Long-tailed Skipper (Urbanus proteus) is in the Skippers family (Hesperiidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 23,875 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in October.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: seasonal. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Long-tailed Skipper: observations by month (U.S.)
About Long-tailed Skipper
The long-tailed skipper (Urbanus proteus) is a spread-winged skipper butterfly found throughout tropical and subtropical South America, south to Argentina and north into the southern part of the United States of America. It cannot live in areas with prolonged frost. It is a showy butterfly, with wings of light brown tinted with iridescent blue, and two long tails extending from the hindwings. The robust body is light blue dorsally. It has a large head, prominent eyes,...From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Long-tailed Skipper by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 7,399 | October | Sep–Nov |
| Texas | 5,100 | October | Sep–Nov |
| Georgia | 3,013 | October | Aug–Oct |
| Alabama | 1,897 | October | Aug–Oct |
| Louisiana | 1,663 | October | Aug–Nov |
| South Carolina | 1,557 | October | Sep–Oct |
| North Carolina | 1,273 | October | Sep–Oct |
| Mississippi | 589 | October | Aug–Oct |
| Tennessee | 538 | October | Aug–Oct |
| Virginia | 270 | September | Sep–Oct |
| New Jersey | 176 | September | Sep–Oct |
| Maryland | 121 | September | Sep–Oct |
| Arkansas | 88 | October | Sep–Nov |
| Kentucky | 34 | September | Aug–Oct |
| Pennsylvania | 26 | September | Aug–Oct |
| New York | 22 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Connecticut | 18 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Massachusetts | 16 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Ohio | 15 | October | Sep–Oct |
| District of Columbia | 12 | October | Aug–Oct |
| Arizona | 9 | October | Oct–Oct |
| Missouri | 8 | September | Sep–Sep |
| Delaware | 7 | September | Sep–Oct |
| Oklahoma | 6 | October | Oct–Oct |
| California | 5 | March | Mar–May |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related butterflies (Skippers)
Fiery Skipper
Silver-spotted Skipper
Huron Skipper
Zabulon Skipper
Peck's Skipper
Horace's Duskywing
Clouded Skipper
Common Checkered-Skipper
Photography tips
- Butterflies are sluggish on cool mornings — the best time for close approaches.
- Keep the sensor parallel to the wings for edge-to-edge sharpness.
- Nectar plants in bloom are reliable places to wait.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Long-tailed Skipper?
Nationally, October has the most observations, with the main season from August to November.
Where is Long-tailed Skipper most often seen?
The most observations come from Florida, Texas, Georgia.