NC Odonate Website

Related Species in LESTIDAE:

Number of records for 2025 = 1

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Elegant Spreadwing (Lestes inaequalis) by Mike Turner

Compare with: Amber-winged Spreadwing Swamp Spreadwing
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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 Elegant Spreadwing

Flight Charts

Distribution

Throughout the Coastal Plain -- except perhaps absent along parts of the immediate coast -- westward to the central Piedmont; thus, the eastern half of the state, plus scattered in the western Piedmont (two recent county records) and mountains (six county records). Interestingly, Paulson's (2011) range map shows the entire state within the range, as the species is present throughout the eastern half of the country. A recent (2018) sight record, of five individuals, from Alleghany County is the only record for the northwestern quarter of the state.

Abundance

Uncommon over the eastern Piedmont and most of the Coastal Plain, and likely is rare in many areas close to the coast (where there are no records for most counties that border the coast). Rare in the southern mountains, but absent to very rare over the northern mountains and the western Piedmont.

Flight

The flight period in both the Coastal Plain and the Piedmont is from early May to late September or early October. The relatively few mountain records fall between mid-May and mid-September.

Habitat

Ponds and lakes with emergent vegetation, including marshes. It also occurs along slow-moving streams, as long as marshy vegetation is present.

See also Habitat Account for General Pond Shorelines

Behavior

Despite its large size, the species is rather inconspicuous amid often fairly dense vegetation along and near a pond or lake shore. It can often be inactive until afternoon and remain in somewhat shaded places.

Comments

The scarcity of recent records in the northern Coastal Plain is puzzling. Perhaps it is being overlooked, but there are also few biologists currently working in this half of the Coastal Plain, especially on damselflies.

State Rank

State Status

Global Rank

Federal Status

Synonym

Other Name

Species account update: LeGrand on 2023-01-17 13:18:08

The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
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Photo Gallery for Elegant Spreadwing 18 photos are shown.		Other NC Galleries: Jeff Pippen Will Cook Ted Wilcox
	Photo 1 by: Mark Shields, Hunter Phillips Comment: Onslow, 2024-08-17, Hines Farm Park, Jacksonville		Photo 2 by: Amy Padgett Comment: Bladen, 2024-07-03, Swamp creek 2 miles SE of Clarkton, NC - 1:30PM in vegetation at edge of creek
	Photo 3 by: Amy Padgett Comment: Bladen, 2024-05-25, Mixed hardwood swamp, 2miles SE of Clarkton, NC - 2:53PM in vegetation at edge of creek		Photo 4 by: Mark Shields Comment: Wake, 2023-07-21, Harris Lake County Park - female
	Photo 5 by: Lori Owenby Comment: Catawba, 2021-05-08, 6700 NC 16, Conover; iNaturalist Record #77981976		Photo 6 by: B. Bockhahn Comment: Jackson, 2020-08-26
	Photo 7 by: B. Bockhahn, K. Kittelberger Comment: Scotland, 2020-06-08, Scotland Lake		Photo 8 by: B. Bockhahn, K. Kittelberger Comment: Scotland, 2020-06-08, Scotland Lake
	Photo 9 by: Mark Shields Comment: Transylvania, 2018-06-27, Gorges State Park (GORG) - female at Raymond Fisher Pond. First record for county.		Photo 10 by: Barbara McRae Comment: Macon, 2018-05-15, Franklin, Little Tennessee River, wetland near Greenway - female
	Photo 11 by: Barbara McRae Comment: Macon, 2018-05-13, Franklin, Little Tennessee River, wetland near Greenway - Immature male; ID’d from cerci detail.		Photo 12 by: John Petranka, Jim Petranka Comment: Buncombe, 2016-06-06, Sandy Bottom Preserve, near junction of NC Hwy. 191 and Parkway Crescent Pond area. 2 males; 1 mature, 1 teneral.
	Photo 13 by: Mark Shields Comment: Jones, 2015-07-12, Brock Millpond, Trenton		Photo 14 by: Mike Turner Comment: Orange, 2013-06-29, Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area - males; lower pond
	Photo 15 by: Conrad Wernett Comment: Onslow, 2012-09-04 - Male found in temporary pool along Cowhorn Creek		Photo 16 by: Mike Turner Comment: Wake, 2012-08-03, Lake Raleigh - 1 each male and female (male photographed)
	Photo 17 by: Paul Scharf Comment: Warren, 2009-07-15 - female, Hubquarter Creek, Lake Gaston		Photo 18 by: Paul Scharf Comment: Warren, 2009-07-15 - female, Hubquarter Creek, Lake Gaston. Same individual as in previous photo. Comment from Dennis Paulson: "Sometimes it's difficult to distinguish between L. vigilax and L. inaequalis. One of the field marks is the underside of the ovipositor, dark in inaequalis and pale in vigilax. From that alone, yours should be inaequalis. Another field mark is that inaequalis has the outer side of the tibiae pale, and that is evident in the front leg on the side view. L. inaequalis often has a brighter metallic green thorax than vigilax."