NC Odonate Website

Related Species in COENAGRIONIDAE: Number of records for 2019 = 14

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Blue-ringed Dancer (Argia sedula) by Mark Shields

Compare with: Skimming Bluet
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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 Blue-ringed Dancer

distribution

Occurs over most of the state, but apparently absent in the eastern third or quarter of the Coastal Plain (i.e., the Tidewater area). Probably present over all of the mountains, but just one record for the southwestern counties.

abundance

Common to locally abundant (at least near the Fall Line) in the Piedmont; fairly common in the western Coastal Plain, but likely uncommon to locally fairly common in the remainder of the Coastal Plain part of the range. Uncommon to locally fairly common in the mountains, but apparently rare (though likely not absent) in the southwestern counties. Presumed absent in the Tidewater zone, from Pamlico Sound to the VA border.

flight

The Piedmont flight occurs from early May to mid-October, sparingly to mid-November. The mountain flight is from mid-May to late September, whereas the Coastal Plain flight occurs from mid-May to mid-October.

habitat

Streams and rivers, typically where somewhat rocky, and usually where there is some herbaceous vegetation along the water. Sometimes around shores of lakes and ponds, and can be found along roads and other corridors away from water.

behavior

comments

There have been a few remarkably high counts for the species along the Neuse River below the Falls Lake dam. This is another of the common species of dancers, normally easily found in most parts of the state. The absence of records for the extreme southwestern mountains seems puzzling, considering that range maps include most of the Southeastern states.

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Species account update: LeGrand

The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
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Photo Gallery for Blue-ringed Dancer		Other NC Galleries: Jeff Pippen Will Cook Ted Wilcox
	Photo by: Mike Turner Comment: Stanly, 2018-08-31, Rocky River @ NC 138		Photo by: Mike Turner Comment: Yadkin, 2018-08-26, Pilot Mountain S.P.; river section
	Photo by: Mike Turner Comment: Montgomery, 2018-08-25, Uwharrie River @ Low Water Bridge		Photo by: Mark Shields Comment: Harnett; C, 2018-07-13, Cape Fear River Trail Park, Erwin
	Photo by: Mark Shields Comment: Bladen, 2018-07-13, Cape Fear River at William O. Huske Lock and Dam		Photo by: Mike Turner Comment: Forsyth, 2018-07-08, Winston Lake
	Photo by: Mark Shields Comment: Anson, 2018-07-06, Pee Dee River; 2 km stretch upstream from Diggs Tract Access, by kayak		Photo by: Mark Shields Comment: Richmond; C, 2018-07-06, Pee Dee River; 2 km stretch upstream from Diggs Tract Access, by kayak
	Photo by: Mike Turner Comment: Davie, 2018-07-03, S. Yadkin River @ Cooleemee boating access		Photo by: Mike Turner Comment: Forsyth, 2018-07-01, Winston Lake - ad.males
	Photo by: Vin Stanton, Janie Owens, Gail Lankford Comment: Madison, 2017-09-19, River Road, north of Hot Springs 35.92085° -82.87313° - Male		Photo by: Conrad Wernett Comment: Harnett; P, 2017-07-29, - RARO - Lower Campbell Creek
	Photo by: Vin Stanton Comment: Buncombe, 2017-07-25, Ledges River Park, French Broad River - Male and Female		Photo by: Rob Van Epps Comment: Mecklenburg, 2017-07-08, Mallard Creek between Mallard Creek Church Rd and Harris Blvd.
	Photo by: Rob Van Epps Comment: Mecklenburg, 2017-06-13, - Roosevelt Wilson Park; Davidson, NC		Photo by: Mark Shields Comment: Columbus, 2016-08-27, Lumber River, between Boardman Boating Access and Lumber River State Park Princess Ann Access
	Photo by: Mark Shields Comment: Robeson, 2016-08-27, Lumber River, between Boardman Boating Access and Lumber River State Park Princess Ann Access		Photo by: Owen McConnell Comment: Graham, 2014-07-08, white-water input ramp on the Cheoah River
	Photo by: Vin Stanton, Doug Johnston, Simon Thompson Comment: Polk; P, 2012-08-04, FENCE - Male		Photo by: Steve Hall and Harry LeGrand Comment: Northampton, 2012-07-13, North shore of the Roanoke River at the US 258 bridge crossing
	Photo by: Vin Stanton, Doug Johnston Comment: Haywood, 2011-06-08, imaged at Lake Junaluska		Photo by: Doug Johnston, Vin Stanton Comment: Madison, 2011-06-05, French broad river Marshal
	Photo by: Doug Johnston Comment: Buncombe, 2010-07-09, North Buncombe county - French broad river		Photo by: Ted Wilcox Comment: Ashe, 2007-07-27, female
	Photo by: Salman Abdulali Comment: Pitt, 2006-07-29,		Photo by: R Emmitt Comment: Orange, 2004-05-26. Eno River State Park at the Pleasant Green Dam
	Photo by: Mike Turner Comment: Guilford, 2018-06-30, Lake Higgins

Photo Gallery for Blue-ringed Dancer