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 145 - 168 of 11558 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 18, 2022
Submitted by: Shane Miller
Region: Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Nov 23, 2022
Observation date: Sep 15, 2022
Submitted by: mathgeek
Region: Jackson County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Nov 14, 2022
Observation date: Aug 03, 2022
Submitted by: commentator
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Oct 26, 2022
Observation date: Oct 21, 2022
Submitted by: Sheilabean
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 21, 2022
Observation date: Apr 02, 2018
Submitted by: Steven Koevoet
Region: Quintana Roo, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 17, 2022
Observation date: Jul 07, 2022
Submitted by: dcharris555
Region: Onondaga County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Oct 17, 2022
Observation date: Oct 01, 2002
Submitted by: Bob Crowley
Region: Oxford County, Maine, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 15, 2022
Observation date: Jan 15, 2020
Submitted by: Geni Certain
Region: Guerrero, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 14, 2022
Observation date: Sep 01, 2022
Submitted by: jwt200
Region: Oktibbeha County, Mississippi, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 13, 2022
Observation date: Dec 14, 2014
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Panama
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 12, 2022
Observation date: Mar 31, 2022
Submitted by: hasfitz5
Region: Quintana Roo, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 11, 2022
Observation date: Jul 12, 2017
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Chiapas, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 11, 2022
Observation date: Jul 22, 2022
Submitted by: jrtindall
Region: Mercer County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: Allen B
Verified date: Oct 03, 2022
Observation date: Sep 16, 2022
Submitted by: kye
Region: Fairfax, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Sep 27, 2022
Observation date: Sep 21, 2022
Submitted by: EddieGarrity
Region: Alexandria, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Sep 27, 2022
Observation date: Sep 18, 2022
Submitted by: ian pepper
Region: Essex County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 25, 2022
Observation date: Sep 14, 2022
Submitted by: Allen B
Region: Fentress County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: Allen B
Verified date: Sep 24, 2022
Observation date: Sep 08, 2018
Submitted by: LonnieMiller
Region: Henry County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 24, 2022
Observation date: Sep 06, 2018
Submitted by: LonnieMiller
Region: Henry County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 24, 2022
Observation date: Sep 18, 2022
Submitted by: davek
Region: Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Sep 23, 2022
Observation date: Sep 18, 2022
Submitted by: James Steen
Region: Harvey County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Sep 18, 2022
Observation date: Sep 08, 2022
Submitted by: Sue Bocchicchio
Region: Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Sep 18, 2022
Observation date: Aug 26, 2020
Submitted by: treys grammy
Region: Benton County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 16, 2022
Observation date: Sep 08, 2022
Submitted by: Eric Hartshaw
Region: Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Sep 14, 2022
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