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 145 - 168 of 2521 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 07, 2019
Submitted by: jvkopple2
Region: Pennington County, South Dakota, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 16, 2019
Observation date: Jul 04, 2019
Submitted by: jvkopple2
Region: South Dakota, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 16, 2019
Observation date: Jun 29, 2019
Submitted by: rhedden
Region: Washington County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 03, 2019
Observation date: Jun 25, 2019
Submitted by: BeaLaporte
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 02, 2019
Observation date: Jun 21, 2019
Submitted by: rhedden
Region: Rensselaer County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 22, 2019
Observation date: Jun 07, 2019
Submitted by: Tony DeSantis
Region: Cambria County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jun 09, 2019
Observation date: Jul 03, 2018
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Portage County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Mar 04, 2019
Observation date: Jul 04, 2018
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Wood County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Mar 04, 2019
Observation date: Jun 25, 2018
Submitted by: Christine Stanke
Region: Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Mar 03, 2019
Observation date: Jun 20, 2018
Submitted by: kathybrown
Region: Marathon County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Feb 26, 2019
Observation date: Jun 24, 2018
Submitted by: Stu Adams
Region: Alberta, Canada
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Nov 24, 2018
Observation date: Jun 28, 2016
Submitted by: Falcontennis
Region: Schoolcraft County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Aug 16, 2018
Observation date: Jun 02, 2015
Submitted by: Stu Adams
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Aug 05, 2018
Observation date: Jun 19, 2018
Submitted by: jani
Region: Manitoba, Canada
Verified by: chalicerae
Verified date: Jul 22, 2018
Observation date: Jul 08, 2018
Submitted by: BeaLaporte
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 16, 2018
Observation date: Jul 08, 2018
Submitted by: ellenjones6
Region: Essex County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 16, 2018
Observation date: Jul 13, 2018
Submitted by: ellenjones6
Region: Essex County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 16, 2018
Observation date: Jul 11, 2018
Submitted by: ellenjones6
Region: Essex County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 15, 2018
Observation date: Jul 01, 2018
Submitted by: nrpeters
Region: Fayette County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jul 07, 2018
Observation date: Jun 19, 2018
Submitted by: Chris Blomme
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 06, 2018
Observation date: Jul 02, 2018
Submitted by: Tony DeSantis
Region: Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 03, 2018
Observation date: Jun 30, 2018
Submitted by: rhedden
Region: Essex County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 01, 2018
Observation date: Jun 21, 2018
Submitted by: rocksnstars
Region: Oxford County, Maine, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 23, 2018
Observation date: Jun 21, 2018
Submitted by: rocksnstars
Region: Oxford County, Maine, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 23, 2018
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