The Long-tailed Skipper is a small, short-winged butterfly found throughout parts of North and South America. It is easily recognized by its large head and prominent dark eyes. Like other skippers, it is considered by biologists to fall somewhere between butterflies and moths.

When the wings are open, the long tails are visible. The dorsal side is brownish black, while the wing bases shimmer with an iridescent bluish green. Males have a distinctive fold along the leading edge of the forewings, a feature absent in females. The underside of each hindwing shows a dark row of spots that together form a continuous band. With wings closed, the overall color scheme remains the same, minus the bluish green iridescence.

 

“Long-tailed Skipper” by John Flannery, licensed under (CC BY-ND 2.0)

 

Long-tailed Skipper Facts

Butterfly Family: Skipper (Hesperiidae)

Butterfly Subfamily: Pyrginae

Butterfly Wingspan: 1 3/4 – 2 5/16 inches

Butterfly Habitat: Brushy fields, edges of woods, gardens, and other disturbed open habitats

 

🪴 Host Plants

These are the plants where females lay eggs and caterpillars feed:

• Beggar’s-ticks (Desmodium spp.)

• Eastern Milkpea (Galactia regularis)

• Hog Peanut (Amphicarpaea bracteata)

• Spurred Butterfly Pea (Centrosema virginianum)

• Thicket Bean (Phaseolus polystachios)

• Wild Bean (Strophostyles spp.)

 

🌸 Nectar Plants

Adult Long-tailed Skippers feed on nectar from the following native flowers:

• Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)

• Ironweed (Vernonia spp.)

• Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium spp.)

• Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)

• Spurred Butterfly Pea (Centrosema virginianum)

• Thistles (Cirsium spp.)

• Vervain (Verbena spp.)