NC Odonate Website

Related Species in LIBELLULIDAE:

Number of records for 2025 = 0

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Autumn Meadowhawk (Sympetrum vicinum) by John Petranka, Sally Gewalt

Compare with: Ruby Meadowhawk White-faced Meadowhawk Band-winged Meadowhawk Blue-faced Meadowhawk Cherry-faced Meadowhawk
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 Autumn Meadowhawk

Flight Charts

Distribution

Statewide, with records for all but three counties. Probably scarce on the Outer Banks and the eastern "Pamlimarle" Peninsula -- no record yet for Hyde County, and just one for Dare County.

Abundance

Fairly common and widespread in the mountains and Piedmont; uncommon to (at least formerly) fairly common in the Coastal Plain, but oddly there are few recent records for most of the Coastal Plain. Most numerous in the mountains, where our three largest daily counts have been made. Clearly the most numerous of the meadowhawks in NC. Even so, it does not occur in large numbers, though we now have several daily counts of 25 or more.

Flight

Flies from early or mid-June into December, and there are even records for 25-26 December and in early January! The mountain flight starts somewhat later, in mid- to late June. It is probably the most frequently seen dragonfly species in November and December, and the bulk of its flight takes place in fall -- September into November.

Habitat

Still waters of ponds, marshes, and slow creeks, typically in wooded or semi-shaded places.

Behavior

Adults are frequently seen in fields, powerline clearings, and woodland borders in the fall, often perching on the tips of grasses or forbs or twigs. However, it is a fairly small species and can easily be overlooked.

Comments

This species was formerly called the Yellow-legged Meadowhawk, until the common name was changed in 2004. Both common names -- Yellow-legged and Autumn -- are suitable, though other meadowhawks fly in the autumn. Of all of the numerous dragonflies in NC, this is probably the one that observers don't see their first individual until September or even October. Females and immatures are a dull amber/yellow, matching the color of dead grasses, rendering them hard to spot, particularly as they average only 1.0 - 1.4 inches in length.

State Rank

State Status

Global Rank

Federal Status

Synonym

Other Name

Yellow-legged Meadowhawk

Species account update: LeGrand on 2023-01-17 10:24:43

The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
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Photo Gallery for Autumn Meadowhawk 45 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: Macon, 2024-09-24,		Photo 2 by: B. Bockhahn Comment: Henderson, 2024-08-01, Ochlawaha Bog
	Photo 3 by: Matt Spangler Comment: Chatham, 2023-06-09, Jordan Lake Educational State Forest		Photo 4 by: Dick Thomas Comment: Guilford, 2022-12-08, Piedmont Environmental Center, High Point - male; perched on log along shoreline of High Point City Lake; captured
	Photo 5 by: Rob Van Epps & Kevin Metcalf Comment: Watauga, 2022-08-28, Julian Price Park		Photo 6 by: Mark Swanson Comment: Buncombe, 2022-01-01, - Very late flyer (January).
	Photo 7 by: L. Arent Comment: Orange, 2021-10-21, Brumley Nature Preserve South		Photo 8 by: p dixon Comment: Madison, 2020-07-01, Hot Springs area
	Photo 9 by: p dixon Comment: Madison, 2020-06-22		Photo 10 by: p dixon Comment: Madison, 2020-06-22
	Photo 11 by: Paul Hart, Mary Stevens Comment: Harnett; C, 2020-01-01, Anderson Creek County Park		Photo 12 by: P Dixon Comment: Madison, 2019-11-11, Hot Springs, by a pond, sunny low 60s, - included 3 mating pairs
	Photo 13 by: Aaron Edmonds Comment: Harnett; C, 2019-11-08, Flat Branch		Photo 14 by: Aaron Edmonds Comment: Harnett; C, 2019-11-08, Flat Branch
	Photo 15 by: P Dixon Comment: Madison, 2019-10-25, Broadwing Farm, afternoon, sunny, 70s		Photo 16 by: P Dixon Comment: Madison, 2019-10-01, Hot Springs area, 3-5pm, high 80s
	Photo 17 by: P Dixon Comment: Madison, 2019-10-01, Hot Springs area, 3-5pm, high 80s		Photo 18 by: Jason Love, Paige Engelbrekttson Comment: Macon, 2019-09-17, Perched on vegetation near shore of Lindenwood Lake (aka Lake Ravenel), Highlands Biological Station - Netted, photo, and released. Male. Photo by Paige Engelbrektsson.
	Photo 19 by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn Comment: Clay, 2019-09-04, Nantahala National Forest		Photo 20 by: F. Williams, S. Williams Comment: Gates, 2018-12-26, Merchants Millpond State Park - Late date for the park
	Photo 21 by: Mike Turner Comment: Richmond; C, 2018-10-20, Naked Creek @ SR 1003 (Derby Rd.) - female		Photo 22 by: Mike Turner Comment: Alleghany, 2018-08-18, Little Glade Mill Pond, Blue Ridge Parkway, mile post 230
	Photo 23 by: Mike Turner Comment: Alleghany, 2018-07-28, Doughton Recreation Area, Blue Ridge Parkway		Photo 24 by: Ken Kneidel Comment: Yancey, 2017-11-01, On dock adjacent to small pond at Arthur Morgan School. - male
	Photo 25 by: Rob Van Epps Comment: Scotland, 2017-10-01, Sandhills Game Land		Photo 26 by: John Petranka Comment: Burke; M, 2017-09-21, In a small partially shaded pond that was lined with American Bur-reed and other emergent vegetation; on private property just south of Jonas Ridge. - Males.
	Photo 27 by: John Petranka, Sally Gewalt Comment: Watauga, 2017-09-04, South Fork of the New River, Clawson-Burnley Park, Boone. - Males. At the retention ponds. Male.		Photo 28 by: Barbara McRae Comment: Macon, 2017-06-12, Franklin, Little Tennessee River, wetland near Greenway - Female, in vegetation near river
	Photo 29 by: Alicia Jackson Comment: Moore; C, 2015-06-21, in garden, next to Ray		Photo 30 by: Paul Hart Comment: Harnett; C, 2014-12-19, Anderson Creek County Park