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.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 145 - 168 of 1997 verified sightings
Observation date: Nov 04, 2021
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Nov 07, 2021
Observation date: Sep 20, 2017
Submitted by: Daniel Taylor
Region: Worcester County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 06, 2021
Observation date: Sep 07, 2018
Submitted by: jwilkinson
Region: Howard County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 04, 2021
Observation date: Sep 22, 2018
Submitted by: Mfmassimini
Region: Baltimore County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 04, 2021
Observation date: Oct 18, 2018
Submitted by: jwilkinson
Region: Howard County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 04, 2021
Observation date: Nov 01, 2021
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Charleston County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Nov 03, 2021
Observation date: Jul 28, 2018
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Alachua County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 29, 2021
Observation date: Oct 23, 2021
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 29, 2021
Observation date: Oct 21, 2021
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 29, 2021
Observation date: Oct 27, 2021
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 29, 2021
Observation date: Oct 27, 2021
Submitted by: MichelleM
Region: Barrow County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Oct 29, 2021
Observation date: Oct 19, 2021
Submitted by: RobinR
Region: Chatham County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Oct 23, 2021
Observation date: Oct 18, 2021
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 19, 2021
Observation date: Oct 17, 2021
Submitted by: Stan C
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 18, 2021
Observation date: Oct 15, 2021
Submitted by: llmclean4691
Region: Anson County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Oct 17, 2021
Observation date: Oct 10, 2021
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Charleston County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Oct 17, 2021
Observation date: Oct 03, 2021
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Charleston County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Oct 17, 2021
Observation date: Oct 15, 2021
Submitted by: NaturallyWade
Region: Richmond County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Oct 16, 2021
Observation date: Oct 02, 2021
Submitted by: Debo Boddiford
Region: Jenkins County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Oct 10, 2021
Observation date: Oct 23, 2016
Submitted by: Wanda Smith
Region: Texas, San Jacinto County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 09, 2021
Observation date: Sep 23, 2021
Submitted by: Jeff Trahan
Region: Bossier Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 08, 2021
Observation date: Oct 07, 2021
Submitted by: DANIEAMAN
Region: Charleston County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Oct 08, 2021
Observation date: Sep 25, 2021
Submitted by: Tommie Rogers
Region: Clay County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 07, 2021
Observation date: Oct 05, 2021
Submitted by: twofried
Region: Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 06, 2021
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