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 169 - 192 of 11558 verified sightings
Observation date: Sep 04, 2022
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 06, 2022
Observation date: Sep 05, 2022
Submitted by: billd
Region: Kingfisher County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 06, 2022
Observation date: Sep 05, 2022
Submitted by: billd
Region: Kingfisher County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 06, 2022
Observation date: Sep 01, 2022
Submitted by: Eric Hartshaw
Region: Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Sep 06, 2022
Observation date: Jul 31, 2022
Submitted by: acb22
Region: Houghton County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: elsner
Verified date: Sep 05, 2022
Observation date: Sep 03, 2022
Submitted by: Jennie Lanzendorf
Region: Waushara County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Sep 05, 2022
Observation date: Aug 30, 2022
Submitted by: mtobin11
Region: Lake County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 04, 2022
Observation date: Aug 29, 2022
Submitted by: mtobin11
Region: Lake County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 04, 2022
Observation date: Sep 01, 2022
Submitted by: Christine Stanke
Region: Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Sep 04, 2022
Observation date: Sep 03, 2022
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 04, 2022
Observation date: Sep 02, 2022
Submitted by: ian pepper
Region: Essex County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 03, 2022
Observation date: Aug 19, 2021
Submitted by: Marquy275
Region: Wayne County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 02, 2022
Observation date: Aug 28, 2022
Submitted by: Marquy275
Region: Wayne County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: elsner
Verified date: Sep 01, 2022
Observation date: Jul 23, 2022
Submitted by: mjchilds
Region: Macomb County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: elsner
Verified date: Sep 01, 2022
Observation date: Jul 31, 2022
Submitted by: nc1marm
Region: St. Clair County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: elsner
Verified date: Sep 01, 2022
Observation date: Aug 11, 2022
Submitted by: philsfotos1
Region: Washtenaw County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: elsner
Verified date: Sep 01, 2022
Observation date: Aug 17, 2022
Submitted by: jvkopple2
Region: Kalkaska County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: elsner
Verified date: Sep 01, 2022
Observation date: Aug 31, 2022
Submitted by: Christine Stanke
Region: Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Sep 01, 2022
Observation date: Aug 29, 2022
Submitted by: ian pepper
Region: Essex County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 30, 2022
Observation date: Aug 26, 2022
Submitted by: kristenej
Region: Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 30, 2022
Observation date: Apr 03, 2022
Submitted by: Tommie Rogers
Region: Morgan County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 30, 2022
Observation date: Jul 06, 2022
Submitted by: Kzfisherman
Region: Wexford County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 30, 2022
Observation date: Aug 13, 2020
Submitted by: Jacksenzig
Region: Adams County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 28, 2022
Observation date: Aug 23, 2022
Submitted by: Joceb2005
Region: DuPage County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 28, 2022
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