Hodges#4361

Cupido comyntas

Classification

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Cupido comyntas: /kuːˈpiː.doʊ koʊˈmɪn.təs/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Images

366 Eastern Tailed-blue, Cupido comyntas, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Woodbridge, Virginia by Judy Gallagher. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.
Cupido comyntas 161148783 by Eric Baratta. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.
Cupido comyntas 95737162 by Amy Schnebelin. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.
Cupido comyntas m f by Jacy Lucier. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.
Cupido comyntas Bruce by Skye McDavid. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.
366 Eastern Tailed-blue - Cupido comyntas, Meadowood SRMA, Mason Neck, Virginia by Judy Gallagher. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Summary

The eastern tailed-blue (Cupido comyntas) is a small butterfly characterized by distinct coloration and tail features. It thrives in disturbed habitats and displays mutualistic behavior with ants.

Physical Characteristics

Males have iridescent pale blue wings above with brownish-gray along the outer margin, while females have larger wings with gray coloring and 2 to 3 small orange spots. Both sexes have silvery gray wings below with small dark spots and a few orange spots.

Identification Tips

Males can be distinguished by their blue upperside, whereas females can range from lighter blue to brown or charcoal. The species is small with a profile of 21 to 29 mm wide, featuring a tail off the hindwings.

Habitat

Commonly found in meadows, roadsides, and forest paths, often in sunny open areas.

Distribution

Widespread across eastern North America, extending into Central America. Common in the Midwest and parts of California, Oregon, and Washington but absent in the Rocky Mountain region.

Diet

Caterpillars feed on the flowers, seeds, and occasionally the leaves of various legumes including White Clover (Trifolium repens), Red Clover (T. pratense), and Cow Vetch (Vicia cracca).

Life Cycle

Flies from Spring to Fall, with adults observed from May to October in Canada. Overwinters as a mature larva, often inside seedpods; may have two or more generations per year.

Reproduction

Eggs are laid singly on flowers and young leaves.

Predators

Ants may protect the larvae from other predators in exchange for secretions favored by the ants.

Ecosystem Role

Plays a role in pollination and the local ecosystem as a herbivore.

Similar Taxa

Misconceptions

Some may confuse the eastern tailed-blue with similar species due to their small size and color variations.

Tags

  • butterfly
  • eastern tailed-blue
  • Cupido comyntas
  • Lepidoptera
  • Lycaenidae