Eastern tailed-blue
Cupido comyntas
Butterfly
Small gossamer-winged butterfly (Lycaenidae) whose larvae feed on the flowers, seeds, and young foliage of legumes (Fabaceae) — documented hosts include clovers (Trifolium), vetches (Vicia), lupines (Lupinus), wild peas (Lathyrus), and wild sennas (Senna). The caterpillars are tended by ants, which feed on a secretion the larvae produce and in return defend them from predators. Adults have short proboscises and nectar at low, open, easily accessed flowers, making this one of the most common and approachable butterflies of sunny gardens, meadows, and disturbed ground across eastern North America.
Conservation
Globally secure (NatureServe G5) — widespread and abundant, with no IUCN, Xerces Red List, or USFWS listing. Its range has expanded since the 19th century as non-native clovers spread through agricultural and weedy habitats.
Plants in the catalog
Larval host plants · 3
Range
Widespread across eastern North America from southern Canada south to Central America; isolated and human-introduced populations occur in the Pacific Northwest and parts of the western United States, but it is largely absent from the Rocky Mountain region. Multiple broods per year in the warmer parts of its range.