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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Southern Pygmy Clubtail (Lanthus vernalis) by Richard Stickney
Compare with: 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 Southern Pygmy Clubtail
Flight Charts
Distribution Throughout the mountains; known from nearly all counties in the province. Found in the South Mountains, in the western Piedmont, in 2022 (in northern Rutherford County). Despite the common name -- Southern (as opposed to the Northern, for Lanthus parvulus) -- this is an Appalachian and somewhat Northern species, ranging south only to the extreme northern mountains of GA.
Abundance Fairly common and widespread. It is one of the more numerous of the clubtails in the NC mountains, even in the southernmost mountain counties.
Flight Though both Dunkle (2000) and Beaton (2007) mention or graphically portray the early date as mid-May, many have been seen in NC earlier in the season. Perhaps global warming is moving the flight in NC earlier, but its flight in the state is now from mid-April to mid- or late July. The peak occurs from mid-May to early June.
Habitat Typically breeds at small, rocky streams, often where shaded.
Behavior Usually seen perched on vegetation, often well away from streams, but in wooded areas, such as along wide trails and dirt roads. Rather unwary and easily studied.
Comments By early or mid-May, this can be a somewhat easily found dragonfly near streams and along dirt roads through bottomlands or along streams. It is one of the smaller clubtails, and it is somewhat slender as well. Interestingly, Dunkle (2000) calls the species "uncommon" across its range, and Beaton (2007) calls it "rare to locally uncommon" in its small northern Georgia range. Perhaps it is more common in NC than elsewhere within its range.
State Rank S4
State Status
Global Rank G4
Federal Status
Synonym
Other Name
Species account update: LeGrand on 2023-01-10 11:01:58

Photo Gallery for Southern Pygmy Clubtail   30 photos are shown. Other NC Galleries:    Jeff Pippen    Will Cook    Ted Wilcox
Photo 1 by: P Dixon, Jeff Pippen

Comment: Haywood, 2023-05-19, Harmen Den, Horse Camp meadows
Photo 2 by: Kevin Metcalf

Comment: Rutherford; M, 2022-04-17, One adult; Old CC Road in South Mountains Game Lands. Wings still soft as if just emerged. - I Adult; South Mountains Game Lands
Photo 3 by: Kevin Metcalf

Comment: Rutherford; M, 2022-04-17, One adult; Old CC Road in South Mountains Game Lands. Wings still soft as if just emerged. - I Adult; South Mountains Game Lands
Photo 4 by: Kevin Metcalf

Comment: Rutherford; M, 2022-04-17, One adult; Old CC Road in South Mountains Game Lands. Wings still soft as if just emerged. - I Adult; South Mountains Game Lands
Photo 5 by: Kevin Metcalf

Comment: Rutherford; M, 2022-04-17, One adult male; Old CC Road in South Mountains Game Lands. Wings still soft as if just emerged. Near stream. Found on vegetation. Apparently first County record, and first for the South Mountains.
Photo 6 by: Lynn Swafford

Comment: Transylvania, 2021-06-13, Near the Upper Falls of Graveyard Fields in Pisgah National Forest
Photo 7 by: David Benterou

Comment: Haywood, 2021-05-17, GSMNP near confluence of Caldwell Fork and Den Branch along Cataloochee Horse Trail. iNaturalist record #85975893 - Female.
Photo 8 by: Owen McConnell

Comment: Graham, 2021-05-08, On nylon cord of a swing on porch of cabin next to West Buffalo Creek
Photo 9 by: Doug Allen

Comment: Polk; M, 2021-04-27, Tryon/White Oak mountain - near mountain stream
Photo 10 by: Ken Kneidel

Comment: Yancey, 2020-05-17, near South Toe River, Burnsville
Photo 11 by: p dixon

Comment: Madison, 2020-04-17, Hot Springs area
Photo 12 by: p dixon

Comment: Madison, 2020-04-17, Hot Springs area
Photo 13 by: p dixon

Comment: Madison, 2020-04-17, Hot Springs area
Photo 14 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. - 1 male, 1 female.
Photo 15 by: Richard Stickney

Comment: Alleghany, 2017-05-29, Little Glade Pond on Blue Ridge Parkway
Photo 16 by: Richard Stickney

Comment: Alleghany, 2017-05-29, Little Glade Pond on Blue Ridge Parkway
Photo 17 by: Jason Love

Comment: Macon, 2016-05-01, Found at Tessentee Bottomland Preserve - Female
Photo 18 by: Lori Williams

Comment: Henderson, 2015-06-05, on arm of deck chair at my residence in Fletcher
Photo 19 by: Owen McConnell

Comment: Graham, 2015-05-02, old logging road near FS 81 bridge over Big Santeetlah Creek
Photo 20 by: Bob Cherry

Comment: Jackson, 2012-07-16, Blue Ridge Parkway
Photo 21 by: Tim Martin

Comment: Swain, 2012-05-10, Below footbridge over Oconaluftee River that begins the Kephart Prong Trail, located off of Newfound Gap Road, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina, elevation ca. 3000 feet. From Martin's Flickr page. - 1 male, 1 female. Photo is of female.
Photo 22 by: Vin Stanton, Doug Johnston, Gail Lankford, Janie Owen

Comment: Madison, 2012-04-28, Max Patch, Pisgah National Forest - female
Photo 23 by: Vin Stanton, Doug Johnston, Gail Lankford, Janie Owen

Comment: Madison, 2012-04-28, Max Patch, Pisgah National Forest - female
Photo 24 by: Doug Johnston, Vin Stanton

Comment: Madison, 2012-04-12
Photo 25 by: Doug Johnston

Comment: Yancey, 2010-05-23, Mt. Mitchell area
Photo 26 by: Jeffrey Pippen - Jeff's website

Comment: Graham, 2006-04-28
Photo 27 by: Will Cook - Will's website

Comment: Clay, 2005-05-22
Photo 28 by: Will Cook - Will's website

Comment: Clay, 2005-05-22
Photo 29 by: Jeffrey Pippen - Jeff's website

Comment: Buncombe, 2004-06-26
Photo 30 by: Ted Wilcox

Comment: Ashe, 2006-07-22, female