Description: 9-13 mm. Gray above with a black forewing patch and only one pair of tails. Females have some blue dusting on the dorsal hindwing. Ventral side is light grey with black dots and an orange and black spot near the tail

 

Habitat and Distribution: Florida, Central and South America as well as the Caribbean. It is common in weedy fields and vacant lots and in coastal environments. It can be found in just about any Key.

 

Host Plant: Bay Cedar (Suriana maritima), (Waltheria indica) and others

 

Natural History: This species is abundant in the Keys and can be found in any month. We reared larvae easily on green beans after obtaining eggs from a female.