NC Odonate Website

Related Species in LIBELLULIDAE:		Number of records for 2025 = 5
Added in 2025-00-00 from a previous years = 2 (2024-05-29) (2024-06-15)

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e.g., flight data, high counts, and earliest/latest dates can be seen.
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Great Blue Skimmer (Libellula vibrans) by Mark Shields

Compare with: Bar-winged Skimmer Eastern Pondhawk
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 Great Blue Skimmer

Flight Charts

Distribution

Essentially statewide, lacking records now for just one mountain county. Certainly is present in all 100 counties.

Abundance

Common, to locally abundant, in the Coastal Plain; common in the eastern and central Piedmont; somewhat less numerous (fairly common, at least locally) in the western Piedmont and lower mountains. This is one of the most numerous dragonflies in swamps and bottomlands.

Flight

Late April into early October in the Piedmont and into late October in the Coastal Plain. The mountain flight, quite a bit narrower, is from mid-May to mid-September.

Habitat

Still or slow-moving waters in mostly shaded areas, such as swamps and swampy pools, wooded beaver ponds, and very slow-moving streams.

See also Habitat Account for General Wet-Hydric Forests

Behavior

Males commonly perch around the margins of swampy pools and other wet areas in swamps and bottomlands. Adults typically stay close to forested areas, such as along roads through bottomlands and swamps. They usually perch on twigs of trees along the wooded edges, often 5-10 feet high. They can be quite pugnacious, with much chasing of other Great Blue Skimmers in their small territories.

Comments

This is the largest of the Libellula skimmers, and though colored in pruinose pale blue like adult male Eastern Pondhawks and several other male skimmers, the male Great Blue Skimmer is separated by its very pale blue thorax (contrasting with the slightly darker abdomen), greenish-blue eyes, and white face. They can occur in swarms of a dozen or more in a very small area. This species is one of the most common dragonflies (next to Eastern Pondhawk) that one sees along roads through swamps and bottomlands, especially as seen from bridges over swampy rivers and creeks.

State Rank

State Status

Global Rank

Federal Status

Synonym

Other Name

Species account update: LeGrand on 2024-01-10 14:53:54

The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
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Photo Gallery for Great Blue Skimmer 80 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.		Other NC Galleries: Jeff Pippen Will Cook Ted Wilcox
	Photo 1 by: B. Bockhahn Comment: Currituck, 2025-06-01, Pine Island Audubon Sanctuary		Photo 2 by: B. Bockhahn Comment: Henderson, 2024-09-05, Bat Fork Bog
	Photo 3 by: B. Bockhahn Comment: Henderson, 2024-08-01, Ochlawaha Bog		Photo 4 by: Mark Shields Comment: Bladen, 2024-06-20, Cape Fear River at Lock and Dam #1
	Photo 5 by: Jeff Niznik Comment: Scotland, 2024-06-15, Lumber River State Park Chalk Banks, iNaturalist #254279070 - Male		Photo 6 by: Ken Kneidel Comment: Mecklenburg, 2024-05-29, Ribbonwalk Nature Preserve
	Photo 7 by: Ken Kneidel Comment: Mecklenburg, 2023-07-08,		Photo 8 by: Guy McGrane Comment: Watauga, 2022-08-09, Boone Greenway-Angel Stair wetland
	Photo 9 by: Tom Howe Comment: Swain, 2022-06-06, among vegetation at edge of wetland, female had just oviposited - female was right after ovipositing. Male collected for GRSM Twin Creeks		Photo 10 by: Tom Howe Comment: Swain, 2022-06-06, among vegetation at edge of wetland, female had just oviposited - female was right after ovipositing. Male collected for GRSM Twin Creeks
	Photo 11 by: Nora Murdock, Robert Emmott, Tom Howe, Paul Durr Comment: Swain, 2022-06-06,		Photo 12 by: Nora Murdock Comment: Swain, 2022-06-06, In a small wetland along Hazel Creek, Great Smoky Mountains. Other observers: , Robert Emmott, Tom Howe, Paul Durr
	Photo 13 by: Paul Hart Comment: Harnett; P, 2021-07-05, Cape Fear Shiner County Park		Photo 14 by: Mark Shields Comment: Martin, 2021-06-19, Roanoke River at Astoria Landing Public Fishing Access, Jamesville
	Photo 15 by: John Petranka Comment: Orange, 2021-05-21, At residence in Falls of New Hope Neighborhood - Female		Photo 16 by: Jan Hansen Comment: Orange, 2020-05-04, Mason Farm
	Photo 17 by: Barbara McRae Comment: Macon, 2019-06-26, Seen in swampy area of Little Tennessee River, Franklin (Suli Marsh)		Photo 18 by: Vin Stanton Comment: Buncombe, 2019-06-25, Owen Park, Swannanoa - Male
	Photo 19 by: John Petranka, Sally Gewalt Comment: Yancey, 2019-05-23, Black Mountain Campground. - 2 males; 1 female ovipositing in seep.		Photo 20 by: John Petranka, Jim Petranka and party. Comment: Avery, 2019-05-21, Pond on private property that adjoins the Blue Ridge Parkway in southern Avery County. - Male.
	Photo 21 by: Will Stuart Comment: Anson, 2019-05-17, Along GTR Road, Pee Dee NWR - This species seen multiple times along GTR.		Photo 22 by: Pete Dixon Comment: Madison, 2019-05-13, River Road, Murray Branch Meadows
	Photo 23 by: Aaron Edmonds Comment: Harnett; C, 2019-05-11, Campbell University- Marshbanks Property		Photo 24 by: Mike Turner Comment: Carteret, 2018-09-02, Croatan National Forest; Millis Rd.
	Photo 25 by: Mike Turner Comment: Davie, 2018-08-04, S. Yadkin River @ Cooleemee boating access - ad.males		Photo 26 by: Mark Shields Comment: Richmond; C, 2018-07-06, Pee Dee River; 2 km stretch upstream from Diggs Tract Access, by kayak
	Photo 27 by: Mike Turner Comment: Forsyth, 2018-07-01, Winston Lake - adult males		Photo 28 by: Maria de Bruyn Comment: Orange, 2018-06-20, Mason Farm Biological Reserve
	Photo 29 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 30 by: Mark Shields Comment: Chowan, 2018-06-09, Edenton National Fish Hatchery