The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
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North Carolina's 189 Odonate species
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Related Species in CALOPTERYGIDAE: Number of records for 2024 = 7

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

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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 S5
State Status
Global Rank G5
Federal Status
Synonym
Other Name
Species account update: LeGrand on 2023-01-17 15:29:37
Photo Gallery for Smoky Rubyspot   40 photos are available.
Only the most recent 30 are shown.
Other NC Galleries:    Jeff Pippen    Will Cook    Ted Wilcox
Photo 1 by: Al Hooks

Comment: Johnston; C, 2024-09-15, Richardson Bridge Boat Ramp access area		Photo 2 by: Lori Arent, Harry LeGrand

Comment: Wake, 2023-08-06, Neuse River Greenway close to the I-540 bridge; photo by L. Arent
Photo 3 by: Travis McLain

Comment: Cabarrus, 2022-08-19, Concord; iNaturalist Record #131490111		Photo 4 by: B. Bockhahn

Comment: Rockingham, 2022-08-18,
Photo 5 by: Mike Turner

Comment: Cumberland, 2022-07-03, Cape Fear River - boat access on Person St. in Fayetteville		Photo 6 by: Matt Spangler

Comment: Chatham, 2021-08-01, Haw River--Bynum Dam
Photo 7 by: Max Ramey

Comment: Ashe, 2020-09-05, South Fork New River, West Jefferson; iNaturalist Record #58622078		Photo 8 by: Richard Stickney

Comment: Richmond; C, 2020-07-26, Lake Bagget and stream outflow - Female
Photo 9 by: Rob Van Epps

Comment: Buncombe, 2019-09-26, Carrier Park in Asheville		Photo 10 by: Richard Stickney

Comment: Forsyth, 2019-09-16, Yadkin River at Old Hwy 421
Photo 11 by: Richard Stickney

Comment: Forsyth, 2019-09-16, Yadkin River at Old Hwy 421; photos are females		Photo 12 by: B. Bockhahn

Comment: Rockingham, 2019-08-21
Photo 13 by: Mike Turner

Comment: Stokes, 2018-10-07, Dan River @ NC 704		Photo 14 by: Mike Turner

Comment: Surry, 2018-10-06, Mitchell River @ public fishing area along SR 1330
Photo 15 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 16 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 17 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 18 by: Mike Turner

Comment: Yadkin, 2018-08-26, Pilot Mountain State Park; river section - walked in river from canoe launch to Halls Creek
Photo 19 by: Mike Turner

Comment: Davie, 2018-08-19, S. Yadkin River @ US 601		Photo 20 by: Mike Turner

Comment: Forsyth, 2018-08-14, Yadkin River @ SR 1605 (Old US 421)
Photo 21 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Anson, 2018-07-06, Pee Dee River; 2 km stretch upstream from Diggs Tract Access, by kayak		Photo 22 by: Vin Stanton

Comment: Buncombe, 2017-10-10, Richmond Hill Park - Male
Photo 23 by: Vin Stanton, Janie Owens, Gail Lankford

Comment: Madison, 2017-09-19, River Road, north of Hot Springs; 35.92085° -82.87313° - Male		Photo 24 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Columbus, 2017-09-16, Lumber River Walk, Fair Bluff
Photo 25 by: Vin Stanton

Comment: Buncombe, 2017-09-04, Woodfin Riverside Park; Lat: 35.63133 Long -82.60006 - Male		Photo 26 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 27 by: John Petranka, Sally Gewalt

Comment: Yadkin, 2017-09-03, Yadkin River at Donnaha River Access at NC 67 bridge. - Males.		Photo 28 by: Vin Stanton

Comment: Buncombe, 2017-08-17, Carrier Park, Asheville - Male
Photo 29 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Wayne, 2017-08-01, Neuse River, Seven Springs Boating Access Area		Photo 30 by: Mike Turner

Comment: Richmond; C, 2017-07-30, McKinney Lake State Fish Hatchery - Hitchcock Creek