NC Odonate Website

Related Species in LIBELLULIDAE:

Number of records for 2025 = 7

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e.g., flight data, high counts, and earliest/latest dates can be seen.
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Yellow-sided Skimmer (Libellula flavida) by Richard Stickney

Compare with: Spangled 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 females.

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Map

Click on county for list of all its records for Yellow-sided Skimmer

Flight Charts

Distribution

Almost statewide, but nearly absent from the extreme eastern and northeastern Coastal Plain, where there are but three records (Camden, Dare, and Washington counties) east of Gates, Bertie, and Carteret counties. Of spotty occurrence in the mountains and western half of the Piedmont, though likely present in all counties in those provinces.

Abundance

Uncommon to locally fairly common in the Sandhills; generally uncommon and local elsewhere over the Coastal Plain, Piedmont, and lower mountains. Rare in the eastern portions of the Coastal Plain and presumably the middle elevations of the mountains.

Flight

Downstate, from late April to mid-September. Flies at least from mid-May to early September in the mountains.

Habitat

More specialized than with other skimmers, being restricted more to seepages, small streams, and boggy spots, often with sphagnum, such as pools in powerline clearings.

See also Habitat Account for General Sedge, Grass, and Rush Mires

Behavior

Males perch fairly low on vegetation and make short patrols over their pools and other small patches of water, typically in partly sunny areas.

Comments

This is one of our least numerous skimmers, though it is a dragonfly that most active observers see a few times within the year, assuming they look in the right places. Adult males have some similarity of appearance to Eastern Pondhawk and Great Blue Skimmer, though the Yellow-sided has amber leading edges to the wings. They do not stray too far from boggy places with sphagnum or other partly-open mucky soils. It is somewhat local in occurrence, as such boggy wetlands are not widespread across a given county.

State Rank

S4S5

State Status

Global Rank

Federal Status

Synonym

Other Name

Species account update: LeGrand on 2025-05-26 09:42:38

The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
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Photo Gallery for Yellow-sided Skimmer 31 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.		Other NC Galleries: Jeff Pippen Will Cook Ted Wilcox
	Photo 1 by: Lori Arent, Audrey Whitlock Comment: Clay, 2025-05-17, Buck Creek Beaver Pond; photo by Lori Arent		Photo 2 by: Harry LeGrand, Lori Arent Comment: Richmond; C, 2022-08-17, Sandhills Game Land -- Bagget Lake area - mostly adult males; photo by Lori Arent
	Photo 3 by: Robby Deans Comment: Forsyth, 2022-07-31, Rural Hall, iNaturalist Record #128987517 - Female		Photo 4 by: Sarah Marshall Comment: McDowell; P, 2022-07-06, Near Old Fort at Andrews Geyser.
	Photo 5 by: Guy McGrane Comment: Watauga, 2022-07-02, Brookshire Park		Photo 6 by: Hunter Phillips Comment: Wayne, 2021-07-05, CLNE
	Photo 7 by: Lori Owenby Comment: Catawba, 2021-05-18, Riverbend Park. Lat: 35.81747 Lon: -81.180409, iNaturalist record 79316751. Posted by John Petranka - Female		Photo 8 by: John Petranka Comment: Orange, 2021-05-09, Duke Forest, powerline corridor crossing NC 751. - Female.
	Photo 9 by: B. Bockhahn Comment: Cumberland, 2021-04-21,		Photo 10 by: B. Bockhahn, K. Kittelberger Comment: Scotland, 2020-06-08, Scotland Lake
	Photo 11 by: John Petranka Comment: Watauga, 2019-05-20, Sim's Pond, Julian Price Park, Blue Ridge Parkway. Marshy area around pond inlet. - Male.		Photo 12 by: Aaron Edmonds Comment: Harnett; C, 2018-06-28, Flat Branch
	Photo 13 by: Aaron Edmonds Comment: Harnett; C, 2018-06-28, Flat Branch		Photo 14 by: Aaron Edmonds Comment: Harnett; C, 2018-06-28, Flat Branch
	Photo 15 by: Mark Shields, John Petranka, Sally Gewalt Comment: Jackson, 2018-06-26, Panthertown Valley, Nantahala National Forest - in bogs. First record for county.		Photo 16 by: Mark Shields Comment: Onslow, 2018-05-30, my property, Holly Ridge - immature male
	Photo 17 by: Mike Turner Comment: Richmond; C, 2018-05-06, Naked Creek @ Derby Rd. (SR 1003)		Photo 18 by: Mark Shields Comment: Onslow, 2017-05-29, Stones Creek Game Land
	Photo 19 by: Mark Shields Comment: Onslow, 2016-08-05, 1 female, Stones Creek Game Land		Photo 20 by: Richard Stickney Comment: Richmond; C, 2016-07-24, male
	Photo 21 by: Mark Shields Comment: Onslow, 2016-07-15, 1 male, Stones Creek Game Land		Photo 22 by: Conrad Wernett, Alyssa Wernett Comment: Richmond; C, 2015-06-14, - Adult males found along new ditches at back of hatchery.
	Photo 23 by: Conrad Wernett, Alyssa Wernett Comment: Scotland, 2015-06-14, - Immature males and immature/mature females around Scotland Lake		Photo 24 by: Jon Boerger Comment: Watauga, 2013-07-08, Blue Ridge Parkway
	Photo 25 by: Kyle Kittelberger Comment: Moore; C, 2013-06-12, Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve - teneral male just emerging from exuvia, showing female colors		Photo 26 by: Owen McConnell Comment: Durham, 2012-07-16, Quail Roost - female
	Photo 27 by: Vin Stanton, Janie Owens, Gail Lankford Comment: Haywood, 2011-08-13, Cataloochee Valley, Great Smoky Mountains NP		Photo 28 by: Vin Stanton Comment: Haywood, 2011-08-13, Cataloochee Valley, Great Smoky Mountains NP, with Janie Owens, Gail Lankford
	Photo 29 by: Steve Hall Comment: Montgomery, 2010-05-21, Black Ankle Bog		Photo 30 by: Beth Brinson Comment: Haywood, 2007-05-24, Cataloochee area, Male