# Long Dash (*limochores mystic*) The Long Dash is a lively little insect that loves to flit around flowers! With its vibrant colors and swift movements, it’s always a delight to spot in the garden. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger - **Snaps:** 7 - **Habitat:** Long Dashes prefer sunny gardens and meadows filled with flowers. - **Also known as:** Colorful Flyer, Sun Dancer ![Long Dash](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Polites_mystic.jpg&width=800) Photo: Gilles Gonthier, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Polites_mystic.jpg) ## Appearance The Long Dash is a medium-sized skipper with dark brown wings, often showing subtle orange or yellowish-brown markings. Males are distinguished by a prominent, elongated dark streak (the 'stigma') on their forewings. Its robust body and large eyes give it a moth-like appearance, differentiating it from other butterflies. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Lepidoptera - **Family:** Hesperiidae - **Genus:** Polites ## Interesting facts - Adults visit many different wildflowers, acting as important pollinators for meadows and marshes. - Its name, Long Dash, comes from the male's distinct dark streak and its incredibly swift flight. - Long Dash caterpillars eat specific wetland grasses, making them very picky eaters! - Skippers have hooked antennae, making them look like a cool mix between moths and butterflies! ## Special abilities - **Lightning Flight:** Long Dash can dart quickly through the air because of its powerful wings that help it evade predators and find flowers fast. - **Nectar Straw:** Long Dash has a long, coiled proboscis that helps them reach sweet nectar deep inside tall flowers. - **Leaf Camouflage:** Long Dash caterpillars can roll up leaves to create a hidden shelter, protecting them from hungry birds. - **Body Armor:** The Long Dash has a thick, furry body that helps them retain warmth, making them active even on cooler days. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 30-45 mm - **Size:** 25-35 mm - **Lifespan:** 14-28 days - **Flight Speed:** 20 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Adult Long Dashes drink flower nectar, while their caterpillars munch on wetland grasses. - **Age differences:** Adults consume nectar; larvae graze on plant leaves. - **Primary Foods:** flower nectar, swamp milkweed, jewelweed, buttonbush, sedge leaves, various wetland grasses - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** [Swamp Milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/swamp-milkweed) (*Asclepias incarnata*) — Drinks nectar, helps spread pollen. - **Pollinates:** Jewelweed (*Impatiens capensis*) — Nectars on flowers, aids plant growth. - **Eats:** Bebb's Sedge (*Carex bebbii*) — Caterpillars munch on its leaves. - **Eaten by:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — A tasty meal for hungry birds. ## Traits - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger No special safety notes yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Long Dash? Compare the wing outline, spots, bands, eyespots and wing edges. The underside can look completely different from the top. Check for tails, the antennae and where the markings sit instead of relying on color alone. Butterfly Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Long Dash's wingspan? 30-45 mm ### How big is Long Dash? 25-35 mm ### How long does Long Dash live? 14-28 days ### How fast can Long Dash fly? 20 km/h ### What does Long Dash eat? Adult Long Dashes drink flower nectar, while their caterpillars munch on wetland grasses. ### Where is Long Dash usually found? Long Dashes prefer sunny gardens and meadows filled with flowers. ### How does Long Dash hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Brattleboro Downtown Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brattleboro-downtown-historic-district) — Vermont, US · Historic District - [Glen Haven](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/glen-haven) — Michigan, US · Historic District - [Dorchester Common Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/dorchester-common-historic-district) — New Hampshire, US · Historic District - [Granby Center Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/granby-center-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District - [Jewell Town District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/jewell-town-district) — New Hampshire, US · Historic District - [October Mountain State Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/october-mountain-state-forest) — Massachusetts, US · Forest [View all places to see Long Dash](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/long-dash) ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Long Dash: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/long-dash)