NC Odonate Website

Related Species in CALOPTERYGIDAE:

Number of records for 2023 = 8

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e.g., flight data, high counts, and earliest/latest dates can be seen.
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Smoky Rubyspot (Hetaerina titia) by John Petranka, Sally Gewalt

Compare with: American Rubyspot 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 specifically to mature males; features may differ in immature males and females.

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Map

Click on county for list of all its records for Smoky Rubyspot

Flight Charts

Distribution

Present essentially throughout the Piedmont and the southern and western Coastal Plain; apparently absent from the eastern third of the Coastal Plain. Scattered across the length of the mountains, but with several large gaps in the range. No records yet east of Northampton, Pitt, and Onslow counties. Records only for 1/3rd of the mountain counties, but likely present in all 17 counties there, as the distribution covers counties from the VA state line to the GA state line.

Abundance

Uncommon over its range in the state. Locally fairly common to common at a few sites in the western Coastal Plain/Sandhills and eastern and northwestern Piedmont. Absent in the eastern Coastal Plain.

Flight

Mid-June to early November in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain. The mountain records are fairly late in the season -- early August to mid-October.

Habitat

Rivers and larger streams, typically where the current is slow to moderate flowing. Apparently at larger rivers and slower-flowing waters than is the American Rubyspot, though the habitats overlap, and both can occur along the same stream or river.

See also Habitat Account for General Rivers and Large Streams

Behavior

This species is more wary than is the American Rubyspot, making photography or close observation of one more challenging.

Comments

This species is somewhat similar to the American Rubyspot in appearance and habitats, often perching on rocks next to the creeks or rivers -- usually a few feet or more away from an observer; you may need binoculars or a telephoto lens to tell the species apart. The locations of the highest counts are oddly scattered in the state -- one in the northwestern Piedmont and two others in the southern Coastal Plain. The absence or scarcity of recent records for the southwestern Piedmont is odd and somewhat disturbing.

State Rank

State Status

Global Rank

Federal Status

Synonym

Other Name

Species account update: LeGrand on 2023-01-17 15:29:37

The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
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Photo Gallery for Smoky Rubyspot 39 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.		Other NC Galleries: Jeff Pippen Will Cook Ted Wilcox
	Photo 1 by: Lori Arent, Harry LeGrand Comment: Wake, 2023-08-06, Neuse River Greenway close to the I-540 bridge; photo by L. Arent		Photo 2 by: Travis McLain Comment: Cabarrus, 2022-08-19, Concord; iNaturalist Record #131490111
	Photo 3 by: B. Bockhahn Comment: Rockingham, 2022-08-18,		Photo 4 by: Mike Turner Comment: Cumberland, 2022-07-03, Cape Fear River - boat access on Person St. in Fayetteville
	Photo 5 by: Matt Spangler Comment: Chatham, 2021-08-01, Haw River--Bynum Dam		Photo 6 by: Max Ramey Comment: Ashe, 2020-09-05, South Fork New River, West Jefferson; iNaturalist Record #58622078
	Photo 7 by: Richard Stickney Comment: Richmond; C, 2020-07-26, Lake Bagget and stream outflow - Female		Photo 8 by: Rob Van Epps Comment: Buncombe, 2019-09-26, Carrier Park in Asheville
	Photo 9 by: Richard Stickney Comment: Forsyth, 2019-09-16, Yadkin River at Old Hwy 421		Photo 10 by: Richard Stickney Comment: Forsyth, 2019-09-16, Yadkin River at Old Hwy 421; photos are females
	Photo 11 by: B. Bockhahn Comment: Rockingham, 2019-08-21		Photo 12 by: Mike Turner Comment: Stokes, 2018-10-07, Dan River @ NC 704
	Photo 13 by: Mike Turner Comment: Surry, 2018-10-06, Mitchell River @ public fishing area along SR 1330		Photo 14 by: Mike Turner Comment: Wilkes; P, 2018-09-22, W. Kerr Scott Dam and Reservoir; from dam to ~1000' downstream - over a 30-minute period 100 were counted flying upstream (west, towards the dam); counted at a spot ~1000' downstream of the dam
	Photo 15 by: Mark Shields Comment: Hoke, 2018-09-03, Lumber River, from Wagram Boating Access Area to Lumber River State Park-Chalk Banks boat ramp and back, by kayak		Photo 16 by: Mark Shields Comment: Scotland, 2018-09-03, Lumber River, from Wagram Boating Access Area to Lumber River State Park-Chalk Banks boat ramp and back, by kayak
	Photo 17 by: Mike Turner Comment: Yadkin, 2018-08-26, Pilot Mountain State Park; river section - walked in river from canoe launch to Halls Creek		Photo 18 by: Mike Turner Comment: Davie, 2018-08-19, S. Yadkin River @ US 601
	Photo 19 by: Mike Turner Comment: Forsyth, 2018-08-14, Yadkin River @ SR 1605 (Old US 421)		Photo 20 by: Mark Shields Comment: Anson, 2018-07-06, Pee Dee River; 2 km stretch upstream from Diggs Tract Access, by kayak
	Photo 21 by: Vin Stanton Comment: Buncombe, 2017-10-10, Richmond Hill Park - Male		Photo 22 by: Vin Stanton, Janie Owens, Gail Lankford Comment: Madison, 2017-09-19, River Road, north of Hot Springs; 35.92085° -82.87313° - Male
	Photo 23 by: Mark Shields Comment: Columbus, 2017-09-16, Lumber River Walk, Fair Bluff		Photo 24 by: Vin Stanton Comment: Buncombe, 2017-09-04, Woodfin Riverside Park; Lat: 35.63133 Long -82.60006 - Male
	Photo 25 by: John Petranka, Sally Gewalt Comment: Yadkin, 2017-09-03, Yadkin River at Donnaha River Access at NC 67 bridge. - Males. The red patch at the base of forewings often appears dark when the wings are folded.		Photo 26 by: John Petranka, Sally Gewalt Comment: Yadkin, 2017-09-03, Yadkin River at Donnaha River Access at NC 67 bridge. - Males.
	Photo 27 by: Vin Stanton Comment: Buncombe, 2017-08-17, Carrier Park, Asheville - Male		Photo 28 by: Mark Shields Comment: Wayne, 2017-08-01, Neuse River, Seven Springs Boating Access Area
	Photo 29 by: Mike Turner Comment: Richmond; C, 2017-07-30, McKinney Lake State Fish Hatchery - Hitchcock Creek		Photo 30 by: Mark Shields Comment: Harnett; C, 2017-07-21, Cape Fear River, Erwin. From NC 217 bridge to 2 km upstream, by kayak.