Long Dash (Polites mystic)

Perhaps the rarest known resident butterfly in North Carolina, Long Dash is known from two sites. See below for the story of our discovery of this species on 6/18/06.

Male, Alleghany Co., NC 5/27/07.

	On 6/18/06 Ted Wilcox and I were exploring a wetland in Alleghany Co., NC. I saw this unfamiliar medium-sized grass-skipper with its wings open, so I snapped a shot (left) to identify it later. Ted looked at the photo and said "I think that's a Long Dash". We kept exploring the area and eventually found at least 18, though this is probably a bit low, considering that I photographed 9 different individuals. This is the first record for North Carolina -- an extension of the known range from the Virginia mountains northward.
	Somewhat similar to the Indian Skipper, Long Dash has a broader and more contiguous dark line on the upper side of the forewing. It also lacks the two "Hesperia dots" towards the apex of the forewing. Adding to the confusion, the male "Indian Skipper" in the Brock & Kaufman guide looks to be a male Long Dash. It is very helpful to consult more than one field guide when trying to identify an unfamiliar species. Female, Alleghany Co., NC 6/18/06.
	Most of the Long Dashes we saw were worn males, like the one at left. Some were significantly more worn, barely with enough wing left to fly. Male, Alleghany Co., NC 6/18/06.
	Male, Alleghany Co., NC 6/18/06.
	Alleghany Co., NC 6/18/06.
	Female, Alleghany Co., NC 6/18/06.
	Male, Alleghany Co., NC 6/18/06.
	Female, Alleghany Co., NC 6/18/06.
	Male, Alleghany Co., NC 6/18/06.
	Alleghany Co., NC 6/18/06.
	The next spring, Ted Wilcox and I, along with Derb Carter, returned to the site to see if we could find some fresher specimens. We did, finding about 19 (17 males and 2 females). This was obviously at the beginning of their flight period, since all butterflies were fresh. Males generally emerge before females. Male, Alleghany Co., NC 5/27/07.
	Male, Alleghany Co., NC 5/27/07.
	Male, Alleghany Co., NC 5/27/07.
	Close-up of the male Long Dash's namesake mark. Alleghany Co., NC 5/27/07.
	Male, Alleghany Co., NC 5/27/07.
	Two males attempting to mate with a female (top). Alleghany Co., NC 5/27/07.

Male nectaring on a Geranium, Alleghany Co., NC 5/27/07.