NC Odonate Website

Related Species in AESHNIDAE:

Number of records added in 2020 = 2
Added in 2020 from previous year = 1 (1903-07-16)

PDF has more details,
e.g., flight data, high counts, and earliest/latest dates can be seen.
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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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Click on county for list of all its records for Cyrano Darner

distribution

Essentially 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; range extended nearly to the base of the Blue Ridge Escarpment with a sight record from Wilkes County in 2019.

abundance

Uncommon to fairly common (but never in swarms) in the Coastal Plain, generally uncommon in the eastern Piedmont, but rare in the central/western Piedmont. Can be fairly numerous in the lower Coastal Plain, where there was one-day count of 14 individuals in 2019, made from a kayak along the Camden-Currituck county line.

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

fed_status

G_rank

date_spread

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

synonym

other_name

Species account update: LeGrand1234

The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
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Photo Gallery for Cyrano Darner		Other NC Galleries: Jeff Pippen Will Cook Ted Wilcox
	Photo by: Scott Bolick Comment: Guilford, 2020-06-02, Deep River Trail north of East Fork Rd. near power line cut. iNaturalist Record 48282176 - Male.		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

Photo Gallery for Cyrano Darner