Lycaenidae : Polyommatinae
Cupido comyntas (Godart, 1824)
Eastern Tailed-Blue
Cupido comyntas (Godart, 1824)
Eastern Tailed-Blue
Description and Similar Species: Wingspan 21-29mm. Sexually dimorphic with male upperside mainly blue and females being more brown. The Antillean Blue Pseudochrysops bornoi is the only other 'blue' on Cuba to have tails, though of course most of the Hairstreaks do.
Range: Widespread from Canada to South America.
Status: A recent colonist. First found on Cuba at the same spot in Vinales NP in 2014 and again in 2015 (three specimens in all) so it must have bred there. It has since been found in other places in the west of the island including in Habana Botanic Garden where it is now said to be quite common (2024). It will be interesting to see how quickly it spreads eastwards across the island as other new colonists have done, and how long before it reaches Hispaniola.
Nectar Plants: Unknown in Cuba.
Larval Foodplants: Unknown in Cuba, but various legumes including vetches and clover on the mainland.
Range: Widespread from Canada to South America.
Status: A recent colonist. First found on Cuba at the same spot in Vinales NP in 2014 and again in 2015 (three specimens in all) so it must have bred there. It has since been found in other places in the west of the island including in Habana Botanic Garden where it is now said to be quite common (2024). It will be interesting to see how quickly it spreads eastwards across the island as other new colonists have done, and how long before it reaches Hispaniola.
Nectar Plants: Unknown in Cuba.
Larval Foodplants: Unknown in Cuba, but various legumes including vetches and clover on the mainland.
Foodplants and Habitat
