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 241 - 264 of 2521 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 20, 2014
Submitted by: Cherylee Black
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 22, 2014
Observation date: Jun 20, 2014
Submitted by: Cherylee Black
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 22, 2014
Observation date: Jun 20, 2014
Submitted by: Cherylee Black
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 22, 2014
Observation date: Jun 20, 2014
Submitted by: Cherylee Black
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 22, 2014
Observation date: Jun 15, 2014
Submitted by: Cherylee Black
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 18, 2014
Observation date: Jun 08, 2014
Submitted by: Cherylee Black
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 09, 2014
Observation date: Jun 08, 2014
Submitted by: Cherylee Black
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 09, 2014
Observation date: Jun 18, 2011
Submitted by: tjantscher
Region: Black Hawk County, Iowa, United States
Verified by: Dennis Schlicht
Verified date: Dec 10, 2013
Observation date: Jul 06, 2013
Submitted by: Colleen62
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Sep 15, 2013
Observation date: Jul 06, 2013
Submitted by: dpgbfly1
Region: Mille Lacs County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Aug 05, 2013
Observation date: Jul 06, 2013
Submitted by: Colleen62
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Aug 01, 2013
Observation date: Jun 21, 2013
Submitted by: a.d.levine
Region: Orange County, New York, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 31, 2013
Observation date: Jul 03, 2013
Submitted by: aarongunnar
Region: Oneida County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jul 21, 2013
Observation date: Jul 07, 2013
Submitted by: aarongunnar
Region: Vilas County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jul 21, 2013
Observation date: Jul 05, 2013
Submitted by: Colleen62
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 15, 2013
Observation date: Jun 01, 2012
Submitted by: cyric
Region: Washington County, Rhode Island, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 14, 2013
Observation date: Jun 10, 2012
Submitted by: gary yankech
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 13, 2013
Observation date: Jun 15, 2013
Submitted by: davmcnaugh
Region: Forest County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 11, 2013
Observation date: Jun 12, 2011
Submitted by: Cherylee Black
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 06, 2013
Observation date: Jun 07, 2012
Submitted by: Cherylee Black
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 03, 2013
Observation date: Jun 05, 2012
Submitted by: Cherylee Black
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 03, 2013
Observation date: Jun 07, 2012
Submitted by: Cherylee Black
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 03, 2013
Observation date: Jun 15, 2013
Submitted by: curtis.lehman
Region: Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 16, 2013
Observation date: Jun 10, 2012
Submitted by: soluslupus13
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 02, 2013
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