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 217 - 240 of 2521 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 26, 2014
Submitted by: juliereid
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 08, 2015
Observation date: Jun 17, 2015
Submitted by: Cherylee Black
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 30, 2015
Observation date: Jun 21, 2015
Submitted by: treichard
Region: Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jun 27, 2015
Observation date: Jun 25, 2015
Submitted by: Cherylee Black
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 26, 2015
Observation date: Jun 17, 2015
Submitted by: Cherylee Black
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 17, 2015
Observation date: Jun 17, 2015
Submitted by: Cherylee Black
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 17, 2015
Observation date: Jun 11, 2015
Submitted by: Cherylee Black
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 15, 2015
Observation date: Jun 11, 2015
Submitted by: Cherylee Black
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 15, 2015
Observation date: Jun 05, 2015
Submitted by: cblazo
Region: Franklin County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jun 06, 2015
Observation date: Jul 19, 2014
Submitted by: ellenjones6
Region: Franklin County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Mar 27, 2015
Observation date: Jul 17, 2014
Submitted by: dpgbfly1
Region: Mille Lacs County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Feb 10, 2015
Observation date: Jul 17, 2014
Submitted by: dpgbfly1
Region: Mille Lacs County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Feb 10, 2015
Observation date: Jun 21, 2014
Submitted by: dpgbfly1
Region: Mille Lacs County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jan 28, 2015
Observation date: Jul 15, 2014
Submitted by: Colleen62
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Sep 05, 2014
Observation date: Jul 13, 2014
Submitted by: Colleen62
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Sep 05, 2014
Observation date: Jun 13, 2013
Submitted by: ellen271
Region: Oakland County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Aug 11, 2014
Observation date: Sep 04, 2013
Submitted by: marquy (female)
Region: Wayne County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Aug 11, 2014
Observation date: Aug 04, 2014
Submitted by: lumpydave84
Region: Suffolk County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Aug 05, 2014
Observation date: Jul 18, 2014
Submitted by: Carmel Mothersill
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 19, 2014
Observation date: Jul 15, 2014
Submitted by: Carmel Mothersill
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 19, 2014
Observation date: Jul 12, 2014
Submitted by: plex1ppus
Region: Stevens County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 15, 2014
Observation date: Jun 21, 2014
Submitted by: NigelBI
Region: Washington (Block Island) County, Rhode Island, United States
Verified by: sharonstichter2
Verified date: Jul 02, 2014
Observation date: Jun 29, 2014
Submitted by: Janet Tubb
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 30, 2014
Observation date: Jun 22, 2014
Submitted by: Cherylee Black
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 25, 2014
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