NC Odonate Website

Related Species in LIBELLULIDAE:

Number of records for 2025 = 33

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e.g., flight data, high counts, and earliest/latest dates can be seen.
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Common Whitetail (Plathemis lydia) by John Petranka

Compare with: Distinctive
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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 Common Whitetail

Flight Charts

Distribution

Statewide, occurring in all 100 counties.

Abundance

Very common to abundant across the state, not seeming to vary considerably in numbers from one province to another. Though seldom occurring large swarms -- the highest one-day count is "just" 80 individuals -- it is among the most widespread species in terms of habitats from wet to dry, wooded to open.

Flight

Nearly the entire odonate flight season, from late March to late October, sparingly into November.

Habitat

Ponds, lakes, swamps, seeps, pools, and other open water. Probably uses smaller, temporary pools and ditches more than most other dragonflies.

Behavior

Adults commonly perch flat on the ground, especially on mud or other damp ground, such as pond shores, muddy spots in powerline clearings, and so forth. They also perch more often on concrete, wood, and other man-made structures than do most other dragonflies. They do perch on twigs and vegetation, but not as frequently as do most other skimmers. They forage well away from water, in fields, woodland borders, powerline clearings, as well as at pond margins, etc.; they often come into urban habitats such as gardens and yards.

Comments

This may be the most conspicuous or obvious dragonfly in NC, especially to the layman; they are impossible to miss or overlook when present, as they perch on the ground where observers frequently walk. In fact, one quickly tires of them, despite their attractiveness. Though females could be confused with the scarce Twelve-spotted Skimmer, in general this a very easily identified dragonfly.

State Rank

State Status

Global Rank

Federal Status

Synonym

Libellula lydia

Other Name

Species account update: LeGrand on 2023-01-17 09:48:34

The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
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Photo Gallery for Common Whitetail 66 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.		Other NC Galleries: Jeff Pippen Will Cook Ted Wilcox
	Photo 1 by: Mark Shields Comment: Anson, 2025-05-01, ponds at Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge		Photo 2 by: Al Hooks Comment: Johnston; C, 2025-04-05, Bottomlands near Neuse River 2 miles N of Smithfield
	Photo 3 by: John Petranka Comment: Chatham, 2025-04-04, White Pines Nature Preserve. - Female		Photo 4 by: B. Bockhahn Comment: Macon, 2024-07-24, Wilson Lakes, Nantahala National Forest
	Photo 5 by: G. McGrane Comment: Caldwell, 2024-06-11, Globe Mtn Road - FR 288		Photo 6 by: Mark Shields Comment: Alexander, 2023-05-11, Rocky Face Mountain Recreational Area
	Photo 7 by: Mark Shields Comment: Caldwell, 2023-05-10, Wilson Creek, about 1.5 km downstream from Mortimer		Photo 8 by: Guy McGrane Comment: Watauga, 2022-08-09, Boone Greenway-Angel Stair wetland
	Photo 9 by: Kevin Metcalf Comment: Mecklenburg, 2022-07-14, Clarks Creek Nature Preserve on Hucks Road, Charlotte. Pond		Photo 10 by: John Petranka Comment: Orange, 2022-04-15, NHCBS, Hollow Rock Nature Park, West of Pickett Road, Meadow
	Photo 11 by: John Petranka Comment: Durham, 2021-08-22, NHCBS, New Hope Creek Bottomlands, Powerline		Photo 12 by: John Petranka Comment: Sampson, 2021-07-13, Pondberry Bay Preserve.
	Photo 13 by: Lynn Swafford Comment: Pitt, 2021-05-24, Male: Pond in Farmville, NC near disk golf course		Photo 14 by: John Petranka Comment: Alamance, 2021-05-21, Sunny patches on upland trails near the Haw River at Shallow Ford Natural Area. - Photo is of female.
	Photo 15 by: Lora Cline Loftin Comment: McDowell; P, 2020-07-14, Marion		Photo 16 by: Kyle Kittelberger Comment: Wake, 2020-07-12, near Falls Lake - attracted to MV light at night
	Photo 17 by: Mike Turner Comment: Cumberland, 2020-05-18, retention pond @ 35.0858, -78.9181		Photo 18 by: p dixon Comment: Madison, 2020-04-20, Hot Springs area - first of the year
	Photo 19 by: Jan Hansen Comment: Orange, 2020-04-04, Power line cut parallel to Morgan Creek near Mason Farm		Photo 20 by: John Petranka Comment: Yancey, 2019-05-22, Black Mountain Campground. - Female. Along South Toe River Lower Loop Trail.
	Photo 21 by: Mark Shields Comment: Cumberland, 2018-07-13, Cape Fear Botanical Garden, Fayetteville		Photo 22 by: Mike Turner Comment: Davie, 2018-07-03, S. Yadkin River @ Concord Church boating access
	Photo 23 by: Chuck Smith Comment: Davidson, 2018-06-28, Residence off of Jerusalem Road. - Male, immature coloration.		Photo 24 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 25 by: Mark Shields Comment: Chowan, 2018-06-09, Edenton National Fish Hatchery		Photo 26 by: Mark Shields Comment: Edgecombe, 2018-05-25, Etheridge Pond, Tar River Game Land
	Photo 27 by: Mark Shields and Hunter Phillips Comment: Rockingham, 2018-05-13, Mayo River State Park (MARI) - Mayo Mountain Access - around ponds near park office		Photo 28 by: Guy McGrane Comment: Watauga, 2018-05-01, Appears to be the earliest report for the county - Ben Miller Road
	Photo 29 by: Mark Shields Comment: Lenoir, 2018-05-01, Neuseway Nature Park, Kinston		Photo 30 by: Mark Shields Comment: Wayne, 2018-05-01, Waynesborough Park, Goldsboro - female