This week is everyone’s favorite group of grass butterflies - the Skippers!
Which butterfly below is a Long Dash?
- Left
- Right
0
voters
Click below to reveal the results of this weeks’ quiz
The butterfly on the right is the long dash. The butterfly on the left is a Sassacus skipper.
The Sassacus skipper is usually lighter in color than the long dash, which can have hind wings ranging from brown to pale yellow. Wing wear on older long dash can make it difficult to distinguish markings. Long dash typically emerge a few weeks later than the Sassacus.
For their other telltale characteristics, you will have to look closely at the post-median band on their hindwings.
- The middle two spots (third and fourth from either direction) of the Sassacus skipper are out of line with the rest, sit closer to the edge of the wing and are angled towards the wing margin. This line on the long dash is more in line and parallel to the curvature of the wing.
- The post-median spots on the long dash tend to be longer and thinner than on the Sassacus skipper.
The Sassacus skipper is much less common in Vermont than the long dash.
Long Dash by Jeff Cherry (iNaturalist)
Sassacus (Indian) Skipper by Cat Abbott (iNaturalist, cropped)
Ready for your next challenge? Click here for the week 12 quiz!