• Butterflies
• Dragonflies
• Damselflies
• Tiger beetles
• Hike with Mike

• The butterflies:
• Gossamer-wing Butterflies
  • Harvesters
  • Coppers
  • Hairstreaks
  • Blues
• Blues
  • Marine Blue
  • Reakirt’s Blue
  • Eastern Tailed-Blue
  • Western Tailed-Blue
  • Spring Azure
  • ‘Spring’ Spring Azure
  • ‘Summer’ Spring Azure
  • Silvery Blue
  • Northern Blue
  • ‘Karner’ Melissa Blue
  • Greenish Blue

Eastern Tailed-Blue

(Everes comyntas)

The Eastern Tailed-Blue is the most commonly seen Blue in the state. It is found throughout the state from May though October. Although all the Blues may do some puddling, this species seems to be more prone to congregating in groups at moist areas along ponds and streams. I have seen nearly 100 Eastern Tailed-Blues along the edge of a five-acre pond in August.

Identifying characteristics: Above, the male is blue with a black border, an obvious tail, and an orange spot or two near the tail. The female is essentially the same below, but is black, not blue, above (see second photo). Below, the Eastern Tailed-Blue is a light gray with a variety of small black marks, a small tail (often very hard to see on worn specimens), and orange spots near the tail.

Similar species: The Eastern Tailed-Blue should not be confused with any other Blue in the state except in the far northwestern counties where the Western Tailed-Blue has been found. These two species are very easily confused in the field. In general the Western Tailed-Blue has less orange below in the male (one spot versus 2–3 in the Eastern) and the female has some blue basally while the Eastern female is mainly dark above (although spring Eastern Tailed-Blue females may also show some blue in the spring).

Habitat: Open, often disturbed areas, prairie restorations, and city parks.

Flight: The Eastern Tailed-Blue has 3–4 broods in Wisconsin and is present as an adult from May through October.

Abundance: Common throughout the state.

Recent Eastern Tailed-Blue Sightings

Date seen	County	Reported by
Yesterday	Ozaukee	Kevin Brown
Yesterday	Iowa	Ann Thering and Dave Eide
Friday	Ozaukee	Kevin Brown
Monday	Dane	Jorgen Goderstad
07–13–2008	Green	Craig Ellefson
07–09–2008	Washington	Mike Kirch
07–08–2008	Rock	Tom Poklen
07–08–2008	Dane	Tom Poklen
07–08–2008	Waushara	Mike Reese
07–04–2008	Dane	Jorgen Goderstad
07–04–2008	Iowa	Ann Thering and Dave Eide
07–03–2008	Wood	Ron Arnold, Ann Thering, Mike Reese
07–03–2008	Dane	Jorgen Goderstad
07–01–2008	Dane	Ann Thering
06–30–2008	Milwaukee	Judith Huf

Submit a Eastern Tailed-Blue sighting »