Cupido comyntas

Caterpillars of many species of blues are tended by ants. These caterpillars have a special gland that secretes a sugary solution eaten by the ants In return, the ants protect the caterpillars from some natural enemies.
Photo Credit: Will Kerling
Cupido comyntas
Common Name: eastern tailed-blue
Other Scientific Names: Everes comyntas
Animal Guild: Insect
Class > Order > Family: Insecta > Lepidoptera > Lycaenidae
What does the species look like? With a wingspan of about 0.9 to 1.1 inches this is the smallest common butterfly in much of its range. There is a single thread-like tail on each hindwing which is preceded by one or more sets of black and orange dots, at least on the underside. The upperside wing surfaces are blue with a thin black margin on males, but nearly solid dark gray (some authors describe as dark brown) on females in summer and fall with or without a bit of blue. Spring females have more blue. The underside is pale, with black and orange spots near the tails and many darker gray and black dots on both wings. In most of the range no other "blues" have any orange, and those that do, such as the endangered Karner Blue in sandy places in the Great Lakes States, are larger and tailless. However, in Ontario and west of the Great Plains, refer to a butterfly guide to distinguish this species from the western tailed blue. The gray hairstreak, which is often found with the eastern tailed-blue also has tails and similar (but larger) orange spots. The gray hairstreak is larger, is not blue above, and has no dots on the basal portion of the wings beneath. The eastern tailed blue is a low flier that lands frequently, perching with the wings at about a 45 degree angle.
Where is the species found?
States & Provinces
AL, AR, AZ, BC, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MB, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NB, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, ON, OR, PA, QC, RI, SC, SD, SK, TN, TX, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV
Distribution

The main continuous range extends from central Maine across southern Canada to western Manitoba south to the Florida panhandle, Gulf Coast, and eastern Texas, including nearly all of the Dakotas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and eastern Colorado. The eastern tailed blue is common in most of this region. It also occurs less commonly from the southern Arizona-New Mexico border south, mostly in the mountains, through Mexico and Central America as far as Costa Rica. Farther west the species occurs disjunctly near the coast from northern California into Oregon, Washington, and northern Idaho.

This is a butterfly of open, usually disturbed, places such as old fields, power lines, and ditches. It also occurs in more natural habitats such as meadows, high desert foothills, openings in pine barrens and oak savannas--essentially anywhere there are patches of legumes in open or sparsely wooded habitats. In drier parts of the west, eastern tailed-blues tend to be associated with riparian areas in canyons or irrigated areas where there is a reliable supply of legumes in the spring and summer.
General Phenology and Life History There are three or more broods in most of the range. For example adults typically occur from April to October in southern New Jersey and North Carolina, and from March to November on the Gulf Coast. Numbers may decline during summer dry periods, probably because food plants die back causing some larvae to starve. Late summer adults are often a bit small. Adults visit flowers or sip moist soil, and are common in gardens. Adults are ready to mate and lay eggs within a day or less after they emerge. The complete life cycle appears to take about six weeks. The caterpillars feed mostly on young flowers, fruits, and apparently less often young leaves, of a variety of introduced and native legumes. In many places eastward the larvae now occur mostly on non-native foodplants. Autumn caterpillars reportedly hibernate when nearly fully grown and complete feeding in early spring.
Which phenophases should I observe?
Do you see/hear...?
Activity Adults
One or more adults are seen or heard moving about or at rest.
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Adults feeding
One or more adults are seen feeding with their straw-like tongue (proboscis). If possible, record the substance and species on which they are feeding (for example, nectar, sap, dung, or moist soil) in the comments field. For Cupido comyntas, adults feed on the flower nectar of many different plant species.

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Flower visitation
One or more individuals are seen visiting flowers or flying from flower to flower. If possible, record the name of the plant or describe it in the comments field.

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Reproduction Mating
A male and female are seen coupled in a mating position, usually end to end. This can occur at rest or in flight.

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Egg laying
A female is seen laying eggs on a plant or other surface. If possible, record the name of the plant or describe it in the comments field. For Cupido comyntas, eggs are typically deposited on the flowers or leaves of plants in the pea family (Fabaceae).

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Eggs
One or more eggs are seen on a plant or other surface. If possible, record the name of the plant or describe it in the comments field. For Cupido comyntas, the tiny, round, pale green eggs have white ridges and are typically found on the flowers or leaves of plants in the pea family (Fabaceae).

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Development Caterpillars
One or more caterpillars (larvae) are seen moving about or at rest. When seen on a plant, if possible, record the name of the plant or describe it in the comments field. For Cupido comyntas, caterpillars have a wide, hairy body and are dark green or brown in color with a dark dorsal stripe and a small, black head.

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Caterpillars feeding
One or more caterpillars are seen feeding. If possible, record the name of the species or substance being eaten or describe it in the comments field. For Cupido comyntas, caterpillars typically feed on the flowers, fruits and sometimes leaves of plants in the pea family (Fabaceae).

For abundance, enter the number of individual animals observed in this phenophase.
Pupae
One or more pupae are seen in a cocoon or shell (puparium). For Cupido comyntas, pupae are enclosed in a smooth, ovoid, pale green, translucent shell (chrysalis) that is covered in white hairs and appears darker as the butterfly develops. They are typically found on or near a host plant in the pea family (Fabaceae). Do not include empty pupal shells after the adult has emerged from them.

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Dead adults
One or more dead adults are seen.

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Dead caterpillars
One or more dead caterpillars are seen.

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Method Individuals at a feeding station
One or more individuals are seen visiting a feeder, feeding station, or food placed by a person.

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Individuals in a net
One or more individuals are seen caught in a net.

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Individuals in a trap
One or more individuals are seen caught in a trap.

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What do these phenophases look like?

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