About Long-tailed Skipper
A striking skipper with iridescent blue-green body and wing bases and long tail-like projections on the hindwings. It is a strong flier and occasional migrant.
Did You Know?
Known as the bean leaf roller because the caterpillar folds bean leaves into tubular shelters.
How to Identify Long-tailed Skipper
Long-tailed Skipper (Urbanus proteus) belongs to the order Lepidoptera, family Hesperiidae. Adults typically measure 43-55 mm wingspan.
Long-tailed Skipper Habitat
Long-tailed Skipper is found in farmland habitats, particularly across Southern United States through Central and South America. This species has adapted to thrive in its preferred environment, where it can find suitable food sources and shelter.
Long-tailed Skipper Diet and Feeding
Long-tailed Skipper has an omnivorous diet, feeding on both plant and animal matter. This dietary flexibility allows it to exploit a wide range of food sources in its environment.
Where Is Long-tailed Skipper Found?
Long-tailed Skipper can be found in Southern United States through Central and South America, where it inhabits farmland environments. Its distribution is influenced by climate, food availability, and habitat suitability.
Distribution Map
Where Long-tailed Skipper can be found
Is Long-tailed Skipper Dangerous?
Long-tailed Skipper is generally harmless to humans. It does not bite or sting and poses no significant health risk. Like most insects, it prefers to avoid human contact and will typically flee rather than confront a perceived threat.
Long-tailed Skipper Role in Nature
Long-tailed Skipper plays a role in its ecosystem as part of the food web, serving as both consumer and prey. Insects like Long-tailed Skipper are a vital food source for birds, bats, and other wildlife, and contribute to the overall health and balance of their environment.
Seasonal Activity
Frequently Asked Questions About Long-tailed Skipper
What does Long-tailed Skipper look like?
The Long-tailed Skipper typically measures 43-55 mm wingspan.
Where is Long-tailed Skipper found?
The Long-tailed Skipper is found in Southern United States through Central and South America and typically inhabits farmland environments.
What does Long-tailed Skipper eat?
The Long-tailed Skipper has an omnivorous diet, feeding on both plant and animal matter.
Is Long-tailed Skipper dangerous to humans?
The Long-tailed Skipper is generally harmless to humans. It does not bite or sting and poses no significant health risk.
What is an interesting fact about Long-tailed Skipper?
Known as the bean leaf roller because the caterpillar folds bean leaves into tubular shelters.
Cite This Page
APA:
InsectDiscover. (2026). Long-tailed Skipper (Urbanus proteus). Retrieved from https://insectdiscover.com/insect/long-tailed-skipper
MLA:
"Long-tailed Skipper." InsectDiscover, https://insectdiscover.com/insect/long-tailed-skipper.