The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
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North Carolina's 188 Odonate species
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Related Species in LIBELLULIDAE: Number of records added in 2021 = 53
Added in 2020 from previous year = 1 (2020-05-04)

PDF has more details,
e.g., flight data, high counts, and earliest/latest dates can be seen.
[View PDF]		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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Click on county for list of all its records for Great Blue Skimmer
flight charts
distribution Essentially statewide, lacking records now for just two mountain counties. 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 Floodplains
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) and greenish-blue eyes. 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_status
S_rank S5
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G_rank G5
date_spread [Overwinter:] [Date Spread:] [No Late Date:] [Split on Feb:] [Default:]
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other_name
Species account update: LeGrand on 2021-02-09 13:39:15
Photo Gallery for Great Blue Skimmer   66 photos are available.
Only the most recent 30 are shown.
Other NC Galleries:    Jeff Pippen    Will Cook    Ted Wilcox
Photo 1 by: Paul Hart

Comment: Harnett; P, 2021-07-05, Cape Fear Shiner County Park		Photo 2 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Martin, 2021-06-19, Roanoke River at Astoria Landing Public Fishing Access, Jamesville
Photo 3 by: Jan Hansen

Comment: Orange, 2020-05-04, Mason Farm		Photo 4 by: Barbara McRae

Comment: Macon, 2019-06-26, Seen in swampy area of Little Tennessee River, Franklin (Suli Marsh)
Photo 5 by: Vin Stanton

Comment: Buncombe, 2019-06-25, Owen Park, Swannanoa - Male		Photo 6 by: John Petranka, Sally Gewalt

Comment: Yancey, 2019-05-23, Black Mountain Campground. - 2 males; 1 female ovipositing in seep.
Photo 7 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 8 by: Will Stuart

Comment: Anson, 2019-05-17, Along GTR Road, Pee Dee NWR - This species seen multiple times along GTR.
Photo 9 by: Pete Dixon

Comment: Madison, 2019-05-13, River Road, Murray Branch Meadows		Photo 10 by: Aaron Edmonds

Comment: Harnett; C, 2019-05-11, Campbell University- Marshbanks Property
Photo 11 by: Mike Turner

Comment: Carteret, 2018-09-02, Croatan National Forest; Millis Rd.		Photo 12 by: Mike Turner

Comment: Davie, 2018-08-04, S. Yadkin River @ Cooleemee boating access - ad.males
Photo 13 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Richmond; C, 2018-07-06, Pee Dee River; 2 km stretch upstream from Diggs Tract Access, by kayak		Photo 14 by: Mike Turner

Comment: Forsyth, 2018-07-01, Winston Lake - adult males
Photo 15 by: Maria de Bruyn

Comment: Orange, 2018-06-20, Mason Farm Biological Reserve		Photo 16 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 17 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Chowan, 2018-06-09, Edenton National Fish Hatchery		Photo 18 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Currituck, 2018-06-09, pond at Currituck Community Park near Maple
Photo 19 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Perquimans, 2018-06-09, Perquimans River at NC 37 bridge		Photo 20 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Pender, 2018-05-18, Holly Shelter Game Land, dike between NE Cape Fear River and greentree impoundment
Photo 21 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Lenoir, 2017-08-01, Neuseway Nature Park, Kinston		Photo 22 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Brunswick, 2017-07-30, Ev-Henwood Nature Preserve, Winnabow
Photo 23 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Washington, 2017-06-16, Conaby Creek, from boating access area to 2.25 km upstream by kayak		Photo 24 by: John Petranka

Comment: Robeson, 2017-05-27, Lumber River at the Boardman Boating Access on US Hwy. 74. - Remarkable numbers of females and immature males, mainly perched in trees at the parking area. Only 3 males with mature coloration seen.
Photo 25 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Jones, 2017-04-28, Haywood Landing and Weetock Trail, Croatan National Forest		Photo 26 by: Mark Shields

Comment: New Hanover, 2015-09-13, Ft. Fisher State Recreation Area, Basin Trail
Photo 27 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 28 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Duplin, 2015-08-15, Northeast Cape Fear River by kayak, between Wayne
Photo 29 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Bladen, 2015-08-09, Black River by kayak, between NC 53/11 bridge and Hunts Bluff Wildlife ramp		Photo 30 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Columbus, 2015-08-01, Lake Waccamaw State Park - abundant