NC Odonate Website

Related Species in LESTIDAE:

Number of records added in 2020 = 7
Added in 2020 from previous year = 1 (2019-06-14)

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e.g., flight data, high counts, and earliest/latest dates can be seen.
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Swamp Spreadwing (Lestes vigilax) by Mark Shields

Compare with: Elegant Spreadwing Carolina Spreadwing
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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 Swamp Spreadwing

distribution

Statewide, being recorded from over 85 counties, with "absences" in scattered counties across the state. Presumed to occur in all 100 counties, unless absent along the immediate northeastern coast.

abundance

Fairly common to common in the mountains, and locally very common in parts of the Coastal Plain. Oddly, appears to be less numerous (i.e., uncommon) in the intervening Piedmont, as there are slightly fewer records there than in the mountains, which has a much smaller geographic range and many fewer observers than in the Piedmont. There are single-party counts of at least 20 individuals in each of the three provinces; one count surpasses 100 individuals in the lower Coastal Plain.

flight

A wide flight period, extending to late autumn. In the Coastal Plain, it occurs from late April to late November. Piedmont records fall between mid-May and late October; mountain records fall between mid-May and late September. There is a very early state date of 29 March for the lower Coastal Plain.

habitat

Ponds and lakes in somewhat wooded country, especially where shrubs grow in the water; or where marshy vegetation grows along the margins of such waters.

behavior

comments

This is another reasonably common spreadwing across the state, with large numbers of records in all three provinces. Mark Shields has added many dozens of records in the past several years from the southern coastal area.

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[Overwinter:] [Date Spread:] [No Late Date:] [Split on Feb:] [Default:]

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Species account update: LeGrand on 2020-01-24 13:48:32

The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
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Photo Gallery for Swamp Spreadwing		Other NC Galleries: Jeff Pippen Will Cook Ted Wilcox
	Photo by: B. Bockhahn, K. Kittelberger Comment: Scotland, 2020-06-08, Scotland Lake		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Richard Stickney Comment: Durham, 2020-05-17, pond at Penny's Bend
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Richard Stickney Comment: Durham, 2020-05-17, pond at Penny's Bend		Photo by: Jason Love Comment: Macon, 2019-09-17, Netted, photographed, and released. Lindenwood Lake (aka Lake Ravenel) at the Highlands Biological Station - Male. Found perched on sedge at edge of lake. Specimen also added to iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/33010817
	Photo by: Mark Shields Comment: Brunswick, 2018-08-26, Boiling Spring Lakes - North Lake and Spring Lake parks		Photo by: Mark Shields Comment: Transylvania, 2018-06-27, Gorges State Park (GORG) - many tandem/ovipositing pairs at Raymond Fisher Pond
	Photo by: Mark Shields Comment: Jackson, 2018-06-25, Pond beside Breedlove Road, 5 km northeast of Cashiers		Photo by: Rob Van Epps Comment: Richmond; C, 2017-10-01, NC Sandhills Gamelands
	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Comment: Richmond; C, 2017-10-01, NC Sandhills Gamelands		Photo by: Conrad Wernett Comment: Carteret, 2017-05-21, - Patsy Pond, both females
	Photo by: Mark Shields, Hunter Phillips Comment: Scotland, 2017-05-15, Scotland Lake and in-flowing creek, Sandhills Game Land		Photo by: Mark Shields Comment: Robeson, 2016-09-25, Lumber River, between Boardman Boating Access and Piney Island Campsite
	Photo by: Mark Shields Comment: Dare; Mainl, 2016-09-17, Sandy Ridge Wildlife Trail, Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge		Photo by: Mark Shields Comment: Onslow, 2016-09-05, individuals not counted; Stones Creek Game Land
	Photo by: Mark Shields Comment: Pender, 2016-09-05, Holly Shelter Game Land, ponds		Photo by: Mark Shields Comment: Carteret, 2016-05-25, ponds along Patsy Pond Nature Trail, Croatan National Forest
	Photo by: Mark Shields Comment: Carteret, 2015-11-11, ponds along Patsy Pond Nature Trail, Croatan National Forest		Photo by: Mark Shields Comment: Onslow, 2015-10-22, Stones Creek Game Land
	Photo by: Mark Shields Comment: Bladen, 2015-08-10, Suggs Millpond (aka Horseshoe Lake) - many in tandem pairs		Photo by: Doug Johnston Comment: Madison, 2012-07-26, Leach pond, close to Sandy Mush Gamelands
	Photo by: Vin Stanton, Doug Johnston Comment: Transylvania, 2011-08-19, Brevard - Male & Female		Photo by: Doug Johnston, Simon Thompson, Gail Lankford, Vin Stanton Comment: Henderson, 2011-08-06, Fletcher Park - Female
	Photo by: Vin Stanton Comment: Buncombe, 2011-06-17, imaged at Owen Park East Asheville - M & F		Photo by: Vin Stanton Comment: Buncombe, 2011-06-17, imaged at Owen Park East Asheville - M & F
	Photo by: Ali Iyoob, Matt Daw, Dan Irizarry Comment: Scotland, 2011-05-05, Scotland Lake in the Gamelands		Photo by: Beth Brinson Comment: Alleghany, 2008-07-04, Blue Ridge Parkway - Male
	Photo by: ASH Comment: Moore; C, 2007-08-09,

Photo Gallery for Swamp Spreadwing