North American Butterflies and Moths List

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Butterflies of North America

Butterflies of Northern Mexico

Tanna Longtail (Urbanus tanna)
JPG -- species photo

Tanna Longtail (Urbanus tanna Evans)

Wing span: 1 5/16 - 1 1/2 inches (3.3 - 3.8 cm).

Identification: Tails are long; body and wings are brown. Forewing of both sexes has a thin transparent median band; male also has 5 transparent spots at the costal margin. Male has no costal fold.

Life history: Not reported.

Flight: June-December in Mexico; June in South Texas.

Caterpillar hosts: Not reported.

Adult food: Probably flower nectar.

Habitat: Subtropical.

Range: Ecuador and French Guiana north through Central America to Mexico. A rare stray to the lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas.

Conservation: Not necessary for a rare stray.

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

State and Regional References:

Opler, Paul A. 1999. Peterson Field Guide to Western Butterflies, revised 
     edition. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, Mass.

Stanford, R.E. and P.A. Opler. 1993. Atlas of Western USA Butterflies. 
     Privately published, Denver, Colo.
Tanna Longtail (Urbanus tanna)
distribution map
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