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Northern Broken-dash - Wallengrenia egeremet

Classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Hesperiidae
Genus: Wallengrenia

Description

The northern broken-dash has a wingspan of 1 to 1.5 inches. It is brown on its upperside and underside. The male has orange markings on its forewings near its stigma. The stigma is a section of scent cells located on the forewings of the males of some species of butterflies. The female has cream colored markings on her forewings.

Range

In North America, the northern broken-dash is found from Ontario, Canada east to Quebec, Canada and south to Texas and Florida. The northern broken-dash is found in New Hampshire.

Habitat

The northern broken-dash is found in fields, meadows, and other open areas near woods or scrubland.

Diet

The northern broken-dash caterpillar eats a variety of panic and switch grasses. The adult northern broken-dash eats nectar from pink, white, and purple flowers including dogbane, clover, and New Jersey tea.

Lifecycle

In the northern part of its range, the northern broken-dash has one brood a year, usually between June and August. In the southern part of its range, it may have two broods a year between May and September.

Behavior

The Northern broken-dash is sometimes confused with the Dun skipper, and they are often found feeding together.