The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
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North Carolina's 189 Odonate species
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Sort Species by: Family   Scientific Name       [ Undocumented ]
Related Species in LIBELLULIDAE: Number of records for 2024 = 0
Added in 2024 from a previous year = 1

PDF has more details,
e.g., flight data, high counts, and earliest/latest dates can be seen.
[View PDF]		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 S5
State Status
Global Rank G5
Federal Status
Synonym
Other Name
Species account update: LeGrand on 2023-01-24 15:15:25
Photo Gallery for Blue Dasher   74 photos are available.
Only the most recent 30 are shown.
Other NC Galleries:    Jeff Pippen    Will Cook    Ted Wilcox
Photo 1 by: Guy McGrane

Comment: Watauga, 2023-08-09, Boone Greenway - Immature/female--great picture		Photo 2 by: Kevin Metcalf

Comment: Mecklenburg, 2022-07-11, Filling a gap in recent documentation for the County - Reedy Creek Nature Preserve pond
Photo 3 by: Nora Murdock

Comment: Swain, 2022-06-06, 		Photo 4 by: Paul Hart

Comment: Alamance, 2022-06-04, Snow Camp
Photo 5 by: Lynn Swafford

Comment: Pitt, 2021-05-24, 		Photo 6 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Hoke, 2020-10-18, Sandhills Game Land
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. - Both sexes, including mating pair.		Photo 8 by: Mark Shields, Hunter Phillips

Comment: Mitchell, 2019-05-16, Living Waters Campground, Glen Ayre. - at ponds.
Photo 9 by: Mike Turner

Comment: Forsyth, 2018-07-02, Tanglewood Park		Photo 10 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 11 by: Ken Kneidel

Comment: Catawba, 2018-06-24, Small vegetated pond at Jacob Fork Park, Newton, 36.633532,-81.311931		Photo 12 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Pamlico, 2018-06-22, Moore's Swamp at Bennett Farm Road bridge
Photo 13 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 14 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Chowan, 2018-06-09, Chowan River at Edenhouse Bridge Boating Access Area
Photo 15 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Perquimans, 2018-06-09, Perquimans River at NC 37 bridge		Photo 16 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Edgecombe, 2018-05-25, Etheridge Pond, Tar River Game Land
Photo 17 by: Mark Shields and Hunter Phillips

Comment: Rockingham, 2018-05-13, Mayo River State Park (MARI) - Mayo Mountain Access - ponds near park office		Photo 18 by: Vin Stanton

Comment: Clay, 2018-05-12, Beaver pond along Buck Creek Road - Male
Photo 19 by: Mark Shields and Hunter Phillips

Comment: Beaufort, 2017-08-04, Palmetto Boardwalk, Goose Creek State Park (GOCR)		Photo 20 by: Mark Shields and Hunter Phillips

Comment: Tyrrell, 2017-08-04, Scuppernong River Interpretive Boardwalk, Columbia
Photo 21 by: Mark Shields

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

Comment: Wayne, 2017-08-01, Neuse River, Seven Springs Boating Access Area
Photo 23 by: John Petranka, Sally Gewalt

Comment: Yancey, 2017-06-29, Cane River Park west of Burnsville. Small pond near the parking area. - Males.		Photo 24 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Alleghany, 2017-06-28, Little Glade Mill Pond, Blue Ridge Parkway
Photo 25 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Washington, 2017-06-16, Conaby Creek, from boating access area to 2.25 km upstream by kayak		Photo 26 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Bertie, 2017-06-16, Boardwalk along Cashie River, Windsor
Photo 27 by: Vin Stanton

Comment: Buncombe, 2017-06-04, Carrier Park, Asheville - Male		Photo 28 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Burke; P, 2017-06-04, Johns River Boating Access, north of Morganton
Photo 29 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Rutherford; P, 2017-06-02, Morse Park, Lake Lure		Photo 30 by: Paul Hart

Comment: Harnett; P, 2017-05-26, Raven Rock State Park