Emerald Longtail (Urbanus esmeraldus) (Butler, 1877)

 

Other names: Esmeralda Longtail, Esmeralda long-tailed skipper

 

 

Urbanus esmeraldus is distributed through the subtropical and tropical Americas from Mexico to southern Brazil and Paraguay, and also on the island of Trinidad; strays were recorded in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas. This species is usually found along edges of lowland tropical forests and woodlands. The adults drink nectar, and the caterpillar feeds on leaves of Asteraceae (e.g., Desmodium spp.) and Urticaceae (Urera baccifera). The butterfly in the photos below lacks the characteristic long tails at the ends of hindwings, likely damaged in a predation attempt.

 

		D36730 Emerald Longtail (Urbanus esmeraldus) Reserva Ecológica de Guapiaçu Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved
		D36731 Emerald Longtail (Urbanus esmeraldus) Reserva Ecológica de Guapiaçu Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved
		D36733 Emerald Longtail (Urbanus esmeraldus) Reserva Ecológica de Guapiaçu Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved
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