Have you ever spotted a striking butterfly with an iridescent blue body and unusually long tails flitting through your garden? That’s the long-tailed skipper, a favorite among butterfly enthusiasts and gardeners alike. If you’re hoping to attract or support these fascinating pollinators, knowing their host plants is essential.
In this article, you’ll discover exactly which plants long-tailed skipper caterpillars call home, why host plants matter, and practical tips for creating a skipper-friendly habitat.
Understanding the Host Plants of the Long-Tailed Skipper
The long-tailed skipper (Urbanus proteus) is a unique butterfly recognized by its elongated tails and shimmering blue-green body. But beyond its striking looks, this butterfly has a fascinating relationship with its environment—especially with the plants its caterpillars depend on for food. If you’ve wondered, “What are the host plants for the long-tailed skipper?” or how you might support its lifecycle in your own yard, you’re in the right place.
Let’s uncover the essential host plants for this beautiful butterfly and discover how you can create a haven that encourages its presence.
What Are Long-Tailed Skipper Host Plants?
Host plants are the specific plants that butterfly caterpillars (larvae) consume for their development. Each butterfly species has its own preferred host plants. For the long-tailed skipper, the caterpillars have particular favorites in the legume family (also called Fabaceae).
Primary Host Plants
Long-tailed skipper caterpillars mainly feed on:
- Beans (Phaseolus species): This includes cultivated beans like snap beans (green beans), lima beans, and cowpeas.
- Wisteria (Wisteria spp.): These climbing vines are commonly found in gardens and can be a feast for skipper larvae.
- Hog Peanut (Amphicarpaea bracteata): A wild vine found in woodlands and moist areas, favored in natural habitats.
- Beggar’s Ticks (Desmodium spp.): These low-growing plants are another natural host.
- Other Legumes: The larvae aren’t too picky and will often sample a variety of peas, beans, and wild legumes.
Why These Plants?
Long-tailed skipper caterpillars require the chemical and structural makeup of legumes to thrive. These plants provide not only essential nutrition but also shelters—caterpillars cleverly wrap leaves together with silk to create a concealed home as they grow.
The Long-Tailed Skipper Lifecycle: Why Host Plants Matter
Understanding why host plants are important means looking at the butterfly’s lifecycle:
- Egg Stage: Adult females lay eggs singly or in small groups on the host plants.
- Larva (Caterpillar): Once the eggs hatch, caterpillars immediately begin feeding on the leaves.
- Pupa (Chrysalis): After eating and growing, they pupate, often remaining attached to the host plant.
- Adult Butterfly: Emerging from the chrysalis, adults feed on nectar while seeking new host plants for the next generation.
Without their specific host plants, long-tailed skipper caterpillars cannot grow or survive, and thus the butterfly population suffers.
Steps to Grow Host Plants for Long-Tailed Skippers
If you’d like to attract and support long-tailed skippers in your own garden, here’s how you can do it:
1. Choose the Right Host Plants
Select from these favorites:
– Snap beans or string beans
– Lima beans
– Cowpeas (black-eyed peas)
– Wisteria vines
– Wild legumes like Desmodium
2. Plant in Suitable Conditions
- Legumes generally prefer full sun but tolerate partial shade.
- Ensure soil is well-draining but rich in organic matter.
3. Grow Organically
- Avoid pesticides—many garden chemicals are harmful to both caterpillars and adult butterflies.
- Use natural fertilizers and compost where possible.
4. Provide a Mix of Plants
Complement your host plants with nectar-rich flowering plants to feed adult butterflies. Try zinnias, lantana, and butterfly bush.
5. Leave Some Leaves
- Allow a few plants to grow untidily or lose some leaves to caterpillars. This “damage” is a sign your garden is supporting wildlife!
- Consider planting extra beans—a row for you, and a row for the skippers.
Benefits of Growing Host Plants for Long-Tailed Skippers
There’s more to these plants than meets the eye. By including long-tailed skipper host plants in your garden, you’ll enjoy:
- Biodiversity: Supporting a variety of butterflies and beneficial insects.
