| The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina | |||||||||||
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| North Carolina's 189 Odonate species |
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| Common Name: | Scientific Name: |
| Sort Species by: Family Scientific Name [ Undocumented ] |
| Related Species in LIBELLULIDAE: | Number of records for 2025 = 0 | |
| PDF has more details, e.g., flight data, high counts, and earliest/latest dates can be seen. [View PDF] | Spot-winged Glider (Pantala hymenaea) by Mark Shields
[Google images] [Global Biodiversity Information Facility] iNaturalist | ||
| Map | |||
Click on county for list of all its records for Spot-winged Glider | |||
| Flight Charts |  |
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| Distribution | Occurs over all of the Coastal Plain and Piedmont (though lacking records for a few counties in the Piedmont). It is of sporadic occurrence in the mountains, where it has been found so far in just half of the counties. |
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| Abundance | As with the Wandering Glider, this is a migratory species, constantly on the move, with abundance difficult to assess. Usually much less numerous than Wandering Glider, though it can occur in swarms, more so than does the Wandering. Generally uncommon in the Coastal Plain and Piedmont, though it may be fairly common at times, especially in the Coastal Plain, even though two of our three highest one-day counts are in the lower Piedmont. Very rare to rare in the mountains. |
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| Flight | Early or mid-April to late October downstate, though the bulk of the records are from late June to mid-September. The few mountain records are from mid-June to mid-August, but the flight there is certainly longer than just two months. |
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| Habitat | Similar to Wandering Glider, it uses small, temporary puddles, pools, and shallow ponds for breeding. |
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| Behavior | Males may be seen patrolling near puddles, and females may be seen ovipositing at such wet places, though Spot-winged Gliders seldom seem to enter cities to attempt ovipositing on shiny car hoods and rainwater pools in streets. Adults forage widely over all types of habitats, especially open areas along and near the coast. |
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| Comments | This species is not familiar to casual observers, despite records from 89 of the 100 counties, because adults infrequently perch, and identification must often be made in flight. Having a net handy to catch such non-perching dragonflies helps! Adults do have a small dark patch at the base of the hind wing, as the common name indicates; sometimes an observer can see this spot in the field, though the overall color of the adult Spot-winged is a bit buffier/browner than the amber-colored Wandering Glider. |
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| State Rank | S5 |
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| State Status | |||
| Global Rank | G5 |
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| Species account update: LeGrand on 2023-01-17 09:42:13 | |||
| Photo Gallery for Spot-winged Glider 25 photos are shown. | Other NC Galleries: Jeff Pippen Will Cook Ted Wilcox | ||
 | Photo 1 by: Amy Padgett Comment: Carteret, 2024-07-29, Cedar Island NCWRC Boat Ramp/Ferry Terminal - 2:09P Cruising boat ramp and lagoon |  | Photo 2 by: Hunter Phillips Comment: Onslow, 2023-07-30, Front yard, Holly Ridge |
 | Photo 3 by: R. Newman Comment: Carteret, 2023-06-12, FOMA |  | Photo 4 by: Harry LeGrand; Lori Arent Comment: Harnett; P, 2022-08-08, Cape Fear River locations - Cape Fear Shiner County Park, seen on vegetation next to soccer fields. Photo by Lori Arent. |
 | Photo 5 by: J. Turner, D. Schafer Comment: Gates, 2022-08-08, MEMI - Female at the back of the Visitor Center @ -76.698940, 36.436764 |  | Photo 6 by: p dixon Comment: Madison, 2021-07-28, Hot Springs area |
 | Photo 7 by: Max Ramey Comment: Wilkes; P, 2021-08-21, Kerr Scott Dam/ Yadkin River (Dam to 1000 ft downstream) |  | Photo 8 by: Max Ramey Comment: Watauga, 2021-06-26, Valle Cay-Bottom field |
 | Photo 9 by: p dixon Comment: Madison, 2020-07-11, Hot Springs area |  | Photo 10 by: Mark Shields Comment: Bladen, 2017-05-07, Horseshoe Lake, Suggs Mill Pond Game Land |
 | Photo 11 by: Mark Shields Comment: Columbus, 2016-07-22, Lake Waccamaw, southern end between dam and pier |  | Photo 12 by: Kevin Metcalf Comment: Mecklenburg, 2016-06-25, Huntersville, backyard of 12025 Regal Lily Lane |
 | Photo 13 by: Mark Shields and Zoology lab students Comment: Onslow, 2015-09-08, Coastal Carolina Community College, Jacksonville |  | Photo 14 by: John Petranka, Sally Gewalt Comment: Duplin, 2015-08-28, Warsaw. Rest area at I-40 mile marker 364. Feeding 3-8 feet above the ground. - Female. |
 | Photo 15 by: Kristy Baker Comment: Currituck, 2015-06-09, Pine Island Audubon Sanctuary |  | Photo 16 by: Mark Shields Comment: Onslow, 2012-09-04, Retention pond at Coastal Carolina Community College, Jacksonville |
 | Photo 17 by: Doug Johnston Comment: Buncombe, 2012-07-08, Sandy Mush Game Land |  | Photo 18 by: Doug Johnston, Simon Thompson, Gail Lankford, Vin Stanton Comment: Henderson, 2011-08-06, Fletcher Park |
 | Photo 19 by: Doug Johnston, Simon Thompson, Gail Lankford, Vin Stanton Comment: Henderson, 2011-08-06, Fletcher Park |  | Photo 20 by: Vin Stanton Comment: Henderson, 2011-07-24, Fletcher Park pond and nearby stream |
 | Photo 21 by: Curtis Smalling Comment: Dare; Mainland, 2011-07-09, Alligator River NWR - several groups and many perched |  | Photo 22 by: Doug Johnston Comment: Onslow, 2011-04-13 - North end of Topsail Island |
 | Photo 23 by: Floyd Williams Comment: Gates, 2006-06-13, Merchants Millpond State Park |  | Photo 24 by: Randy Newman Comment: Carteret, 2004-04-16, Fort Macon State Park |
 | Photo 25 by: Randy Newman Comment: Carteret, 2003-06-22, Fort Macon State Park | ||
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