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 169 - 192 of 2003 verified sightings
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
Observation date: Oct 02, 2021
Submitted by: NurseJane
Region: Cherokee County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Oct 03, 2021
Observation date: Sep 29, 2021
Submitted by: firewoman
Region: Fulton County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Oct 01, 2021
Observation date: Sep 14, 2021
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 29, 2021
Observation date: Sep 02, 2019
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Leon County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 29, 2021
Observation date: Sep 22, 2021
Submitted by: SurfahSistah
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 29, 2021
Observation date: Sep 25, 2021
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 29, 2021
Observation date: Sep 24, 2021
Submitted by: Debo Boddiford
Region: Chatham County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Sep 29, 2021
Observation date: Sep 19, 2021
Submitted by: Jeff Trahan
Region: Caddo Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 24, 2021
Observation date: Sep 21, 2021
Submitted by: Barbara Vogel
Region: Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 21, 2021
Observation date: Sep 14, 2021
Submitted by: J3Photography
Region: Houston County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Sep 16, 2021
Observation date: Sep 11, 2021
Submitted by: dettdetect74
Region: Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Sep 14, 2021
Observation date: Sep 12, 2021
Submitted by: p_stritch
Region: Berkeley County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Sep 12, 2021
Observation date: Sep 08, 2021
Submitted by: LunaFarms
Region: Niagara County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Sep 09, 2021
Observation date: Sep 07, 2021
Submitted by: mellielong
Region: Hillsborough County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 09, 2021
Observation date: Sep 05, 2021
Submitted by: Smiley2130
Region: Franklin County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Sep 06, 2021
Observation date: Aug 14, 2021
Submitted by: Debo Boddiford
Region: Georgia, Screven County, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Aug 20, 2021
Observation date: Aug 14, 2021
Submitted by: Debo Boddiford
Region: Georgia, Screven County, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Aug 20, 2021
Observation date: Aug 08, 2021
Submitted by: CatBarnhardt
Region: Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Aug 09, 2021
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