NC Odonate Website

Related Species in LIBELLULIDAE: Number of records for 2019 = 73

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Painted Skimmer (Libellula semifasciata) by John Petranka

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Note: these identification tips apply specifically to mature males; features may differ in immature males and in females.

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Click on county for list of all its records for Painted Skimmer

distribution

Essentially statewide, though likely scarce at middle elevations and perhaps absent at higher elevations in the mountains. Occurs throughout the Piedmont and Coastal Plain, including counties along the coast.

abundance

Fairly common to occasionally common in the southern half of the Coastal Plain; uncommon to locally fairly common in the northern Coastal Plain and in the lower Piedmont; uncommon in the remainder of the Piedmont and lower mountains; scarce at higher elevations. Abundance is quite at odds with Dunkle (2000) for its entire range, and Beaton (2007) for GA, both which indicate "uncommon". Perhaps the species is more numerous in NC than in most other states. Seldom occurs in large numbers on a given day, but quite widespread, at least in much of the Coastal Plain.

flight

Very late March or early April to mid-September, and rarely to early October, in the Coastal Plain and Piedmont; however, not numerous after late July. In the mountains, the flight occurs from late April to mid-September, but is scarce after mid-summer.

habitat

Marshes, bogs or boggy areas, grassy ponds, and other pools; favors semi-wooded areas.

behavior

Less likely to spend much time around ponds, pools, and marshes than most other skimmers. Instead, adults are typically seen foraging well away from water (thus not making it clear what might be the breeding habitat), often in fields, savannas, powerline clearings, and woodland borders. They often perch conspicuously on tips of twigs or grass stems.

comments

This skimmer seldom occurs in swarms, but is often seen daily, at least in the southern Coastal Plain in the first part of the flight season. Because of their flashy wing pattern -- males and females look almost alike -- individuals are easily noticed, even by beginners or casual observers.

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Species account update: LeGrand

The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
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Photo Gallery for Painted Skimmer		Other NC Galleries: Jeff Pippen Will Cook Ted Wilcox
	Photo by: John Petranka, Jim Petranka and party. Comment: Avery, 2019-05-21, Pond on private property that adjoins the Blue Ridge Parkway in southern Avery County. - Male.		Photo by: Mark Shields, Hunter Phillips Comment: Wayne, 2019-04-15, Cliffs of the Neuse State Park (CLNE)
	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Comment: Mecklenburg, 2019-04-11, West Branch Rocky River Greenway		Photo by: Aaron Edmonds Comment: Harnett; C, 2018-08-23, Flat Branch
	Photo by: Mark Shields, John Petranka, Sally Gewalt Comment: Jackson, 2018-06-26, Panthertown Valley, Nantahala National Forest - in bog. First record for county.		Photo by: Mark Shields Comment: Currituck, 2018-06-09, pond at Currituck Community Park near Maple
	Photo by: J. Brown Comment: Dare; OBU, 2018-05-26, RUHI		Photo by: Mark Shields Comment: Beaufort, 2018-05-25, Voice of America Game Land
	Photo by: Mark Shields Comment: Edgecombe, 2018-05-25, Etheridge Pond, Tar River Game Land		Photo by: Vin Stanton Comment: Clay, 2018-05-12, Beaver pond Buck Creek Road
	Photo by: Mark Shields and Hunter Phillips Comment: Brunswick, 2018-04-02, Boiling Spring Lakes Preserve Nature Trail		Photo by: Mark Shields Comment: Jones, 2017-04-11, Weetock Trail near Haywood Landing, Croatan National Forest
	Photo by: Mark Shields Comment: Onslow, 2017-04-08, my property, Holly Ridge		Photo by: Mark Shields Comment: Carteret, 2016-03-29, ponds along Patsy Pond Nature Trail, Croatan National Forest
	Photo by: Mark Shields Comment: New Hanover, 2015-08-06, Carolina Beach State Park - at Lily Pond		Photo by: Kristy Baker Comment: Currituck, 2015-06-09, Pine Island Audubon Sanctuary
	Photo by: Kristy Baker Comment: Dare; Mainland, 2015-06-07, Alligator River NWR Charles Kuralt Trail		Photo by: Kristy Baker Comment: Tyrrell, 2015-06-06, Palmetto-Peartree Preserve
	Photo by: Salman Abdulali Comment: Pitt, 2015-05-05, Boyd Lee Park		Photo by: Owen McConnell Comment: Graham, 2014-06-23, Tulula Wetlands
	Photo by: Owen McConnell Comment: Durham, 2014-06-01, Duke Forest		Photo by: Owen McConnell Comment: Orange, 2014-05-09, Occoneechee Mountain SNA - female
	Photo by: Conrad Wernett Comment: Jones, 2014-05-03, - Waterfowl impoundment		Photo by: Conrad Wernett Comment: Scotland, 2014-04-26, - Scotland Lake
	Photo by: Vin Stanton, Virginia Senechal Comment: Henderson, 2013-06-20, Westfeldt Park, Northern Henderson County - Male & Female		Photo by: John Petranka Comment: Orange, 2013-04-27, Eno River State Park. Fews Ford section, power line cut west of maintenance area. - Male.
	Photo by: Doug Johnston Comment: Pender, 2013-04-23, Cape fear river, Holly shelter game land		Photo by: Curtis Smalling Comment: Watauga, 2011-06-10, all at Meat Camp Creek Environmental Studies Area
	Photo by: Vin Stanton Comment: Buncombe, 2011-05-22, Imaged at Richmond Hill Park Asheville		Photo by: Ali Iyoob, Matt Daw, Dan Irizarry Comment: Wake, 2011-05-04,
	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Comment: Mecklenburg, 2011-04-10, West Branch Nature Preserve		Photo by: Curtis Smalling Comment: Watauga, 2010-04-23, At Meat Camp Creek Environmental Studies Area
	Photo by: Curtis Smalling Comment: Watauga, 2010-04-23, At Meat Camp Creek Environmental Studies Area		Photo by: Vin Stanton Comment: Henderson, 2009-09-13, Imaged at Fletcher Park - Female
	Photo by: Ted Wilcox Comment: Ashe County, 2004-05-27

Photo Gallery for Painted Skimmer