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Species
Spotlight

Giant Silk
Moth Survey

BLACK DASH (Euphyes conspicua)

Identification
Male is dark brown above with a bold, black stigma surrounded by a large reddish-orange patch that covers nearly half the area of the forewing. Female is also brown above with a few white or pale cream spots on the forewing and a faint row of elongate creamy-orange markings on the hindwing. Both are rusty brown below with a pale yellow patch beyond the midwing.

Massachusetts Butterfly Club photographs

Kaufman's Butterflies of North America, page 324
Glassberg's Butterflies Through Binoculars, plate 66

Habitat in Vermont
Sedge wetland/meadow

Host Plant
Narrow-leaved sedges (i.e. Tussock Sedge, Carex stricta)

Adult Food Preferences
Nectar from Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis),
Jewelweed (Impatiens sp.), Swamp Thistle (Cirsium
pumilum) and especially Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata), which may be an indicator species for this butterfly..

U.S. Distribution

VBS Distribution

VBS Flight Period



Notes
This is a quintessential marsh skipper. Look for sedge. The fresh male Black Dash has a warm, rusty brown appearance. So pay careful attention to skippers that appear a bit richer in color when they land before you on some sedge. The hind wing spot band is thickest at its center.

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