NC Odonate Website

Related Species in COENAGRIONIDAE:

Number of records for 2025 = 0

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Blue-tipped Dancer (Argia tibialis) by Mark Shields

Compare with: Blackwater Bluet Variable Dancer Dusky Dancer
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 Blue-tipped Dancer

Flight Charts

Distribution

Statewide, though possibly absent along the extreme northeastern coastal areas. Likely found in all mountain counties, though a few in the northern mountains lack records.

Abundance

Common to locally very common in the Piedmont and most of the Coastal Plain; fairly common to locally common in much of the mountains. Not common in the eastern part of the Coastal Plain, but at least uncommon to fairly common, except rare to absent in the extreme northeastern counties.

Flight

Downstate, occurs from mid- or late April to late September (and probably later) in the Coastal Plain and to late October in the Piedmont. The mountain flight occurs between mid-May and mid-September.

Habitat

Small and mainly wooded creeks/streams, typically with a few riffles. Less often along rivers or larger streams without riffles. Typically closer to forested creeks than other dancers.

Behavior

The species is seen frequently away from water at sunny patches along trails and dirt roads, especially females. Males are often found in shade along wooded creeks, but the bright abdomen tip is conspicuous when they fly around.

Comments

This is still another dancer species that is common across most of the state and occurs in nearly all counties, but as with many, it is scarce or absent in the extreme northeastern part of the Coastal Plain. In GA, Beaton (2007) says it is "Often the most numerous dancer at any given site"; however, in NC, it shares abundance with a number of other dancer (Argia) species and does not seem quite as numerous as the Variable, Blue-fronted, Powdered, and Blue-ringed dancers, except in the southeastern Coastal Plain.

State Rank

State Status

Global Rank

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Species account update: LeGrand on 2023-01-18 11:08:52

The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
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Photo Gallery for Blue-tipped Dancer 49 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.		Other NC Galleries: Jeff Pippen Will Cook Ted Wilcox
	Photo 1 by: Matt Spangler Comment: Chatham, 2024-06-09, Haw River--Bynum Dam		Photo 2 by: Amy Padgett Comment: Bladen, 2024-04-14, William O Huske Lock and Dam 3, NC - 3:37PM at river's edge
	Photo 3 by: Max Ramey, Aaron Reb Comment: Wilkes; P, 2021-07-17, Kerr Scott Dam/ Yadkin River (Dam to 1000 ft downstream)		Photo 4 by: P Dixon Comment: Madison, 2021-06-16, Hot Springs area
	Photo 5 by: P Dixon Comment: Madison, 2021-05-31, Hot Springs area		Photo 6 by: Matt Spangler Comment: Pender, 2021-05-24, Black River downstream of Hunts Bluff
	Photo 7 by: John Petranka Comment: Orange, 2020-07-08, Eno River at King's Highway Park, Hillsboro. - Pair in wheel photographed.		Photo 8 by: Ruby Sarkar Comment: Wake, 2020-06-21, This damselfly was seen near Falls Lake Dam, in Raleigh. It was a hot, sunny summer afternoon. This is a mature male. There were more than one damselfly from this species at that time. They were flying over and around a small pool of water adjacent to the dam. Interestingly, they loved perching on the rocks and concrete which were lying around the water. They seemed not preferring the twigs or grasses sticking out of water surface. Or should I say they left those options open for the Stream Bluets who were more into it!?
	Photo 9 by: Doug Allen Comment: Polk; P, 2020-06-14, Caroland Farms - NC section; private ponds		Photo 10 by: Mark Shields Comment: Sampson, 2019-05-24, Black River, from Ivanhoe Boating Access Area to 4.5 km upstream and back, by kayak.
	Photo 11 by: Aaron Edmonds Comment: Harnett; C, 2019-05-12, Campbell University- Marshbanks Property		Photo 12 by: Mark Shields Comment: Scotland, 2018-07-06, Lumber River State Park (LURI) - Chalk Banks Access
	Photo 13 by: Mark Shields Comment: Hoke, 2018-07-06, Lumber River at Wagram Boating Access Area		Photo 14 by: Mike Turner Comment: Davie, 2018-07-03, S. Yadkin River @ Cooleemee boating access
	Photo 15 by: Ken Kneidel Comment: Catawba, 2018-06-24, Small vegetated pond at Jacob Fork Park, Newton, 36.633532,-81.311931		Photo 16 by: Mark Shields Comment: Craven, 2018-06-16, Swift Creek; 7 km section between Cool Springs Boating Access Area and NC 43 bridge, by kayak - male
	Photo 17 by: Mark Shields Comment: New Hanover, 2018-06-08, Northeast Cape Fear River at Riverside Park, Castle Hayne. Photo of female.		Photo 18 by: Mark Shields Comment: Onslow, 2017-07-14, New River, at Henry McAllister Landing
	Photo 19 by: Rob Van Epps Comment: Mecklenburg, 2017-07-08, Mallard Creek between Mallard Creek Church Rd and Harris Blvd.		Photo 20 by: Barbara McRae Comment: Macon, 2017-06-28, Franklin, Little Tennessee River, Greenway - Morris Trace segment; on grass near river
	Photo 21 by: Barbara McRae Comment: Macon, 2017-06-20, Franklin, Little Tennessee River, Greenway - On paved trail around Nickajack Bridge; photo of female		Photo 22 by: Barbara McRae Comment: Macon, 2017-06-20, Franklin, Little Tennessee River, Greenway - Old Airport Trail section; tandem pair at Mile 1.5, above river
	Photo 23 by: Mark Shields Comment: Pender, 2017-05-19, Shelter Creek, lower 2 km		Photo 24 by: Mark Shields, Hunter Phillips Comment: Richmond; C, 2017-05-15, McKinney Lake State Fish Hatchery - ovipositing pairs in spillway
	Photo 25 by: Mark Shields Comment: Bladen, 2017-05-11, South River at Sloan's Bridge		Photo 26 by: Mark Shields Comment: Jones, 2017-04-28, Haywood Landing and Weetock Trail, Croatan National Forest
	Photo 27 by: Mark Shields Comment: Brunswick, 2015-09-05, Waccamaw River - along 4 km stretch upstream of NC 904 bridge		Photo 28 by: Mark Shields Comment: Robeson, 2015-08-01, Lumber River State Park, Princess Ann Access
	Photo 29 by: Mark Shields Comment: Duplin, 2015-06-19, Northeast Cape Fear River, Chinquapin Boat Access		Photo 30 by: Owen McConnell Comment: Orange, 2015-05-28, Eno Riverwalk