''Cecropterus dorantes'', the lilac-banded longtail or Dorantes longtail, is a species of

butterfly Butterflies are insects in the macrolepidopteran clade Rhopalocera from the Order (biology), order Lepidoptera, which also includes moths. Adult butterflies have large, often brightly coloured wings, and conspicuous, fluttering flight. The ...

in the family

Hesperiidae Skippers are a family of the Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies) named the Hesperiidae. Being diurnal, they are generally called butterflies. They were previously placed in a separate superfamily, Hesperioidea; however, the most recent taxonomy ...

. It is found from Argentina, north through Central America, Mexico, and the

West Indies The West Indies is a subregion of North America, surrounded by the North Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea that includes 13 independent island countries and 18 dependencies and other territories in three major archipelagos: the Greater A ...

to southern

Texas Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...

and peninsular

Florida Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...

. Strays can be found as far north as northern

California California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...

, southern

Arizona Arizona ( ; nv, Hoozdo Hahoodzo ; ood, Alĭ ṣonak ) is a state in the Southwestern United States. It is the 6th largest and the 14th most populous of the 50 states. Its capital and largest city is Phoenix. Arizona is part of the Fou ...

, southern

Missouri Missouri is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking List of U.S. states and territories by area, 21st in land area, it is bordered by eight states (tied for the most with Tennessee ...

and North Carolina. The

wingspan The wingspan (or just span) of a bird or an airplane is the distance from one wingtip to the other wingtip. For example, the Boeing 777–200 has a wingspan of , and a wandering albatross (''Diomedea exulans'') caught in 1965 had a wingspan of ...

is 37–51 mm. There are three to four generations throughout the year in southern Florida and southern Texas. The larvae feed on various legumes, including wild and cultivated ''

Phaseolus ''Phaseolus'' (bean, wild bean) is a genus of herbaceous to woody annual and perennial vines in the family Fabaceae containing about 70 plant species, all native to the Americas, primarily Mesoamerica. It is one of the most economically importan ...

'' species, '' Desmodium'' and blue peas ''

Clitoria ''Clitoria'' is a genus of mainly tropical and subtropical, insect-pollinated flowering pea vines. Taxonomy Naming of the genus This genus was named after the human clitoris, for the flowers bear a resemblance to the vulva. The first referenc ...

''. Adults feed on flower nectar from various plants, including shepherd's needle, lantana,

trilisa ''Trilisa'' is a genus of flowering plants in the tribe Eupatorieae within the family Asteraceae. Some taxonomists group ''Trilisa'' and ''Litrisa'' into the genus '' Carphephorus''. ; Species * ''Trilisa odoratissima'' (J.F.Gmel.) Cass. - Loui ...

, ironweed, and

bougainvillea ''Bougainvillea'' ( , ) is a genus of thorny ornamental vines, bushes, and trees belonging to the four o' clock family, Nyctaginaceae. It is native to eastern South America, found from Brazil, west to Peru, and south to southern Argentina. ...

Subspecies

The following subspecies are recognised: * ''Cecropterus dorantes dorantes'' (Texas, Mexico, Surinam, Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela) * ''Cecropterus dorantes santiago'' (Brazil, Jamaica, Haiti, Venezuela, Cuba, Grenada) * ''Cecropterus dorantes obscurus'' (Guadeloupe, Dominica, Martinique, Saba, Antigua, Grenada, Barbados) * ''Cecropterus dorantes galapagensis'' (Galapagos) * ''Cecropterus dorantes calafia'' (Mexico (Baja California)) * ''Cecropterus dorantes cramptoni'' (Antilles, Puerto Rico)

References

External links

Butterflies and Moths of North America

Bug Guide
Eudaminae Butterflies of Central America Butterflies of the Caribbean Butterflies of North America Hesperiidae of South America Lepidoptera of the Caribbean Lepidoptera of Brazil Lepidoptera of Colombia Lepidoptera of Ecuador Lepidoptera of Venezuela Fauna of the Amazon Butterflies described in 1790 {{Hesperiidae-stub