NC Odonate Website

Related Species in GOMPHIDAE: Number of records for 2020 = 1

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Septima's Clubtail (Gomphurus septima) by Mark Shields

Compare with: Splendid Clubtail Cobra Clubtail Cocoa Clubtail Blackwater Clubtail Midland Clubtail
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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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map

Click on county for list of all its records for Septima's Clubtail

flight charts

distribution

Range has been expanding westward into the central and northwestern Piedmont in recent years, and thus now is present over essentially all of the eastern and central Piedmont, as well as into the upper edge of the Coastal Plain along the Roanoke and Cape Fear rivers. The species has a peculiar, disjunct, or relict range, and so far has been found only in NY, PA, NJ, VA, NC, SC, and AL (according to the OdonataCentral map). Thus, DE, MD, and GA lack records; and it has been found in just two counties each in VA, SC, and AL (OdonataCentral map).

abundance

Uncommon to locally fairly common, but widespread, within its NC range; noticeably increasing in the past few years -- a true increase in numbers as opposed to just an increase in search effort. Mainly in the Cape Fear River system -- Haw, Rocky, Deep, and the Cape Fear itself. Rare to uncommon in the Yadkin/Pee Dee River system. Rare in the Neuse, Tar, and Roanoke, where so far found only along these rivers (includes the Eno River as the upper end of the Neuse) and not their tributaries; only recently reported from the latter two rivers. Discovered in the Dan River system in spring 2017, but likely rare to very uncommon there.

flight

Early April to the end of May, and sparingly to mid-June. The peak is during the first half of May. The flight period has moved forward (earlier) by a week to 10 days over the past decade. Formerly quite rare before very late April, but now with a number of records prior to 20 April.

habitat

Breeds in clean, fast rivers and very large streams.

See also Habitat Account for Piedmont and General Rocky Rivers

behavior

Males perch on the ground near rivers, but they also perch on rocks in the rivers. For a clubtail, this species is rather easily observed and photographed, as individuals often perch on dirt roads, trails, and other spots away from the rivers.

comments

Until about 15 years ago, the species was known (apparently) only from NC and AL, and presumed to exist only in NC at that time. It has since been found far to the north in NY and NJ. This is, or at least was until about 10 years ago, one of the rarest dragonflies in the eastern United States. It has been found in 19 counties in NC (new in 2019 in Yadkin and Davidson counties), with photographic documentation for many of them. As mentioned above, the species is clearly on the increase in the state, and is now one of the more readily found clubtails along the larger rivers in the eastern third of the Piedmont. It should be re-ranked by NatureServe as G3, and in late 2018 the NC Natural Heritage Program changed the State Rank from S2 to S3. (It is hardly in danger of extirpation from NC or extinction over its range now.)

state_status

S_rank

fed_status

G_rank

G2 [G3]

date_spread

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

synonym

Gomphus septima

other_name

Species account update: LeGrand1234

The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
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Photo Gallery for Septima's Clubtail		Other NC Galleries: Jeff Pippen Will Cook Ted Wilcox
	Photo by: Jan Hansen Comment: Chatham, 2020-03-29, Bynum Bridge. Trail going east on the south side of the Haw River. - Bynum Bridge		Photo by: Mike Turner Comment: Yadkin, 2019-06-01, Donnaha Paddle Access, Yadkin River @ NC 67
	Photo by: R. Emmitt Comment: Durham, 2019-05-16, Eno River State Park Cole Mile Road - female		Photo by: John Petranka Comment: Orange, 2019-05-03, Eno River at Eno River State Park (ENRI) Pleasant Green Access. - Male.
	Photo by: Mike Turner Comment: Davidson, 2019-05-01, Yadkin River (Tuckertown Lake) below High Rock Lake dam		Photo by: Richard Stickney Comment: Orange, 2019-04-28, ENRI - Powerline cut off Old Cole Mill Road
	Photo by: Richard Stickney Comment: Durham, 2019-04-28, Penny's Bend - Male eating a moth		Photo by: Mike Turner Comment: Lee, 2018-05-12, Deep River Park/Camelback Bridge
	Photo by: M. Turner, J. Daigle, T. Schoch, T. Deering Comment: Chatham, 2018-05-12, Deep River Park/Camelback Bridge		Photo by: Tim Deering/Jerrell Daigle Comment: Chatham, 2018-05-12, Camelback Bridge Landing, Deep River
	Photo by: Mike Turner and Randy Emmitt Comment: Chatham, 2018-05-05, White Pines Nature Preserve - plus 5 that were probably this species but didn't see well enough for positive ID		Photo by: Mark Shields Comment: Chatham, 2018-05-05, Deep River Park - males
	Photo by: Mike Turner Comment: Montgomery, 2018-04-29, Uwharrie River @ Low Water Bridge - ad.male		Photo by: Mark Shields Comment: Montgomery, 2018-04-21, Uwharrie River at Low Water Bridge - male
	Photo by: Mark Shields Comment: Montgomery, 2018-04-21, Uwharrie River at Low Water Bridge - male		Photo by: Richard Stickney Comment: Alamance, 2017-05-28, Swepsonville River Park - old females
	Photo by: Richard Stickney Comment: Alamance, 2017-05-28, Swepsonville River Park - old females		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn Comment: Stokes, 2017-05-03, Hanging Rock State Park - male, first county record; Moratoc Park. Brian has a real nice photo
	Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn Comment: Rockingham, 2017-05-02, Mayo River State Park - male, first county record. Below the boiling hole, a class 3 rapid just a few hundred feet south of bridge		Photo by: Conrad Wernett Comment: Alamance, 2017-04-15, - Single male photographed at Swepsonville River Park on Haw River, other similarly colored/sized clubtails flying, presumed to be same species.
	Photo by: John Petranka Comment: Montgomery, 2016-04-05, Uwharrie National Forest, NC 109 at Uwharrie River Bridge. 2 females. Photo.		Photo by: John Petranka Comment: Alamance, 2015-05-13, Haw River at Swepsonville. Perched on rock in river about 100 meters downstream from the bridge. Accessible from the Swepsonville River Park Trail. - Female.
	Photo by: Rick Cheicante Comment: Halifax; P, 2015-05-03,		Photo by: Rick Cheicante Comment: Halifax; P, 2015-05-03,
	Photo by: Alicia Jackson-Home Comment: Moore; P, 2014-05-03, Rascob Road at a tributary of the Deep River		Photo by: Brena Jones and Ryan Heise, NCWRC Comment: Richmond; C, 2013-04-19, Landed on electrofishing boat - male
	Photo by: Brena Jones and Ryan Heise, NCWRC Comment: Richmond; C, 2013-04-19, Landed on electrofishing boat - male		Photo by: Kyle Kittelberger Comment: Wake, 2012-05-03, Below Falls Dam along the Neuse River - Female
	Photo by: Steve Hall Comment: Montgomery, 2011-06-02, Uwharrie River		Photo by: Carol Clemens Comment: Nash, 2011-04-12, Rocky Mount - photo from BugGuide webpage
	Photo by: S. Garriock Comment: Wake, 2009-05-15, G. septima, male, Neuse River near Falls Lake Dam, Wake Co. NC.		Photo by: S. Garriock Comment: Chatham, 2009-04-28, Gomphus septima, female, 5 km SW Siler City, Chatham Co., NC
	Photo by: H. LeGrand Comment: Lee Co., 2003-04-29 - Endor Iron Furnace preserve

Photo Gallery for Septima's Clubtail