Diet

• Adults feed on flower nectar and visit a variety of flowering plants, including Lantana, Bidens, ironweed and bougainvillea.

• The caterpillars feed on plants in the legume family (Fabaceae).

• The larvae construct shelters from portions of leaves, remaining concealed while developing.

Range

• Cecropterus dorantes has a very broad distribution extending from southern Texas and Mexico through Central America and the Caribbean to much of tropical South America, reaching Argentina.

• It is regularly sighted in the Zihua area, particularly around forest edges, gardens and open woodland.

Habitat

• The Dorantes Longtail occupies a wide variety of open and semi-open tropical habitats, including forest edges, roadsides, gardens, fields and clearings.

• It is particularly comfortable in areas where flowering plants and its leguminous larval hosts grow together.

• Around Zihua, look for it along sunny forest edges, gardens, grassy clearings, roadsides and disturbed tropical woodland.

• Adults frequently perch on the undersides of leaves, sometimes close to the ground, and may remain inconspicuous until disturbed.

Description

• The Dorantes Longtail is a medium-sized skipper, with a wingspan of approximately 37–51 mm.

• The wings are predominantly brown to grey-brown, with a subtle lilac or pinkish cast on the hindwings.

• The forewings have several translucent golden or pale spots, arranged in a distinctive cluster.

• The hindwings have long, narrow tails and alternating brown and pale fringes.

• The underside is more strongly patterned, with brown and violet tones and irregular darker bands.

• Males are generally darker above than females.