Everes comyntas

Eastern Tailed Blue

Basic Information

General information

Family: Lycaenidae
Sub Family: Polyommatinae
Estimated Lifespan 14 Days

Garden Specific Information

This butterfly has never been flown at Reiman Gardens.

Species Range:

  • NorthAmerica
  • SouthAmerica

Host plants:

  • Astragalus
  • Baptisia tinctoria
  • Desmodium canescens
  • D. marilandicum
  • D. rigidum
  • Galactia
  • Lotus purshianus
  • scoparius
  • strigosus
  • Lathyrus ochroleucus
  • jepsonii ssp. californicus
  • Lespedeza stipulacea
  • hirta
  • capitata
  • texana
  • intermedia
  • Lupinus perennis
  • bicolor
  • nanus
  • Phaseolus polystachios
  • Medicago lupulina
  • Melilotus indicus
  • officinalis
  • Trifolium hybridum
  • T. repens
  • T. pratense
  • T. tridentatum
  • Vicia angustifolia
  • V. sativa
  • V. americana
  • V. villosa
  • V. cracca

Food Source

This butterfly is a low flier so adults prefer to nectar from shorter smaller flowers such as clovers, Sheperd's Needle, and asters.

Habitat

This butterfly can be found in most open sunny areas where nectar plants are available.

Life history

Eggs are laid singly on the hostplants, caterpillars feed mostly on the buds and flowers.

Flights

Eastern Tailed Blues can be found in flight from April to November in the northern part of their range and February to November in the southern parts.

Fun Facts

This species overwinters in Iowa as a caterpillar.