaenids do not perch with open wings, Eastern Tailed-Blues sometimes bask with their wings at a 45 angle.
Flight: Three broods from April-November in the north, many broods from February-November in the south.
Caterpillar Hosts: Many plants in the pea family including yellow sweet clover (Melilotus officinalis), alfalfa (Medicago sativa); various species of vetch (Vicia), clover (Trifolium), wild pea (Lathyrus), and bush clover (Lespedeza); and others.
Adult Food: This butterfly has a low flight and a short proboscis, thus is found at flowers close to the ground which are open or short-tubed. These include white sweet clover, shepherd's needle, wild strawberry, winter cress, cinquefoils, asters, and others.
Habitat: Many open, sunny places including weedy areas and disturbed habitats.
Range: Southeast Canada and Eastern United States west to western North Dakota, central Colorado, and central Texas. Also ranges from southeastern Arizona, western New Mexico, and west Texas south to Costa Rica.
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: None reported.
Alternate Scientific Names:
Everes comyntas
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 97 - 120 of 11558 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 18, 2023
Submitted by: Eric Hartshaw
Region: Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 20, 2023
Observation date: May 03, 2023
Submitted by: Rick Sinnott
Region: Davidson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 19, 2023
Observation date: Aug 12, 2023
Submitted by: pgrew1@unl.edu
Region: Penobscot County, Maine, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 15, 2023
Observation date: Aug 09, 2023
Submitted by: Sue Bocchicchio
Region: Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 14, 2023
Observation date: Aug 14, 2023
Submitted by: PACOD3
Region: Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 14, 2023
Observation date: Aug 05, 2023
Submitted by: Martin Neil UK
Region: Lauderdale County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 10, 2023
Observation date: Aug 02, 2023
Submitted by: ian pepper
Region: Essex County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 04, 2023
Observation date: Jul 29, 2023
Submitted by: vogelbild
Region: DuPage County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 29, 2023
Observation date: Jul 24, 2023
Submitted by: Tom Uslan
Region: Yolo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 25, 2023
Observation date: Jun 30, 2023
Submitted by: hasfitz5
Region: Tehama County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 16, 2023
Observation date: Jul 05, 2023
Submitted by: Sheryl Johnson
Region: Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 16, 2023
Observation date: Jul 11, 2023
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Franklin County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 14, 2023
Observation date: Jul 06, 2023
Submitted by: Sue Bocchicchio
Region: Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 10, 2023
Observation date: Jul 09, 2023
Submitted by: Dobber31
Region: Benton County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jul 09, 2023
Observation date: May 26, 2023
Submitted by: commentator
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 05, 2023
Observation date: Jul 02, 2023
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 04, 2023
Observation date: Jul 01, 2023
Submitted by: ian pepper
Region: Essex County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 02, 2023
Observation date: Jun 29, 2023
Submitted by: Eric Hartshaw
Region: Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jun 30, 2023
Observation date: Jun 27, 2023
Submitted by: dlister
Region: Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jun 27, 2023
Observation date: Jun 23, 2023
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Douglas County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 24, 2023
Observation date: Jun 18, 2023
Submitted by: bekkfree
Region: Cowley County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 19, 2023
Observation date: May 25, 2023
Submitted by: snakeowl
Region: Searcy County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jun 19, 2023
Observation date: Jun 04, 2023
Submitted by: falco1
Region: Sacramento County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 18, 2023
Observation date: Jun 04, 2023
Submitted by: falco1
Region: Sacramento County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 18, 2023
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