The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
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North Carolina's 189 Odonate species

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Sort Species by: Family   Scientific Name       [ Undocumented ]
Related Species in GOMPHIDAE: Number of records for 2024 = 0
Added in 2024 from a previous years = 2

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e.g., flight data, high counts, and earliest/latest dates can be seen.
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Mustached Clubtail (Hylogomphus adelphus) by John Petranka
Compare with: Green-faced Clubtail   Sable Clubtail   Cherokee Clubtail  
Identification Tips: Move the cursor over the image, or tap the image if using a mobile device, to reveal ID Tips.
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 Mustached Clubtail
Flight Charts
Distribution Mountains and adjacent foothills only; known from just nine counties, in the northern and central portions of the province. As expected from the state range map, this is a Northern species, ranging from Canada to northern GA (one record).
Abundance Seemingly rare in the northern half of the mountains (and adjacent foothills), with seldom more than one or two individuals seen in a day. Obviously very rare, at best, in the southern half of the mountains. As there is a record for northern GA, it should occur sparingly in GA and SC border counties in NC.
Flight A spring to early summer flight, with the flight period seemingly moving earlier in recent years (as has been the case for many odonates). Formerly seldom found prior to mid-May, but the flight now is from mid-April to late June, though May and early June are the usual dates for finding it. Some records previously reported earlier in May have been determined by website reviewers to be of Green-faced or Cobra clubtails.
Habitat Rivers to small streams, where there are riffles or rapids. Occasionally at lakes.
Behavior The species is most active in late afternoon. Adults may perch on rocks, shorelines, and leaves near rivers and creeks.
Comments This is one of many montane species of dragonflies that is poorly known to most state biologists; the species is likely found mainly with a purposeful search, late in the day. A photographic record made by Curtis Smalling in 2015 added Watauga County to the list of known counties. More importantly, photos from foothill sites in Caldwell (by Mark Shields) and McDowell (by Smalling) counties added two additional counties to the state range, especially indicating that it ranges downward into the transition zone with the Piedmont province. In 2018, John Petranka added photographic documentation for Avery County, though there is a vague previous sighting for that county. Shields, along with Hunter Phillips, documented a first record for Mitchell County, to fill in a small gap in the range.

Records are increasing in recent years owing to more surveys of the northern and central mountains, and the species might better now be given a State Rank of S2 (instead of the current S1S2). As there are only 22 records with dates, perhaps moving the rank to S2 can wait for a few years, to see if more locations are discovered. It remains a Significantly Rare species, tracked by the N.C. Natural Heritage Program.
State Rank S1S2
State Status SR
Global Rank G5
Federal Status
Synonym Gomphus adelphus
Other Name
Species account update: LeGrand on 2023-01-10 10:22:20

Photo Gallery for Mustached Clubtail   32 photos are available.
Only the most recent 30 are shown.
Other NC Galleries:    Jeff Pippen    Will Cook    Ted Wilcox
Photo 1 by: P Dixon

Comment: Madison, 2023-10-14, Spring Creek in Hot Springs, iNat Observation 187669451
Photo 2 by: P Dixon

Comment: Buncombe, 2023-02-28, Forks of Ivy
Photo 3 by: P Dixon

Comment: Buncombe, 2023-04-01, Forks of Ivy
Photo 4 by: P Dixon

Comment: Buncombe, 2023-04-01, Forks of Ivy
Photo 5 by: Max Ramey

Comment: Watauga, 2022-05-31, Watauga River Road (1/4 mile upstream from Hubert Thomas Rd.) - 2 males, first record for the Watauga drainage in NC
Photo 6 by: Max Ramey

Comment: Watauga, 2022-05-31, Watauga River Road (1/4 mile upstream from Hubert Thomas Rd.) - 2 males, first record for the Watauga drainage in NC
Photo 7 by: John Petranka, Jim Petranka, Becky Elkin

Comment: Yancey, 2021-05-24, Along Cane River south of Burnsville. - Males.
Photo 8 by: Becky Elkin

Comment: Madison, 2021-05-19, Along the French Broad River near Hot Springs at Murray Branch Picnic Area - Male
Photo 9 by: p dixon

Comment: Madison, 2020-05-07, Hot Springs area, 3-4, 63 degrees
Photo 10 by: p dixon

Comment: Madison, 2020-05-07, Hot Springs area, 3-4, 63 degrees
Photo 11 by: p dixon

Comment: Madison, 2020-05-07, Hot Springs area, 3-4, 63 degrees
Photo 12 by: p dixon

Comment: Madison, 2020-05-07, Hot Springs area, 63 degrees
Photo 13 by: p dixon

Comment: Madison, 2020-05-07, Hot Springs area, 63 degrees
Photo 14 by: p dixon

Comment: Madison, 2020-05-03, French Broad River, Hot Springs area - Laurel River
Photo 15 by: p dixon

Comment: Madison, 2020-05-03, French Broad River, Hot Springs area - Laurel River
Photo 16 by: p dixon

Comment: Madison, 2020-05-03, French Broad River, Hot Springs area - Laurel River
Photo 17 by: p dixon

Comment: Madison, 2020-04-17, Hot Springs area
Photo 18 by: p dixon

Comment: Madison, 2020-04-17, Hot Springs area
Photo 19 by: p dixon

Comment: Madison, 2020-04-17, Hot Springs area
Photo 20 by: p dixon

Comment: Madison, 2020-04-11, Hot Springs area - Davis Branch
Photo 21 by: p dixon

Comment: Madison, 2020-04-11, Hot Springs area - Davis Branch
Photo 22 by: p dixon

Comment: Madison, 2020-04-11, Hot Springs area - Davis Branch
Photo 23 by: Mark Shields, Hunter Phillips

Comment: Mitchell, 2019-05-16, Nolichucky River at Poplar Access Area. - male
Photo 24 by: Mark Shields, Hunter Phillips

Comment: Madison, 2019-05-15, French Broad River at NOC access upstream from US 25 bridge, Hot Springs
Photo 25 by: John Petranka

Comment: Avery, 2018-06-07, Linville River at Linville Falls Picnic Area third loop, Blue Ridge Parkway mile marker 316.5 - Male. Feeding from patch of sunny vegetation alongside river.
Photo 26 by: John Petranka

Comment: Avery, 2018-06-06, Linville River at Linville Falls Picnic Area middle loop, Blue Ridge Parkway mile marker 316.5 - Male. Perched on rocks near shore.
Photo 27 by: Curtis Smalling

Comment: McDowell; M, 2017-06-06, at North Fork Catawba River 35.839236 -81.98814
Photo 28 by: Curtis Smalling

Comment: McDowell; M, 2017-06-06, at North Fork Catawba River 35.839236 -81.98814
Photo 29 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Caldwell, 2017-06-04, Wilson Creek, US Forest Service access off Brown Mountain Beach Road
Photo 30 by: Curtis Smalling

Comment: Watauga, 2015-05-28, at Meat Camp Creek Environmental Studies Area - 36.263300; -81.6300427