Diet

• The larval food plants of Urbanus esmeraldus include several legumes (Fabaceae).

• Adults visit flowers for nectar.

Range

• Urbanus esmeraldus is a widely distributed Neotropical skipper occurring from Mexico through Central America and into northern and central South America.

• It occurs in both eastern and western Mexico and extends southward through Central America to Colombia, Peru, the Guianas, Brazil and Paraguay.

• Guerrero is within its range, and the species occurs in the Zihua region.

Habitat

• It inhabits open subtropical and tropical woodland, forest edges, clearings and secondary vegetation.

• In the Zihua region, suitable habitat includes tropical dry forest, open woodland, thorn scrub and disturbed vegetation.

• Adults are generally encountered around forest edges and open areas, where they perch on vegetation and visit flowers.

Description

• A medium-sized long-tailed skipper with a wingspan of approximately 35–42 mm.

• The wings are dark brown to blackish brown, with long tails on the hindwings.

• The head, thorax and bases of the wings have conspicuous iridescent blue-green scaling, which may extend towards the tails.

• The underside of the hindwings has a distinctive row of separate dark spots.

• Males have a costal fold on the forewing containing specialised scent scales.