The Eastern Tailed-Blue (Cupido comyntas) is a small butterfly with delicate pale blue to gray wings, featuring a thin black margin and tiny orange spots near the base of its distinctive tail-like extensions on the hindwings, commonly found in fields, meadows, and open areas across eastern North America. It’s one of the few butterflies at home in urban and suburban settings.

Range

It is found throughout the state.

Similar Species

Western tailed blue is extremely similar but only found in the arrowhead of Minnesota. Westerns have less orange markings and the forewing shape is less rounded. No other blues in Minnesota have tails.

Host Plants

Larvae feed on a wide range of native and introduced plants in the legume family including: White Clover (Trifolium repens), Red Clover (Trifolium pratense), Alfalfa (Medicago sativa), Lespedeza (Lespedeza spp.), Wild Pea (Lathyrus spp.), Tick-trefoil (Desmodium spp.), Bush Clover (Lespedeza spp.), Vetch (Vicia spp.)

Flight

Overwinters as a chrysalis, and can emerge as early as March and can fly until November (depending on the weather)