Eastern Tailed Blue
Description
Wingspan 7/8-1-1/8". Male's wings above iridescent pale blue with brownish gray along outer margin; fore pair with a short, oblique black bar near middle; hind pari with a row of submarginal black spots and a small orange spot at the base of each projecting tail. Female's wings larger with longer tails; gray above on body and wings, 2 or 3 small orange spots with black dots near margin of hind wings. Wings of both sexes below silvery gray with small dark spots and a few orange spots near margin of hind pair. Caterpillar has hairy and pebbly dark green body with dark brown stripes and a small black head.
Habitat
Meadows, roadsides, and forest paths.
Range
Throughout most of the United States and Southern Canada; abundant in the East.
Food
Caterpillar eats leguminous plants, such as clover.
Flight
Spring-Fall.
Other
 Unlike most butterflies, this species has thrived where its habitat has been encroached upon by human activities. It is common along freshly mowed roadsides, flying to puddles. Usually there are 2 or more generations a year. Many lose their tails. The Western Tailed Blue is larger, has fewer wing markings, and is paler underneath. It occurs throughout most of the western half of North America.
Picture
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