The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
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North Carolina's 187 Odonate species
Common Name: Scientific Name:

Sort Species by: Family   Scientific Name       [ Undocumented ]
Related Species in AESHNIDAE: Number of records for 2019 = 10

PDF has more details,
e.g., flight data, high counts, and earliest/latest dates can be seen.
[View PDF]		Cyrano Darner (Nasiaeschna pentacantha) by John Petranka
Compare with: Swamp Darner   Regal Darner  
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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mapClick on county for list of all its records for Cyrano Darner
distribution The eastern two-thirds of the state only. Throughout the Coastal Plain, and the eastern 60% of the Piedmont, west to Rockingham, Forsyth, and Gaston counties.
abundance Uncommon to fairly common (but never in swarms) in the Coastal Plain, generally uncommon in the eastern Piedmont, but rare in the central Piedmont.
flight Mainly in late spring and summer. In the Coastal Plain, the flight occurs from mid-April to late August, and sparingly to mid-September. The Piedmont flight occurs from late April to mid-August. The peak tends to occur in June and July.
habitat Mostly standing water in forested areas, such as swampy pools or openings in swamps; forested ponds; canals. They favor blackwater, as opposed to brownwater, bodies of water.

See also Habitat Account for General Wet-Hydric Floodplains
behavior Males have a distinctive flight behavior. They fly monotonous routes back and forth, often about 3-4 feet off the water, over canals and pools/ponds. Adults are only infrequently seen away from such pools and ponds; normally, one must look for the species over water.
comments It can be frustrating to find one perched. However, the species can be identified in flight, through binoculars, and the "nose" can be seen under such circumstances. As the species is quite territorial, normally an observer will only see a single Cyrano Darner at a given body of water, and thus it is difficult to see more than a few of them in a given day.
state_status
S_rank S4S5
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G_rank G5
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Species account update: LeGrand

Photo Gallery for Cyrano Darner

 Other NC Galleries:    Jeff Pippen    Will Cook    Ted Wilcox
Photo by: Mark Shields

Comment: Camden, 2019-06-24, Indiantown Creek, from S. Indiantown Rd. bridge to confluence with North River and back, by kayak. - males patrolling along edge of creek		Photo by: Mark Shields

Comment: Currituck, 2019-06-24, Indiantown Creek, from S. Indiantown Rd. bridge to confluence with North River and back, by kayak. - males patrolling along edge of creek
Photo by: Mark Shields

Comment: Sampson, 2019-05-24, Black River, from Ivanhoe Boating Access Area to 4.5 km upstream and back, by kayak.		Photo by: Mike Turner

Comment: Craven, 2018-09-02, West Prong Brice Creek - dead, floating in the creek
Photo by: Robert Gilson

Comment: Mecklenburg, 2018-07-12, Reedy Creek Nature Preserve - Albert Stevens collected		Photo by: Mike Turner

Comment: Forsyth, 2018-07-08, Winston Lake
Photo by: Mark Shields, Hunter Phillips

Comment: Dare; OBU, 2018-06-29, Nags Head Woods Preserve - males patrolling over small, swampy ponds		Photo by: Mark Shields

Comment: Craven, 2018-06-16, Swift Creek; 7 km section between Cool Springs Boating Access Area and NC 43 bridge, by kayak
Photo by: Mark Shields

Comment: Chowan, 2018-06-09, Edenton National Fish Hatchery - seen from boardwalk along Pembroke Creek. First record for county.		Photo by: Mark Shields

Comment: New Hanover, 2018-06-01, Airlie Gardens, Wilmington
Photo by: Mark Shields and Hunter Phillips

Comment: Tyrrell, 2017-08-04, Scuppernong River Interpretive Boardwalk, Columbia		Photo by: Mark Shields

Comment: Washington, 2017-06-16, Conaby Creek, from boating access area to 2.25 km upstream by kayak
Photo by: Conrad Wernett, Alyssa Wernett

Comment: Columbus, 2017-06-04, - Males patrolling below spillway from Lake Waccamaw. 		Photo by: Mark Shields

Comment: Duplin, 2017-05-27, Northeast Cape Fear River between Chinquapin Boat Access and Wayne\'s Landing Boat Access, by kayak
Photo by: Mark Shields

Comment: Robeson, 2017-05-17, Lumber River; LURI Princess Ann Access to Fair Bluff Boating Access Area by kayak		Photo by: Mark Shields

Comment: Columbus, 2017-04-12, Waccamaw River from Pireway Boating Access Area to 6 km upstream
Photo by: Mark Shields

Comment: Onslow, 2016-07-23, Southwest Creek, from boat ramp off Verona Loop Rd. upstream to Highway 17 bridge		Photo by: Mark Shields

Comment: Jones, 2016-06-04, White Oak River between Quarry lakes and Dixon Field Landing
Photo by: Mark Shields

Comment: Brunswick, 2015-09-05, Waccamaw River - male patrolling in cove 0.25 km upstream of NC 904 bridge		Photo by: Mark Shields

Comment: Sampson, 2015-08-23, Black River by kayak from Ivanhoe Boating Access to 0.5 km upstream of Dr Kerr Rd bridge
Photo by: Mark Shields

Comment: Bladen, 2015-08-09, Black River by kayak, between NC 53/11 bridge and Hunts Bluff Wildlife ramp		Photo by: John Petranka

Comment: Chatham, 2015-05-29, Rocky River at TLC
Photo by: R. Emmitt, Meg Millard

Comment: Orange, 2014-06-24, - caught in spiderweb alive inside our porch.		Photo by: George Andrews

Comment: Union, 2014-05-07, Cane Creek Park lake - Cruising creek
Photo by: George Andrews

Comment: Union, 2013-08-07, Cane Creek Park lake (Union County) 09:30-11:30 - Cruising the main feeder creek		Photo by: FKW

Comment: Gates, 2007-06-26, male, MEMI - Canoe access