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 121 - 144 of 11558 verified sightings
Observation date: Apr 24, 2023
Submitted by: Ron Miller
Region: Newton County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jun 11, 2023
Observation date: May 08, 2023
Submitted by: Eric Hartshaw
Region: Menifee County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jun 11, 2023
Observation date: Jun 05, 2023
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Cumberland County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 09, 2023
Observation date: Sep 12, 2022
Submitted by: Gary Mitchell
Region: York County, Maine, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 07, 2023
Observation date: Jun 02, 2023
Submitted by: Bob Jacobson
Region: Chippewa County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 03, 2023
Observation date: Apr 17, 2023
Submitted by: hasfitz5
Region: Grant County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 30, 2023
Observation date: May 18, 2023
Submitted by: lfiske
Region: Orange County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: May 19, 2023
Observation date: Apr 26, 2023
Submitted by: davek
Region: Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Apr 27, 2023
Observation date: Mar 21, 2023
Submitted by: IronShikra
Region: Leon County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 23, 2023
Observation date: Apr 19, 2023
Submitted by: Mapper
Region: Pulaski County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Apr 21, 2023
Observation date: Apr 13, 2023
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Cumberland County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Apr 14, 2023
Observation date: Apr 10, 2023
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Franklin County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Apr 11, 2023
Observation date: Dec 03, 2022
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Nayarit, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Feb 26, 2023
Observation date: Nov 28, 2022
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Nayarit, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Feb 26, 2023
Observation date: Dec 03, 2022
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Nayarit, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Feb 26, 2023
Observation date: Dec 03, 2022
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Nayarit, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Feb 26, 2023
Observation date: Nov 28, 2022
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Nayarit, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Feb 25, 2023
Observation date: Jul 09, 2016
Submitted by: Jackey_q
Region: Calvert County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Feb 15, 2023
Observation date: Aug 23, 2022
Submitted by: aarongunnar
Region: Jefferson County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Feb 07, 2023
Observation date: Jun 10, 2020
Submitted by: hockeybruce7
Region: Monroe County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Feb 04, 2023
Observation date: Sep 22, 2016
Submitted by: c4c
Region: United States
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Feb 02, 2023
Observation date: Sep 22, 2016
Submitted by: c4c
Region: Montgomery County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Feb 02, 2023
Observation date: Dec 28, 2022
Submitted by: Rosa Ruperto
Region: Quintana Roo, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Jan 30, 2023
Observation date: Jan 18, 2023
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Jan 18, 2023
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