Cupido comyntas
Eastern Tailed Blue

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
    Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
        Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
            Class Insecta (Insects)
                Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
                    Superfamily Papilionoidea (Butterflies (excluding                                     skippers))
                        Family Lycaenidae (Blues, Coppers, Hairstreaks,                                 Harvesters)
                            Subfamily Polyommatinae (Blues)
                                Genus Cupido (Tailed Blues)
                                    Species comyntas (Eastern Tailed-Blue)
                                            Godart, [1824]
  • cupido (L) = "desire"
  • comyntas = ?
  • Range: eastern US
  • Season (Hudson River Park): July to September
  • Male blue above, female browner; one narrow "tail" on hindwing; above and below usually two orange spots near "tail"
  • Size: up to 1"
  • Flights: 3 in north
  • Adult food: clover (because of short proboscis)
  • Larval food: plants of pea family
  • Eggs: laid on flower buds
  • Larvae: eat buds, flowers, seeds
  • Overwinter as: larvae

Female

Male