Long Dash
Polites mystic (W.H. Edwards, 1863)
Family: Hesperiidae
Subfamily: Hesperiinae
Identification: Upperside is dark brown with reddish to yellowish orange markings. Forewing of female has a broad black patch at the base; male forewing has a long, slightly curved stigma which may be connected to the dash near the apex (creating a "long dash"). Underside of hindwing is orange-brown with a curved band of equal-sized yellow spots.
Wing Span: 1 1/8 - 1 1/2 inches (2.9 - 3.8 cm).
Life History: Males perch in low grassy spots, streambeds, or swales during most of the day; courtship occurs in mid- to late afternoon. Females deposit eggs singly on or near the host plant. Caterpillars feed on leaves and live in shelters of tied leaves. Fourth-stage caterpillars hibernate.
Flight: One brood from late May to early August.
Caterpillar Hosts: Bluegrasses (Poa species).
Adult Food: Nectar from flowers including common milkweed, selfheal, mountain laurel, and tick trefoil.
Habitat: Open, moist areas including meadows, marshes, streamsides, wood edges, and prairie swales.
Range: Southern British Columbia east to Nova Scotia; south to Washington, Idaho, Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa, northern Illinois, West Virginia, Virginia, and New Jersey.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 73 - 96 of 2506 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 07, 2021
Submitted by: John Terpstra
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 08, 2021
Observation date: Jul 05, 2021
Submitted by: B Shulist
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 08, 2021
Observation date: Jun 29, 2021
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Franklin County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 01, 2021
Observation date: Jun 26, 2018
Submitted by: WYbutterflyer1
Region: Roberts County, South Dakota, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jun 29, 2021
Observation date: Jun 26, 2021
Submitted by: TJ in Derry
Region: Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 28, 2021
Observation date: Jun 18, 2021
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Douglas County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jun 20, 2021
Observation date: Jun 18, 2021
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Lake County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jun 20, 2021
Observation date: Jun 19, 2021
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Lake County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jun 20, 2021
Observation date: Jun 15, 2021
Submitted by: Tom Raub
Region: Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jun 17, 2021
Observation date: Jun 11, 2021
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Gratiot County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 14, 2021
Observation date: Jun 12, 2021
Submitted by: rapids
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 13, 2021
Observation date: Jun 19, 2019
Submitted by: DVL
Region: Custer County, South Dakota, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Mar 27, 2021
Observation date: Jul 02, 2020
Submitted by: Agassiz
Region: Polk County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Mar 27, 2021
Observation date: Jul 24, 2020
Submitted by: Christine Stanke
Region: Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Mar 27, 2021
Observation date: Jun 12, 2012
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Kidder County, North Dakota, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Feb 03, 2021
Observation date: Jun 09, 2012
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Kidder County, North Dakota, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Feb 03, 2021
Observation date: Jun 26, 2017
Submitted by: MarkNenadov
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jan 24, 2021
Observation date: Aug 01, 2019
Submitted by: Eric Wood
Region: St. Louis County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jan 09, 2021
Observation date: Jun 06, 2018
Submitted by: a-o
Region: Essex County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jan 08, 2021
Observation date: Jun 24, 2019
Submitted by: kathybrown
Region: Door County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Dec 28, 2020
Observation date: Aug 01, 2019
Submitted by: Eric Wood
Region: St. Louis County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Dec 23, 2020
Observation date: Jun 09, 2018
Submitted by: Laurie Sheppard
Region: Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Dec 18, 2020
Observation date: Aug 12, 2018
Submitted by: jestaylor
Region: Coos County, New Hampshire, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Dec 18, 2020
Observation date: Jul 17, 2019
Submitted by: Bob Crowley
Region: Carroll County, New Hampshire, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Dec 18, 2020
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