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 193 - 216 of 11562 verified sightings
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
Observation date: Jul 09, 2021
Submitted by: dbryant562
Region: Montgomery County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 23, 2022
Observation date: Aug 21, 2022
Submitted by: Christine Stanke
Region: Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 22, 2022
Observation date: Aug 18, 2022
Submitted by: Christine Stanke
Region: Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 22, 2022
Observation date: Jun 03, 2022
Submitted by: Colleen K
Region: Robertson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 21, 2022
Observation date: May 05, 2022
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Cumberland County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 21, 2022
Observation date: Jul 03, 2022
Submitted by: Jay Brasher
Region: Lincoln County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 21, 2022
Observation date: Jul 16, 2022
Submitted by: ButterBelle
Region: Putnam County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 21, 2022
Observation date: Aug 19, 2022
Submitted by: Lisahug
Region: Shasta County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 20, 2022
Observation date: Aug 12, 2022
Submitted by: bchensel
Region: Miami County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 18, 2022
Observation date: Aug 13, 2022
Submitted by: Eric Hartshaw
Region: Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 18, 2022
Observation date: Aug 14, 2022
Submitted by: Sue Bocchicchio
Region: Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 18, 2022
Observation date: Apr 21, 2018
Submitted by: Debo Boddiford
Region: Burke County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Aug 13, 2022
Observation date: Aug 10, 2022
Submitted by: Sue Bocchicchio
Region: Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 12, 2022
Observation date: Jul 31, 2022
Submitted by: mtobin11
Region: Cook County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 12, 2022
Observation date: Aug 06, 2022
Submitted by: Lecia Conroy
Region: Warren County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Aug 12, 2022
Observation date: Aug 10, 2022
Submitted by: Christine Stanke
Region: Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 11, 2022
Observation date: Aug 11, 2022
Submitted by: rapids
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 11, 2022
Observation date: Aug 11, 2022
Submitted by: Najwa
Region: Montgomery County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 11, 2022
Observation date: Aug 09, 2022
Submitted by: Christine Stanke
Region: Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 10, 2022
Observation date: Aug 09, 2022
Submitted by: lorettaannlynn
Region: Adams County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 10, 2022
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