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Eastern Tailed-Blue

Cupido comyntas

The Eastern Tailed-Blue is a small butterfly with beautiful blue wings. It loves to flutter around flowers and is often seen in gardens and fields.

Habitat: Grasslands

Appearance

The Eastern Tailed-Blue has iridescent blue upper wings in males, while females are duller blue or brownish-grey. Both sexes feature two small black spots and delicate, thread-like 'tails' near the hindwing margin, often edged with orange.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderLepidopteraFamilyLycaenidaeGenusElkalyce
Eastern Tailed-Blue
colorful trait badgegrassland trait badgeherbivorous trait badgepollinator_magnet trait badge
Eastern Tailed-Blue

Category

Insects

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

Be the first to snap!

Interesting facts

Male Eastern Tailed-Blues often 'puddle' together, drinking minerals from damp ground!

Some Eastern Tailed-Blue caterpillars secrete a sugary fluid that ants love to drink!

Their tiny, ridged eggs are often laid one by one on the tender young leaves of host plants.

These butterflies are 'generalists' and can thrive in many different habitats, even bustling cities!

Special abilities

Ability

False Head Defense

Eastern Tailed-Blue has tiny 'tails' and eye-spots that mimic a head, making predators strike the wrong end, allowing for escape.

Ability

Caterpillar Camouflage

Its caterpillars can be green or brown and have a bumpy texture, helping them perfectly blend with their host plants to hide.

Ability

Nectar Slurper

The butterfly has a long, straw-like proboscis that helps it reach deep into flowers to slurp up sweet nectar.

Measurements & details

Wingspan
25-35 mm
Size
20-30 mm
Lifespan
10-20 days
Leg Count
6

Diet & Feeding

Adults sip flower nectar; caterpillars munch on legume leaves.

Age differences: Larvae (caterpillars) feed on plant leaves and flowers; adults feed on nectar from various flowering plants.

Primary Foods

  • nectar
  • white clover
  • red clover
  • alfalfa
  • vetch
  • peas

Foraging Method

  • Foraging

Ecological connections

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Butterflies are gentle and safe to watch. Be quiet and still to see them better!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Eastern Tailed-Blue's wingspan?

25-35 mm

How big is Eastern Tailed-Blue?

20-30 mm

How long does Eastern Tailed-Blue live?

10-20 days

What does Eastern Tailed-Blue eat?

Adults sip flower nectar; caterpillars munch on legume leaves.

Where is Eastern Tailed-Blue usually found?

Grasslands

How does Eastern Tailed-Blue hunt?

Foraging

How many legs does Eastern Tailed-Blue have?

6

Snap Map

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Where to spot

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