Species Insects & ArthropodsLong-tailed Skipper

Long-tailed Skipper

Urbanus proteus

CommonInsect & Arthropod
Illustration of Long-tailed Skipper (Urbanus proteus)

The Long-tailed Skipper is a large, strikingly beautiful skipper with iridescent blue-green body and wing bases and long, elegant hindwing tails. It is a strong seasonal migrant in the Southeast and can be common in gardens during fall. Larvae are known as bean leaf rollers and can be a minor agricultural pest.

Habitat
Open areas, gardens, weedy fields, and woodland edges
Diet
Larvae: legumes including beans and wisteria. Adults: nectar
How common
Common

Best time to see a Long-tailed Skipper

The best time to see a Long-tailed Skipper is August–October, when about 71% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 22,497 research-grade iNaturalist observations.

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