Spread-winged Skippers: Long-tailed Skipper Urbanus proteus

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
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.
2015 is turning out to be another good year for the Long-tailed Skipper in Maryland.
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.
In 2012, several counties were fortunate to receive visits from these rare wanderers to the State. Sweet Pea provided an irrestible draw!
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.