Long-tailed Skipper
Urbanus proteus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Family: Hesperiidae
Subfamily: Pyrginae
Identification: Tails are long. Upperside is dark blackish brown; body and wing bases are iridescent blue-green. Males have a costal fold enclosing scent scales on the leading edge of the forewing. Dark row on underside of hindwing is a complete band.
Wing Span: 1 3/4 - 2 5/16 inches (4.5 - 6 cm).
Life History: Adults roost upside down under leaves and limbs. To seek females, males perch 3-6 feet above the ground in sunlit openings. Females lay eggs under leaves in clusters of up to 20. Caterpillars feed on leaves and live in shelters of rolled leaves.
Flight: Two to three broods throughout the year in south Florida and South Texas.
Caterpillar Hosts: Vine legumes including various beans (Phaseolus), hog peanuts (Amphicarpa bracteata), beggar's ticks (Desmodium), blue peas (Clitoria), and wisteria (Wisteria).
Adult Food: Flower nectar from a variety of plants including bougainvillea, lantana, and shepherd's needle.
Habitat: Brushy fields, edges of woods, gardens, and other disturbed open habitats.
Range: Argentina north through Central America, the West Indies, and Mexico to peninsular Florida and South Texas. Occasionally strays and colonizes north to Connecticut, southern Illinois, eastern Kansas, southern Arizona, and southern California.
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: Urbanus proteus caterpillars are sometimes pests on snap beans.
Get your BAMONA Gear!
Please donate!
We depend on donations to keep Butterflies and Moths of North America freely available. We want to express our gratitude to all who showed their support by making a contribution this year. You can donate to support this project at any time.
Advertise with us!
Do you have a product or service that you think would interest BAMONA users? If you would like to advertise on this website, contact us by email, or use the contact form and select the "Advertising" category.
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 2004 verified sightings
Observation date: Nov 21, 2024
Submitted by: marilynne
Region: Palm Beach County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Nov 22, 2024
Observation date: Nov 08, 2024
Submitted by: Jovi16
Region: Texas, Travis County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 09, 2024
Observation date: Oct 19, 2024
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Nov 03, 2024
Observation date: Oct 20, 2024
Submitted by: BSaylor
Region: Stark County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Nov 01, 2024
Observation date: Oct 24, 2024
Submitted by: Colleen K
Region: Robertson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Oct 24, 2024
Observation date: Oct 08, 2024
Submitted by: Mtmccullagh
Region: Gulf County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 12, 2024
Observation date: Oct 07, 2024
Submitted by: ap_boone89
Region: Madison County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Oct 10, 2024
Observation date: Oct 04, 2024
Submitted by: DLAbbe
Region: Texas, Smith County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 06, 2024
Observation date: Sep 26, 2024
Submitted by: AJ Trently
Region: Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Oct 03, 2024
Observation date: Oct 02, 2024
Submitted by: Cheri Pierce
Region: Hamilton County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Oct 03, 2024
Observation date: Sep 29, 2024
Submitted by: Squindylou334
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 29, 2024
Observation date: Sep 23, 2024
Submitted by: Mapper
Region: Johnson County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 28, 2024
Observation date: Sep 26, 2024
Submitted by: AJ Trently
Region: Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Sep 27, 2024
Observation date: Aug 24, 2024
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Sep 09, 2024
Observation date: Sep 07, 2024
Submitted by: GLG
Region: Okaloosa County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 07, 2024
Observation date: Sep 01, 2024
Submitted by: ian pepper
Region: Essex County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 02, 2024
Observation date: Jul 28, 2024
Submitted by: brettprobert
Region: Cambria County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 26, 2024
Observation date: Aug 18, 2024
Submitted by: Colleen K
Region: Robertson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 20, 2024
Observation date: Aug 14, 2024
Submitted by: ButtahflyEtn37354
Region: Monroe County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 15, 2024
Observation date: Aug 12, 2024
Submitted by: Alison Davies
Region: Lexington County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Aug 13, 2024
Observation date: Dec 23, 2023
Submitted by: dvollmar
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 12, 2024
Observation date: Aug 10, 2024
Submitted by: Team-Chick
Region: Virginia, York County, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 11, 2024
Observation date: Aug 01, 2024
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Aug 08, 2024
Observation date: Jul 22, 2024
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Charleston County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Jul 23, 2024
- 1 of 84
- next ›