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Teleus Longtail (Urbanus teleus [Hübner])
Wing span: 1 3/8 - 1 1/2 inches (3.5 - 3.9 cm).
Identification: Tails are long; body and wings are brown. Forewing of both sexes has a thin transparent median band; male also has 4 transparent spots at the costal margin. Male has no costal fold.
Life history: Females lay eggs on the host plants, and caterpillars eat grass blades. Young caterpillars make shelters of folded leaf blades.
Flight: Many flights throughout the year in South Texas.
Caterpillar hosts: Grasses including Panicum and Paspalum.
Adult food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Seasonal tropical forest and scrub.
Range: Argentina north through Central America and Mexico to South Texas.
Conservation: Not usually required.
The Nature Conservancy Global Rank: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management needs: None reported.
References:
Opler, P. A. and V. Malikul. 1992. A field guide to eastern butterflies. Peterson
field guide #4. Houghton-Mifflin Co., Boston. 396 pages, 48 color plates.
Scott, J. A. 1986. The butterflies of North America. Stanford University Press,
Stanford, Calif. 583 pages, 64 color plates.
Author: Jane M. Struttmann
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 1999 -
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