NC Odonate Website

Related Species in LIBELLULIDAE:

Number of records for 2025 = 9

PDF has more details,
e.g., flight data, high counts, and earliest/latest dates can be seen.
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Spangled Skimmer (Libellula cyanea) by Mark Shields

Compare with: Yellow-sided Skimmer
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 Spangled Skimmer

Flight Charts

Distribution

Statewide, but of spotty distribution in the extreme eastern Coastal Plain, at least on the Outer Banks and around the mainland portions of Pamlico Sound. Even so, it might be found in all NC counties.

Abundance

Common in the mountains; fairly common (to locally common) in the Piedmont and most of the Coastal Plain. Seemingly scarce (if not locally absent) on the Outer Banks and the eastern Pamlimarle Peninsula.

Flight

A slightly shorter flight period than for many other skimmers -- late April to mid-September. In the Coastal Plain, the latest records are only to late August, except for an odd mid-November record.

Habitat

Ponds, small lakes, marshes, and other open waters with abundant floating or emergent vegetation.

See also Habitat Account for General Pond Shorelines

Behavior

Males perch close to water and make short patrols. However, adults are typically seen well away from water, such as in powerline clearings, wide jeep roads, fields, and woodland edges. They perch on twigs, often fairly low and can be conspicuous or unwary when perching.

Comments

This is our only dragonfly with black-and-white stigmas, rendering both males and females easy to identify, even though their body colorations can cause some confusion with other skimmers. The species seldom occurs in large numbers or swarms, as do some skimmers (such as Great Blue Skimmer, Common Whitetail, or Blue Corporal), but a handful can often be seen in the appropriate habitat and time of year.

State Rank

State Status

Global Rank

Federal Status

Synonym

Other Name

Species account update: LeGrand on 2023-01-16 17:52:24

The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
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Photo Gallery for Spangled Skimmer 49 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.		Other NC Galleries: Jeff Pippen Will Cook Ted Wilcox
	Photo 1 by: Matt Spangler Comment: Orange, 2025-05-31, Eno River SP ENRI--Pleasant Green access		Photo 2 by: Lori Arent, Harry LeGrand, Jeff Pippen Comment: Granville, 2024-06-25, two gasline/powerline clearings in the Butner area. Photo by Lori Arent
	Photo 3 by: Guy McGrane Comment: Watauga, 2024-06-01, - Brookshire Park		Photo 4 by: Guy McGrane Comment: Watauga, 2024-06-01, - Brookshire Park
	Photo 5 by: Matt Spangler Comment: Chatham, 2024-05-22, Jordan Lake Educational State Forest - F ovipositing		Photo 6 by: Amy Padgett Comment: Bladen, 2024-04-14, Slades Swamp: mixed hardwoods 2 miles SW of Clarkton - Agricultural field adjacent to swamp
	Photo 7 by: Amy Padgett Comment: Bladen, 2024-04-14, Slades Swamp: mixed hardwoods 2 miles SW of Clarkton - Agricultural field adjacent to swamp		Photo 8 by: Rob Van Epps & Kevin Metcalf Comment: Watauga, 2022-08-28, Clawson-Burnley Park
	Photo 9 by: Nora Murdock, Keith Langdon, Robert Emmott Comment: Swain, 2021-07-06,		Photo 10 by: John Gerwin Comment: Randolph, 2021-06-19, Lassiter Mill; caught in bird mist nets
	Photo 11 by: P Dixon Comment: Madison, 2021-06-16, Hot Springs area		Photo 12 by: Pete Dixon Comment: Madison, 2021-06-05, Hot Springs area
	Photo 13 by: Barbara McRae Comment: Macon, 2020-05-05, Franklin, Little Tennessee River, wetland near Greenway. - Female		Photo 14 by: Ken Kneidel Comment: Mecklenburg, 2019-05-18, female, Cowan's Ford Wildlife Refuge
	Photo 15 by: Will Stuart Comment: Anson, 2019-05-15, Photographed along Grass Island Road 200 m east of Brown Creek bridge. - Brown Creek bridge was closed for all of 2019		Photo 16 by: Pete Dixon Comment: Madison, 2019-05-13, River Road, Murray Branch Meadows
	Photo 17 by: Aaron Edmonds Comment: Harnett; C, 2019-05-11, Campbell University- Marshbanks Property		Photo 18 by: Mike Turner Comment: Wilkes; P, 2018-07-21, W. Kerr Scott Dam and Reservoir; from dam to ~1000' downstream - 18 adult males
	Photo 19 by: Mike Turner Comment: Forsyth, 2018-07-02, Tanglewood Park - 1 ad.male		Photo 20 by: Mark Shields Comment: Edgecombe, 2018-05-25, Etheridge Pond, Tar River Game Land
	Photo 21 by: Mark Shields Comment: Pitt, 2018-05-25, Tar River at Falkland Boating Access Area		Photo 22 by: Aaron Edmonds Comment: Harnett; C, 2018-05-21, Flat Branch- Male and Immature Male Observed
	Photo 23 by: Aaron Edmonds Comment: Harnett; C, 2018-05-21, Flat Branch- Male and Immature Male Observed		Photo 24 by: Mark Shields Comment: Duplin, 2018-05-11, Northeast Cape Fear River at Chinquapin Boating Access Area - female
	Photo 25 by: Barbara McRae Comment: Macon, 2017-06-07, Franklin, Little Tennessee River, wetland near Greenway - male perched in small wetland area		Photo 26 by: Owen McConnell Comment: Cherokee, 2015-06-15, Cherokee Lake (a dammed creek arm of Hiwassee Lake)
	Photo 27 by: Conrad Wernett Comment: Onslow, 2015-06-07 - Single mature male found at retention pond		Photo 28 by: Alicia Jackson Comment: Hoke, 2015-05-29, along small impounded pond on existing gas line ROW
	Photo 29 by: Dick Thomas Comment: Guilford, 2015-05-29, Piedmont Environmental Center, High Point - Sunnvale Rd N.Preserve		Photo 30 by: Owen McConnell Comment: Orange, 2015-05-26, Ayr Mount - male