Spread-winged Skippers: Long-tailed Skipper
Urbanus proteus

Long-tailed Skipper Sightings
Size: Wingspan ranges from 1.75" - 2.94"
Habitat: Fields & gardens
Occurrence Level: Rare wanderer
Flight Period: August to October
Larval Host Plant: Hog peanut, other climbing legumes

Click on any photo to enlarge

Long-tailed Skipper
Monroe County, FL. November 24, 2012

The Long-tailed Skipper has a beautiful blue-green iridescence on it body and wing bases and of course, it has a wonderfully long tail.


Long-tailed Skipper
St. Mary's County, MD. October 9, 2015

2015 is turning out to be another good year for the Long-tailed Skipper in Maryland.


Long-tailed Skipper
St. Mary's County, MD. October 9, 2015

Staring contest


Long-tailed Skipper
St. Mary's County, MD. October 9, 2015

It's not uncommon for the Long-tailed Skipper to show up with part of its tail missing. This particular butterfly was missing most of it.


Long-tailed Skipper
Howard County, MD. August 14, 2012

In 2012, several counties were fortunate to receive visits from these rare wanderers to the State. Sweet Pea provided an irrestible draw!


Long-tailed Skipper
Howard County, MD. August 14, 2012

I always thought the tail would droop in this position. In turns out that the Long-Tailed Skipper has a very strong wing vein down the center.


Long-tailed Skipper
Howard County, MD. August 14, 2012

The ventral hindwing has a continuous dark brown outer band.


Long-tailed Skipper
Anne Arundel County, MD. October 21, 2012