NC Odonate Website

Related Species in CALOPTERYGIDAE:

Number of records for 2025 = 1

PDF has more details,
e.g., flight data, high counts, and earliest/latest dates can be seen.
[View PDF]

Appalachian Jewelwing (Calopteryx angustipennis) by John Petranka

Compare with: Superb Jewelwing Sparkling Jewelwing Ebony Jewelwing
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 to both sexes.

[Google images] [Global Biodiversity Information Facility] iNaturalist

Map

Click on county for list of all its records for Appalachian Jewelwing

Flight Charts

Distribution

Nearly throughout the mountains and Piedmont foothills. Scattered records near the Fall Line of the eastern Piedmont and upper Coastal Plain, but of uncertain presence now in most of the central and eastern Piedmont. This central and eastern portion of the Piedmont has been rather well worked -- especially the Triangle area (Wake, Durham, and Orange counties), and thus the species may be truly absent now in much of the middle of the state. There is also an odd gap in the northern mountains, where there are no known records between Mitchell County and the VA state line.

Abundance

Uncommon to locally fairly common in the mountains, but seemingly rare (but likely not absent) in the northern mountains. Uncommon (at least locally) in the northwestern Piedmont, but very rare eastward, with no recent records between Surry, Forsyth, Davie, and Rowan counties on the west and Halifax, Harnett, and Richmond counties on the east. Very rare to locally absent (?) in the central and eastern Piedmont and western edge of the Coastal Plain. In fact, there are no records since 1998 for these Fall Line counties.

Flight

Mainly mid-April to mid-August, at least in the mountains, and probably also in the Piedmont. However, records downstate are only from late April to late June.

Habitat

Rivers and large streams, usually where rocky and with moderate current; generally where the waters are cold or cool.

See also Habitat Account for Piedmont and General Rocky Rivers

Behavior

Males often perch on vegetation close to rivers and streams, though -- like the rare Superb Jewelwing -- can also be seen perched on rocks in mid-stream.

Comments

The gap in the range in the Piedmont is most unusual, and might actually be real, as there has been much odonate field work conducted in the eastern half of the Piedmont. Any records east of the western Piedmont are greatly needed to clarify this range. Perhaps the northern mountain counties are too high in elevation for this species; records are needed in this region, as well, to fill an odd gap. The fact that there are no records east of Forsyth County since 1998 is clearly a sign of recent declines in the population near the Fall Line, as this should be an easily identified species.

State Rank

S3S4

State Status

Global Rank

Federal Status

Synonym

Other Name

Species account update: LeGrand on 2023-01-17 15:11:24

The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
Home Page	Search	Odonate Resources	Maps	Login	NC Biodiversity Project	Comments

Photo Gallery for Appalachian Jewelwing 30 photos are shown.		Other NC Galleries: Jeff Pippen Will Cook Ted Wilcox
	Photo 1 by: Matt Spangler Comment: Buncombe, 2025-07-04, Sandy Mush GL--Turkey Creek from NC-20 to 0.5 mi downstream - very dark and worn		Photo 2 by: Richard Stickney Comment: Yadkin, 2024-04-29, Pilot Mountain SP, Ivy Bluff, powerline clearing with stream - Female
	Photo 3 by: Richard Stickney Comment: Yadkin, 2023-06-25, PIMO - Yadkin River/Ivy Bluffs section		Photo 4 by: P Dixon Comment: Madison, 2023-05-21, Hot Springs area - After mating, the female began ovipositing and then crawled into the water and continued ovipositing and remained submerged at a depth of about 15cm for 4 minuted before disappearing. I did not see her resurface.
	Photo 5 by: P Dixon Comment: Madison, 2023-05-21, Hot Springs area - After mating, the female began ovipositing and then crawled into the water and continued ovipositing and remained submerged at a depth of about 15cm for 4 minuted before disappearing. I did not see her resurface.		Photo 6 by: L. Arent Comment: Wilkes; P, 2022-05-22, Yadkin River (below Kerr Scott Dam & Lowe's Park at Rivers Edge)
	Photo 7 by: Richard Stickney Comment: Yadkin, 2021-06-02, Park at Yadkin River and Old Hwy 421		Photo 8 by: P Dixon Comment: Madison, 2021-05-31, Hot Springs area
	Photo 9 by: p dixon Comment: Madison, 2021-05-15, Hot Springs area		Photo 10 by: Mike Turner Comment: Yadkin, 2019-06-01, Donnaha Paddle Access, Yadkin River @ NC 67
	Photo 11 by: Rob Van Epps Comment: Yadkin, 2018-06-03, Pilot Mountain State Park - Yadkin River section		Photo 12 by: Mark Shields Comment: Mitchell, 2017-06-03, Nolichucky River at Poplar Access Area
	Photo 13 by: John Petranka Comment: Davie, 2017-06-02, South Yadkin River at Bullhole River Park, Cooleemee. - Male.		Photo 14 by: John Petranka Comment: Rowan, 2017-06-02, South Yadkin River at Bullhole River Park, Cooleemee. - Male.
	Photo 15 by: Vin Stanton Comment: Buncombe, 2017-05-29, Woodfin River Park, French Broad River - Male		Photo 16 by: B. Bockhahn Comment: Yadkin, 2017-05-17
	Photo 17 by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn Comment: Yadkin, 2017-05-04, Pilot Mountain State Park - mostly males, some females and immature males. Along the Ivy Bluff loops on the lower floodplain portions		Photo 18 by: Owen McConnell Comment: Graham, 2016-06-07, On rocks in Cheoah River at boat ramp below Santeetlah Dam
	Photo 19 by: Owen McConnell Comment: Graham, 2016-06-06, Santeetlah Creek 0.2 miles downstream from FS 81, female		Photo 20 by: John Petranka Comment: Caldwell, 2016-05-09, Wilson Creek at Brown Mountain Beach Resort. Mostly males. Photo.
	Photo 21 by: Timothy Deering Comment: Buncombe, 0000-00-00, Alexander River, north		Photo 22 by: Vin Stanton, Virginia Senechal Comment: Henderson, 2013-06-20, Westfeldt Park, northern Henderson County - Male
	Photo 23 by: Doug Johnston, Vin Stanton Comment: Madison, 2011-06-12, Sandy Mush Game Land		Photo 24 by: Vin Stanton, Doug Johnston Comment: Madison, 2011-06-05, at small stream on Buncombe/Madison County border
	Photo 25 by: Vin Stanton Comment: Buncombe, 2011-05-14, park on French Broad River, northern Buncombe County - numerous individuals along river bank		Photo 26 by: Vin Stanton Comment: Buncombe, 2011-05-14, park on French Broad River, northern Buncombe County - numerous individuals along river bank
	Photo 27 by: Ali Iyoob, Matt Daw, Dan Irizarry Comment: Madison, 2011-05-06, French Broad River		Photo 28 by: Beth Brinson Comment: Surry, 2008-06-28, Pilot Mountain State Park - Yadkin River Section - Male
	Photo 29 by: Beth Brinson Comment: Yadkin, 2008-06-10, Pilot Mountain State Park - Yadkin River Section		Photo 30 by: Beth Brinson Comment: Yadkin, 2008-06-10, Pilot Mountain State Park - Yadkin River Section