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 1987 verified sightings
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
Observation date: Jul 11, 2024
Submitted by: theskyeworld
Region: Bastrop County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 13, 2024
Observation date: Jul 10, 2024
Submitted by: theskyeworld
Region: Bastrop County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 10, 2024
Observation date: Nov 09, 2023
Submitted by: hsmarshall
Region: Orleans Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jun 12, 2024
Observation date: May 06, 2024
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: McIntosh County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Jun 09, 2024
Observation date: Sep 19, 2023
Submitted by: Spunkybart
Region: Richmond, Virginia, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 22, 2024
Observation date: Oct 04, 2023
Submitted by: Diane Lepkowski
Region: Rockingham County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 22, 2024
Observation date: May 16, 2024
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Texas, Nueces County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 17, 2024
Observation date: Apr 27, 2024
Submitted by: dondubois
Region: Hardin County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Apr 30, 2024
Observation date: Sep 28, 2014
Submitted by: Ken Cheeks
Region: Burke County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Mar 26, 2024
Observation date: Feb 17, 2024
Submitted by: Mohr824
Region: DeSoto County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 11, 2024
Observation date: Nov 17, 2023
Submitted by: Mckate
Region: Paulding County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Mar 02, 2024
Observation date: Jan 31, 2024
Submitted by: flutterbly
Region: Sarasota County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Feb 27, 2024
Observation date: Jan 02, 2024
Submitted by: therapypetz
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 02, 2024
Observation date: Nov 18, 2023
Submitted by: Janet Ruth
Region: Jamaica
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Dec 12, 2023
Observation date: Oct 13, 2023
Submitted by: kericson
Region: Alachua County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Nov 06, 2023
Observation date: Oct 10, 2023
Submitted by: Byron Lambert
Region: Cherokee County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 23, 2023
Observation date: Oct 21, 2023
Submitted by: Starfire_
Region: Mississippi, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 23, 2023
- 1 of 83
- next ›