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 169 - 192 of 2521 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 17, 2017
Submitted by: Kitty329
Region: Day County, South Dakota, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jun 19, 2018
Observation date: Jul 09, 2017
Submitted by: shsater
Region: Boundary County, Idaho, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Jun 19, 2018
Observation date: Aug 26, 2017
Submitted by: Norman M Barrett
Region: Kootenai County, Idaho, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Jun 19, 2018
Observation date: Jun 08, 2018
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Ingham County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 12, 2018
Observation date: Jun 17, 2017
Submitted by: Kathy Brown
Region: Waukesha County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Nov 30, 2017
Observation date: Jun 13, 2016
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: Wayne County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Sep 22, 2017
Observation date: Jun 30, 2015
Submitted by: Kathy Brown
Region: Hancock County, Maine, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Aug 22, 2017
Observation date: Jul 16, 2015
Submitted by: Kathy Brown
Region: Penobscot County, Maine, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Aug 22, 2017
Observation date: Jul 16, 2015
Submitted by: Kathy Brown
Region: Penobscot County, Maine, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Aug 22, 2017
Observation date: Jul 14, 2015
Submitted by: Kathy Brown
Region: Hancock County, Maine, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Aug 22, 2017
Observation date: Jul 04, 2017
Submitted by: JEANH
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 19, 2017
Observation date: May 23, 2016
Submitted by: kking216
Region: Hall County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: kking216
Verified date: Aug 15, 2017
Observation date: Jun 17, 2017
Submitted by: joshuagsmith
Region: Larimer County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jul 28, 2017
Observation date: Jul 17, 2017
Submitted by: cindilou713
Region: Wayne County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 20, 2017
Observation date: Jun 27, 2017
Submitted by: philsfotos1
Region: Iosco County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 05, 2017
Observation date: Jun 09, 2017
Submitted by: cblazo
Region: Fulton County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jun 12, 2017
Observation date: Jun 03, 2017
Submitted by: cblazo
Region: Franklin County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jun 05, 2017
Observation date: Jul 19, 2012
Submitted by: Christine Stanke
Region: Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Feb 02, 2017
Observation date: Jul 01, 2016
Submitted by: plex1ppus
Region: Bonner County, Idaho, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Sep 20, 2016
Observation date: Jul 02, 2016
Submitted by: aarongunnar
Region: Oneida County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Aug 19, 2016
Observation date: Jun 23, 2016
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: Larimer County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Aug 03, 2016
Observation date: May 26, 2016
Submitted by: Jdammarell
Region: Lincoln County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 12, 2016
Observation date: Jul 05, 2016
Submitted by: jvkopple2
Region: Antrim County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 06, 2016
Observation date: Jul 02, 2016
Submitted by: Chris Blomme
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 04, 2016
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