NC Odonate Website

Related Species in GOMPHIDAE:

Number of records for 2025 = 0

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Splendid Clubtail (Gomphurus lineatifrons) by Richard Stickney

Compare with: Midland Clubtail Cobra Clubtail Cocoa Clubtail Blackwater Clubtail Septima's Clubtail
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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 Splendid Clubtail

Flight Charts

Distribution

Primarily the northern mountains, but there are a few other old mountain records (and it occurs in the mountains of northern GA). Also a handful of records for the northeastern Piedmont (Orange and Durham counties), plus one in the northwestern Piedmont (Surry County). Thus, it might occur in much of the northern Piedmont.

Abundance

Not rare in the northern mountains (uncommon to fairly common?), as Ted Wilcox has a number of photographs from Ashe and Alleghany counties on his website. Presumed to be very rare in the remainder of the mountains, and in the northern Piedmont. Certainly very rare if not absent in the intervening northern Piedmont.

Flight

Late spring and early summer. In the mountains from mid-May to late June; in the Piedmont, probably a week or two earlier, beginning in early May, and flying into June.

Habitat

Breeds at clear rivers and creeks, with gravel bottoms.

See also Habitat Account for Piedmont and General Rocky Rivers

Behavior

Males perch on rocks in the rivers or creeks, or on the ground or low vegetation nearby.

Comments

This is a large and colorful clubtail; males have a large club. Beginners might mistake it for the common Black-shouldered Spinyleg, though that species has a much smaller club. In the northeastern Piedmont, nearly all records are from the Eno River, and a record in 2018 came from the Yadkin River (for a new river basin record). There are quite a few recent records for the species, but these tend to come from the same few locales and rivers, with very few new locations reported in recent years. Thus, it should remain on the N.C. Natural Heritage Program's Rare List.

State Rank

State Status

Global Rank

Federal Status

Synonym

Gomphus lineatifrons

Other Name

Species account update: LeGrand on 2021-12-22 09:55:18

The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
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Photo Gallery for Splendid Clubtail 28 photos are shown.		Other NC Galleries: Jeff Pippen Will Cook Ted Wilcox
	Photo 1 by: Max Ramey Comment: Ashe, 2023-06-01, Green Valley Community Park - South Fork New River		Photo 2 by: Max Ramey Comment: Ashe, 2023-05-21, Boggs Rd. low-water bridge - Obids Creek/South Fork New River confluence - Female, perching on debris right on the side of the road near the bridge.
	Photo 3 by: Mark Shields Comment: Ashe, 2021-06-23, New River State Park - Wagoner Access - male		Photo 4 by: John Petranka Comment: Ashe, 2021-06-08, New River State Park Elk Shoals Section.
	Photo 5 by: John Petranka Comment: Orange, 2021-06-06, Eno River State Park, Pleasant Green Access. - Exuvia		Photo 6 by: B. Bockhahn, K. Kittelberger Comment: Alleghany, 2020-06-03, New River State Park
	Photo 7 by: B. Bockhahn, K. Kittelberger Comment: Alleghany, 2020-06-03, New River State Park		Photo 8 by: B. Bockhahn, K. Kittelberger Comment: Alleghany, 2020-06-03, New River State Park; photo by K. Kittelberger
	Photo 9 by: B. Bockhahn, K. Kittelberger Comment: Alleghany, 2020-06-03, New River State Park; photo by K. Kittelberger		Photo 10 by: B. Bockhahn, K. Kittelberger Comment: Alleghany, 2020-06-03, New River State Park; photo by K. Kittelberger
	Photo 11 by: B. Bockhahn, K. Kittelberger Comment: Alleghany, 2020-06-03, New River State Park; photo by K. Kittelberger		Photo 12 by: B. Bockhahn, K. Kittelberger Comment: Alleghany, 2020-06-03, New River State Park; photo by K. Kittelberger
	Photo 13 by: B. Bockhahn, K. Kittelberger Comment: Alleghany, 2020-06-03, New River State Park; photo by K. Kittelberger		Photo 14 by: B. Bockhahn, K. Kittelberger Comment: Alleghany, 2020-06-03, New River State Park; photo by K. Kittelberger
	Photo 15 by: B. Bockhahn, J. Thomson Comment: Durham, 2020-05-15, Perched on rocks in river		Photo 16 by: Mike Turner Comment: Surry, 2018-06-10, Crater Park, Yadkin River, Elkin
	Photo 17 by: Mike Turner Comment: Surry, 2018-06-10, Crater Park, Yadkin River, Elkin		Photo 18 by: Curtis Smalling Comment: Watauga, 2016-05-30, Meat Camp Creek
	Photo 19 by: Curtis Smalling Comment: Watauga, 2016-05-30, Meat Camp Creek		Photo 20 by: Richard Stickney Comment: Durham, 2016-05-10, Eno River State Park
	Photo 21 by: John Petranka Comment: Orange, 2015-05-27, Eno River State Park (ENRI). Pleasant Green Access. Perched on trail in power line clearing just upstream from parking area. - Female. Very tame.		Photo 22 by: Randy Emmitt Comment: Durham, 2002-05-23, Eno River State Park - Cole Mill
	Photo 23 by: R Emmitt Comment: Orange, 2002-05-07, Eno River State Park		Photo 24 by: Randy Emmitt Comment: Orange, 2001-05-25, this female I found at Duke Forest in a powerline clearing.
	Photo 25 by: Steve Hall Comment: Orange, 1991-05-29, Eno River State Park, in riffles upstream from Few. First report for Orange County.		Photo 26 by: Ted Wilcox Comment: Ashe, 2006-05-30, male
	Photo 27 by: Ted Wilcox Comment: Ashe, 2005-06-09, male		Photo 28 by: Ted Wilcox Comment: Alleghany, 2006-06-22 - female