NC Odonate Website

Related Species in LIBELLULIDAE:

Number of records for 2023 = 53

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Blue Corporal (Ladona deplanata) by John Petranka

Compare with: Eastern Pondhawk Blue Dasher Chalk-fronted Corporal
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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 Blue Corporal

Flight Charts

Distribution

Statewide, but of somewhat spotty occurrence in the mountains, where found mainly at the lower elevations.

Abundance

Common to locally abundant in the southern Coastal Plain, and common to very common in the rest of the Coastal Plain and in the eastern and central Piedmont. Fairly common in the western Piedmont, but formerly rare to mostly now uncommon in the mountains, where it seems to be increasing (eight "new" county records were added in the past few years).

Flight

Essentially the spring season only. In the Coastal Plain and Piedmont, the flight occurs from late February (rarely earlier) to mid-May, but sparingly to mid-June. There are several odd records for late summer and fall; two (August and November) are specimens (correctly labeled?) and one (September) is a sight report (correctly identified?). However, Richard Stickney photographed an adult on 3 November (2020), posted to this website, and saw another at the same site on the amazing date of 22 December (2020)! The mountain flight occurs from late March to early June, very rarely to early July.

Habitat

Ponds, lakes, and other slow-moving waters. Most numerous at somewhat infertile waters such as Carolina bay pools and lakes.

See also Habitat Account for General Pond Shorelines

Behavior

Only the Common Whitetail, among numerous species in NC, behaves like a Blue Corporal. Both sexes forage primarily by perching on the ground, and by making flights in open woods, powerline clearings, and other semi-open areas (typically somewhat close to woods).

Comments

This skimmer can be the most often seen dragonfly, along with the Common Baskettail, on a spring-season outing. Dozens can be seen in a day, mostly immatures and females, which can be easily identified by the white or cream "corporal" stripe on each shoulder. These shoulder stripes become blue and less conspicuous in the adult male. Because Blue Corporals usually perch on the ground on dirt roads, wide trails, and in powerline clearings, an observer quickly learns this species, often flushing them while looking for less common odonates or for butterflies.

State Rank

State Status

Global Rank

Federal Status

Synonym

Other Name

Species account update: LeGrand on 2023-01-16 14:49:50

The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
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Photo Gallery for Blue Corporal 70 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.		Other NC Galleries: Jeff Pippen Will Cook Ted Wilcox
	Photo 1 by: John Petranka Comment: Orange, 2023-04-02, Hollow Rock Nature Park, Pickett Road Edges, Orange County, NHCBP - Female		Photo 2 by: Dick Thomas Comment: Dare; Mainland, 2022-04-23, Buffalo City Milltail Creek put in Alligator NWR - male perched near creek
	Photo 3 by: Matt Spangler Comment: Orange, 2022-04-02, Occoneechee Speedway		Photo 4 by: Bonnie Simmons, Nancy Cowal, Tom Pericak Comment: McDowell; M, 2021-04-19, - south of Old Fort
	Photo 5 by: Ken Kneidel Comment: Richmond; C, 2021-4-13, Sandhills Game Land, Lake Bagget		Photo 6 by: Ken Kneidel Comment: Richmond; C, 2021-04-13, Sandhills Game Land, Lake Bagget
	Photo 7 by: Jan Hansen Comment: Orange, 2021-04-08, Brumley Forest North-Silo Pond		Photo 8 by: Richard Stickney Comment: Moore; C, 2020-12-22, Sandhills Comm. College gardens
	Photo 9 by: Richard Stickney Comment: Moore; C, 2020-11-03, Sandhills Community College gardens & lake		Photo 10 by: John Petranka Comment: Orange, 2020-04-16, Brumley Forest Preserve, south side of Hwy. NC 10. - Both sexes.
	Photo 11 by: Chuck Smith Comment: Rowan, 2020-04-06, Eagle Point Nature Preserve. - Female.		Photo 12 by: Jan Hansen Comment: Orange, 2020-04-02, Brumley Forest North-Silo Pond
	Photo 13 by: P Dixon Comment: Madison, 2020-04-02, Sunny, low 60s		Photo 14 by: Doug Allen Comment: Polk; P, 2020-03-27, Foothills Equestrian Nature Center (FENCE), - female, first submitted for Polk County, abundant in nearby SC
	Photo 15 by: Mark Shields, Hunter Phillips Comment: Cumberland, 2020-03-19, Carvers Creek State Park (CACR) - Sandhills Access		Photo 16 by: Mark Swanson Comment: Avery, 2019-06-01, - Male photographed near Land Harbors Lake.
	Photo 17 by: Chuck Smith, John Petranka and party. Comment: Burke; P, 2019-05-15, South Mountains State Park (SOMO). Along and below the dam of Clear Creek Lake. - Both sexes.		Photo 18 by: John Petranka Comment: Jackson, 2019-05-14, Panthertown Valley, Panthertown Creek in pool below Granny Burrell Falls. - Male
	Photo 19 by: John Petranka Comment: Orange, 2019-05-03, Eno River at Eno River State Park (ENRI) Pleasant Green Access.		Photo 20 by: Mark Shields, Hunter Phillips Comment: Wayne, 2019-04-15, Cliffs of the Neuse State Park (CLNE)
	Photo 21 by: Ken Kneidel Comment: Mecklenburg, 2018-05-05, - sunning near beaver dam		Photo 22 by: Mark Shields Comment: Lenoir, 2018-05-01, Neuseway Nature Park, Kinston
	Photo 23 by: Mark Shields Comment: Dare; Mainland, 2018-04-28, Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge - on Sandy Ridge Wildlife Trail		Photo 24 by: Mark Shields Comment: Tyrrell, 2018-04-28, Scuppernong River Interpretive Boardwalk, Columbia
	Photo 25 by: Mark Shields Comment: Anson, 2018-04-21, Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge		Photo 26 by: Barbara McRae Comment: Macon, 2018-04-19, Male Blue Corporal attracted to discarded white rag near edge of pond.
	Photo 27 by: Mark Shields Comment: Northampton, 2018-04-14, Northampton Nature Trail, Jackson		Photo 28 by: Mark Shields and Hunter Phillips Comment: Moore; C, 2018-04-05, Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve (WEWO)
	Photo 29 by: Barbara McRae Comment: Macon, 2018-04-02, teneral		Photo 30 by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin Comment: Yancey, 2017-05-16, Along the edge of a permanent pond near the Blue Ridge Parkway. First county record.