eastern tailed blue
Cupido comyntas
Identification: Wingspan 7/8 to 1 1/8 inches. Narrow tail on hingwing. Males are more blue on top of wings, females tend to be lighter blue (spring) to brown or gray (summer) on tops of wings. There are 2-3 bands of black oval spots on underside of gray hind wings with 2-3 large orange spots near near tail.
Habitat: Found in open, sunny habitat.
Garden Habit: They secrete a substance favored by ants, which in turn protect larvae from predators. They do not perch with open wings, although may occasionally bask with wings open about 45 degrees.
Host Plants: Many plants in the pea family, including: blue false indigo, clovers, alfalfa and vetches
Identification: Wingspan 7/8 to 1 1/8 inches. Narrow tail on hingwing. Males are more blue on top of wings, females tend to be lighter blue (spring) to brown or gray (summer) on tops of wings. There are 2-3 bands of black oval spots on underside of gray hind wings with 2-3 large orange spots near near tail.
Habitat: Found in open, sunny habitat.
Garden Habit: They secrete a substance favored by ants, which in turn protect larvae from predators. They do not perch with open wings, although may occasionally bask with wings open about 45 degrees.
Host Plants: Many plants in the pea family, including: blue false indigo, clovers, alfalfa and vetches