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 97 - 120 of 2507 verified sightings
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
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
Observation date: Jun 09, 2020
Submitted by: David Badger
Region: Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Nov 16, 2020
Observation date: Jun 11, 2020
Submitted by: Christian.Nunes
Region: Jefferson County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Sep 11, 2020
Observation date: Jun 17, 2020
Submitted by: A_baldini
Region: Larimer County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: A_baldini
Verified date: Aug 17, 2020
Observation date: Jul 09, 2020
Submitted by: kristenej
Region: Westchester County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Aug 15, 2020
Observation date: Jul 20, 2020
Submitted by: rapids
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 20, 2020
Observation date: Jul 18, 2020
Submitted by: lantana
Region: Suffolk County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 19, 2020
Observation date: Jul 18, 2020
Submitted by: kathybrown
Region: Hancock County, Maine, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 19, 2020
Observation date: Jul 12, 2020
Submitted by: Clare Holden
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 15, 2020
Observation date: Jul 01, 2020
Submitted by: Clare Holden
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 05, 2020
Observation date: Jun 29, 2020
Submitted by: tozjohn
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 05, 2020
Observation date: Jun 21, 2020
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Essex County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 27, 2020
Observation date: Jun 16, 2020
Submitted by: David Badger
Region: Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jun 25, 2020
Observation date: Jun 23, 2020
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 24, 2020
Observation date: Jun 21, 2020
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Essex County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 22, 2020
Observation date: Jun 21, 2020
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Essex County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 22, 2020
Observation date: Jun 15, 2020
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Newaygo County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 21, 2020
Observation date: Jun 08, 2020
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Washtenaw County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 11, 2020
Observation date: Jun 08, 2020
Submitted by: Tony DeSantis
Region: Cambria County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jun 09, 2020
Observation date: Jun 08, 2020
Submitted by: David Badger
Region: Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jun 09, 2020
Observation date: Jun 04, 2020
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Montcalm County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 05, 2020
Observation date: Jul 25, 2019
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Mar 12, 2020
Observation date: Jul 10, 2006
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Franklin County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Feb 06, 2020
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