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 1 - 24 of 2515 verified sightings
Observation date: Sep 09, 2008
Submitted by: Dwaine Wagoner
Region: Natrona County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jun 23, 2025
Observation date: Jun 22, 2025
Submitted by: Sometimes
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 22, 2025
Observation date: Jun 19, 2025
Submitted by: Kate McKay
Region: Alberta, Canada
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 21, 2025
Observation date: Jul 02, 2005
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Franklin County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 13, 2025
Observation date: Jun 26, 2005
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Franklin County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 13, 2025
Observation date: Jun 30, 2005
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Franklin County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 13, 2025
Observation date: Jun 05, 2025
Submitted by: David Sonnen
Region: Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jun 10, 2025
Observation date: Sep 19, 2018
Submitted by: blawrence
Region: District of Columbia, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 02, 2025
Observation date: Jun 02, 2012
Submitted by: RobertMichaelSlater
Region: Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Mar 26, 2025
Observation date: Jul 07, 2024
Submitted by: Allison Barta
Region: Beltrami County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jan 14, 2025
Observation date: Jul 07, 2021
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Essex County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Sep 18, 2024
Observation date: Jul 05, 2024
Submitted by: dvollmar
Region: Custer County, South Dakota, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Aug 08, 2024
Observation date: Jul 03, 2024
Submitted by: Sometimes
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 05, 2024
Observation date: Jul 04, 2024
Submitted by: Sometimes
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 05, 2024
Observation date: Jul 01, 2024
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Monroe County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 04, 2024
Observation date: Jul 01, 2024
Submitted by: Sometimes
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 02, 2024
Observation date: Jun 26, 2024
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Douglas County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 28, 2024
Observation date: Jun 26, 2024
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Franklin County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 28, 2024
Observation date: Jun 25, 2024
Submitted by: garyfreed
Region: Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jun 25, 2024
Observation date: Jun 19, 2024
Submitted by: pgrew1@unl.edu
Region: Penobscot County, Maine, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 23, 2024
Observation date: Jun 16, 2024
Submitted by: tjunderwood
Region: Sullivan County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jun 20, 2024
Observation date: Jun 20, 2024
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Monroe County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jun 20, 2024
Observation date: Jun 12, 2024
Submitted by: tiki33wv
Region: Pocahontas County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 13, 2024
Observation date: Jun 12, 2024
Submitted by: tiki33wv
Region: Pocahontas County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 13, 2024
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