NC Odonate Website

Related Species in LIBELLULIDAE:

Number of records for 2025 = 19

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e.g., flight data, high counts, and earliest/latest dates can be seen.
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Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis) by Mark Shields

Compare with: Little Blue Dragonlet Blue Corporal Eastern Pondhawk Swift Setwing
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 Blue Dasher

Flight Charts

Distribution

Statewide, occurring in all 100 counties.

Abundance

Abundant throughout. This is arguably the most numerous dragonfly in NC (and the eastern United States), possibly even outnumbering the ubiquitous Eastern Pondhawk.

Flight

Throughout most of the odonate flight season. Downstate, from late March or early April to late October, rarely to late November. In the mountains, from late April to late October.

Habitat

A wide range of still water, from ponds, lakes, ditches, canals, pools, and marshes; occasionally in slow-moving portions of rivers or creeks.

Behavior

Males are frequently seen perching on twigs or herbaceous vegetation along the margin of a pond, making short forays over the water for patrolling purposes. Both sexes feed well away from water, especially females. They perch conspicuously, typically within 3-4 feet of the ground, in fields, powerline clearings, savannas, and many other places, both in full sun or partial shade.

Comments

For many species of skimmers, pennants, and other members of the Family Libellulidae, an observer hopes to find a given species by walking along the shoreline of a still body of water. This is seldom a problem with finding Blue Dashers, as every pond seems to have a dozen or more individuals, often equaling or exceeding the number of all other dragonflies of other species! Total numbers of Blue Dashers in NC must be in the tens of millions.

State Rank

State Status

Global Rank

Federal Status

Synonym

Other Name

Species account update: LeGrand on 2023-01-24 15:15:25

The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
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Photo Gallery for Blue Dasher 82 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: Mark Shields Comment: Onslow, 2024-09-18, my property, Holly Ridge
	Photo 3 by: B. Bockhahn Comment: Henderson, 2024-09-05, Bat Fork Bog		Photo 4 by: Guy McGrane Comment: Watauga, 2024-08-09, Clawson-Burnley park - In wetland, mostly males
	Photo 5 by: Guy McGrane Comment: Watauga, 2024-08-09, Clawson-Burnley park - In wetland, mostly males		Photo 6 by: B. Bockhahn Comment: Henderson, 2024-08-01, Ochlawaha Bog
	Photo 7 by: Amy Padgett Comment: Carteret, 2024-07-28, Salters Creek Gamelands Ponds, Sealevel - 2:06P along gravel road		Photo 8 by: Amy Padgett Comment: Bladen, 2024-07-06, Pond 2 miles SE of Clarkton, NC - 12:51PM all around edge of pond
	Photo 9 by: Guy McGrane Comment: Watauga, 2023-08-09, Boone Greenway - Immature/female--great picture		Photo 10 by: Kevin Metcalf Comment: Mecklenburg, 2022-07-11, Filling a gap in recent documentation for the County - Reedy Creek Nature Preserve pond
	Photo 11 by: Nora Murdock Comment: Swain, 2022-06-06,		Photo 12 by: Paul Hart Comment: Alamance, 2022-06-04, Snow Camp
	Photo 13 by: Lynn Swafford Comment: Pitt, 2021-05-24,		Photo 14 by: Mark Shields Comment: Hoke, 2020-10-18, Sandhills Game Land
	Photo 15 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. - Both sexes, including mating pair.		Photo 16 by: Mark Shields, Hunter Phillips Comment: Mitchell, 2019-05-16, Living Waters Campground, Glen Ayre. - at ponds.
	Photo 17 by: Mike Turner Comment: Forsyth, 2018-07-02, Tanglewood Park		Photo 18 by: Mark Shields Comment: Jackson, 2018-06-25, Pond beside Breedlove Road, 5 km northeast of Cashiers. Note the parasite load on the thorax. water mites
	Photo 19 by: Ken Kneidel Comment: Catawba, 2018-06-24, Small vegetated pond at Jacob Fork Park, Newton, 36.633532,-81.311931		Photo 20 by: Mark Shields Comment: Pamlico, 2018-06-22, Moore's Swamp at Bennett Farm Road bridge
	Photo 21 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 22 by: Mark Shields Comment: Chowan, 2018-06-09, Chowan River at Edenhouse Bridge Boating Access Area
	Photo 23 by: Mark Shields Comment: Perquimans, 2018-06-09, Perquimans River at NC 37 bridge		Photo 24 by: Mark Shields Comment: Edgecombe, 2018-05-25, Etheridge Pond, Tar River Game Land
	Photo 25 by: Mark Shields and Hunter Phillips Comment: Rockingham, 2018-05-13, Mayo River State Park (MARI) - Mayo Mountain Access - ponds near park office		Photo 26 by: Vin Stanton Comment: Clay, 2018-05-12, Beaver pond along Buck Creek Road - Male
	Photo 27 by: Mark Shields and Hunter Phillips Comment: Beaufort, 2017-08-04, Palmetto Boardwalk, Goose Creek State Park (GOCR)		Photo 28 by: Mark Shields and Hunter Phillips Comment: Tyrrell, 2017-08-04, Scuppernong River Interpretive Boardwalk, Columbia
	Photo 29 by: Mark Shields Comment: Lenoir, 2017-08-01, Neuseway Nature Park, Kinston		Photo 30 by: Mark Shields Comment: Wayne, 2017-08-01, Neuse River, Seven Springs Boating Access Area