The Northern Broken Dash is a medium-sized brown skipper with a few light beige spots. The male’s upperside features a divided stigma on the post-basal to post-medial area of the forewing, similar to the Southern Broken Dash, hence the name “broken dash.” A pale pinkish spot marks the tip of the divided black stigma.

The underside of the male is purplish to reddish brown, with a curved row of pale beige spots along the submarginal area of the hindwing. The female’s upperside is brown with a row of pale orange spots near the outer edge of the forewing.

Both sexes share a characteristic, faint, curved row of pale spots along the hindwing sub-margin.

 

“Northern Broken-Dash” by Summerazure, licensed under (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

 

Northern Broken-Dash Facts

Butterfly Family: Skipper (Hesperiidae)

Butterfly Subfamily: Hesperiinae

Butterfly Wingspan: 1 – 1 1/2 inches

Butterfly Habitat: Open places near woods or scrub

 

🪴 Host Plants

These are the native grasses where females lay eggs and caterpillars feed:

• Deertongue Grass (Dichanthelium clandestinum)

• Fall Panicgrass (Panicum dichotomiflorum)

• Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum)

 

🌸 Nectar Plants

Adult Northern Broken-Dashes feed on nectar from the following native flowers:

• Blazing Star (Liatris spp.)

• Dogbane (Apocynum spp.)

• Goldenrod (Solidago spp.)

• Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium spp.)

• New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus)

• Sweet Pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia)

• Thistles (Cirsium spp.)