- Natural Pest Control: Skipper larvae rarely cause severe damage, and their presence attracts birds and predatory insects.
- Education and Enjoyment: Observe the butterfly lifecycle up close—a great opportunity for kids and adults alike.
- Garden Beauty: Adult skippers add color and movement to your flowers, while beans and wisteria provide lush greenery and blooms.
Challenges and Considerations
While attracting long-tailed skippers is rewarding, it’s helpful to be aware of some common challenges:
- Leaf Damage: Caterpillars may skeletonize leaves or roll them up. For utility crops, this can slightly affect your harvest.
- Predators: Birds, spiders, and parasitic wasps may prey on caterpillars.
- Pesticide Drift: Sprays from neighboring gardens can harm larvae even if you don’t use chemicals.
- Over-competition: If too many caterpillars feed in one place, food may become scarce.
Solutions:
- Plant extra host plants to share with wildlife.
- Encourage bird and insect diversity to naturally balance populations.
- Communicate with neighbors about your butterfly garden project.
Tips for Gardening Success
A thriving long-tailed skipper habitat is within reach with these best practices:
- Mix Native and Cultivated Plants: Native legumes are more resilient and attractive to local butterflies.
- Provide Water: Shallow dishes or damp patches help butterflies stay hydrated.
- Create Shelter: Use shrubs or vines to provide windbreaks and add layers to your garden’s structure.
- Observe and Record: Keep a notebook or take photos to track visits and lifecycle stages.
Cost Tips for Host Plant Gardening
Gardening for butterflies doesn’t have to break the bank. Here are some practical cost-saving ideas:
- Start from Seeds: Beans, peas, and many wildflowers are easy and inexpensive to grow from seed.
- Share with Neighbors: Consider swapping seeds or seedlings with friends or local gardening groups.
- Use Local Plant Sales: Native plant societies often sell starter plants at lower prices.
- DIY Trellises: Recycle branches or bamboo for wisteria or bean vines to climb.
- Minimize Shipping: Buy locally to avoid shipping fees. If ordering rare or wild legumes, combine orders to save on shipping costs.
Attracting Long-Tailed Skippers: Extra Advice
- Patience Pays Off: It may take a season or two for word to spread among butterflies about your new host plants.
- Avoid Over-cleaning: Leave some leaf litter and stems over winter; caterpillars may overwinter here as pupae.
- Diversity is Key: The more plant variety (nectar and host plants), the greater the chances of attracting not just long-tailed skippers, but a host of other butterfly species as well.
Conclusion
The long-tailed skipper is a delightful butterfly whose caterpillars require specific host plants—mainly in the legume family—to grow and thrive. By planting beans, wisteria, or wild legumes in your garden, you can play a vital role in supporting this species’ fascinating lifecycle. Not only does this add charm and dynamism to your garden, but it also boosts the health of your local ecosystem.
With a bit of know-how and some garden space, you can provide a sanctuary for the long-tailed skipper and enjoy their beauty up close season after season.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What plants do long-tailed skipper caterpillars eat?
Long-tailed skipper caterpillars eat mainly legumes such as snap beans, lima beans, cowpeas, wisteria, and various wild peas and vetches.
Will caterpillars ruin my vegetable bean crop?
Caterpillars can eat some bean leaves, but their damage is usually moderate. Planting extra beans ensures you have plenty left for harvest and for the butterflies.
Can I plant ornamental host plants instead of edibles?
Yes! Wisteria and certain wild legumes make excellent ornamental host plants. They support caterpillars while adding beauty to your yard.
How do I identify long-tailed skipper caterpillars on my plants?
Look for green, plump caterpillars with a large, prominent brown head and habit of rolling or tying leaves with silk for shelter.
Are long-tailed skippers found across the United States?
They are most common in the southeastern U.S., but their range extends wherever host legumes grow—especially in warm climates.
By providing host plants and a welcoming environment, you invite long-tailed skippers and their fascinating life stages into your garden, enriching both your landscape and your connection to nature.