The Ruddy Daggerwing Butterfly. The ruddy daggerwing is instantly recognizable because of its dagger-like tail. Its a fairly large butterfly with a a wingspan of nearly four inches. Its range generally extends from South Florida to Brazil plus scattered parts of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and the central plains of the US. It inhabits hammocks and edges of hammocks and nearby open spaces. The strangler fig is one of its major host plants, while nectar from the cabbage palm is among its favorite food sources. Other names for the ruddy daggerwing include southern daggertail and tailed flambeau.