The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
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North Carolina's 189 Odonate species
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Related Species in LIBELLULIDAE: Number of records for 2024 = 6
Added in 2024-00-00 from a previous year = 1

PDF has more details,
e.g., flight data, high counts, and earliest/latest dates can be seen.
[View PDF]		Yellow-sided Skimmer (Libellula flavida) by Richard Stickney
Compare with: Spangled Skimmer  
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Note: these identification tips apply specifically to mature males; features may differ in immature males and females.
Libellula_flavida

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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 G5
Federal Status
Synonym
Other Name
Species account update: LeGrand on 2023-01-16 17:56:02
Photo Gallery for Yellow-sided Skimmer   30 photos are shown. Other NC Galleries:    Jeff Pippen    Will Cook    Ted Wilcox
Photo 1 by: Harry LeGrand, Lori Arent

Comment: Richmond; C, 2022-08-17, Sandhills Game Land -- Bagget Lake area - mostl adult males		Photo 2 by: Robby Deans

Comment: Forsyth, 2022-07-31, Rural Hall, iNaturalist Record #128987517 - Female
Photo 3 by: Sarah Marshall

Comment: McDowell; P, 2022-07-06, Near Old Fort at Andrews Geyser.		Photo 4 by: Guy McGrane

Comment: Watauga, 2022-07-02, Brookshire Park
Photo 5 by: Hunter Phillips

Comment: Wayne, 2021-07-05, CLNE		Photo 6 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 7 by: John Petranka

Comment: Orange, 2021-05-09, Duke Forest, powerline corridor crossing NC 751. - Female.		Photo 8 by: B. Bockhahn

Comment: Cumberland, 2021-04-21,
Photo 9 by: B. Bockhahn, K. Kittelberger

Comment: Scotland, 2020-06-08, Scotland Lake		Photo 10 by: John Petranka

Comment: Watauga, 2019-05-20, Sim's Pond, Julian Price Park, Blue Ridge Parkway. Marshy area around pond inlet. - Male.
Photo 11 by: Aaron Edmonds

Comment: Harnett; C, 2018-06-28, Flat Branch		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: Mark Shields, John Petranka, Sally Gewalt

Comment: Jackson, 2018-06-26, Panthertown Valley, Nantahala National Forest - in bogs. First record for county.
Photo 15 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Onslow, 2018-05-30, my property, Holly Ridge - immature male		Photo 16 by: Mike Turner

Comment: Richmond; C, 2018-05-06, Naked Creek @ Derby Rd. (SR 1003)
Photo 17 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Onslow, 2017-05-29, Stones Creek Game Land		Photo 18 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Onslow, 2016-08-05, 1 female, Stones Creek Game Land
Photo 19 by: Richard Stickney

Comment: Richmond; C, 2016-07-24, male		Photo 20 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Onslow, 2016-07-15, 1 male, Stones Creek Game Land
Photo 21 by: Conrad Wernett, Alyssa Wernett

Comment: Richmond; C, 2015-06-14, - Adult males found along new ditches at back of hatchery.		Photo 22 by: Conrad Wernett, Alyssa Wernett

Comment: Scotland, 2015-06-14, - Immature males and immature/mature females around Scotland Lake
Photo 23 by: Jon Boerger

Comment: Watauga, 2013-07-08, Blue Ridge Parkway		Photo 24 by: Kyle Kittelberger

Comment: Moore; C, 2013-06-12, Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve - teneral male just emerging from exuvia, showing female colors
Photo 25 by: Owen McConnell

Comment: Durham, 2012-07-16, Quail Roost - female		Photo 26 by: Vin Stanton, Janie Owens, Gail Lankford

Comment: Haywood, 2011-08-13, Cataloochee Valley, Great Smoky Mountains NP
Photo 27 by: Vin Stanton

Comment: Haywood, 2011-08-13, Cataloochee Valley, Great Smoky Mountains NP, with Janie Owens, Gail Lankford		Photo 28 by: Steve Hall

Comment: Montgomery, 2010-05-21, Black Ankle Bog
Photo 29 by: Beth Brinson

Comment: Haywood, 2007-05-24, Cataloochee area, Male 		Photo 30 by: R. Emmitt

Comment: ?, 2001-05-20, teneral female