The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
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North Carolina's 189 Odonate species
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Sort Species by: Family   Scientific Name       [ Undocumented ]
Related Species in COENAGRIONIDAE: Number of records for 2024 = 0
Added in 2024 from a previous years = 4

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e.g., flight data, high counts, and earliest/latest dates can be seen.
[View PDF]		Blue-fronted Dancer (Argia apicalis) by Mark Shields
Compare with: Powdered Dancer  
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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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Click on county for list of all its records for Blue-fronted Dancer
Flight Charts
Distribution Essentially statewide, though possibly absent in the eastern Tidewater Region. Presumably absent on the Outer Banks.
Abundance Often very common in the Piedmont and western Coastal Plain, particularly around flowing water in the Piedmont. Fairly common to locally common in the mountains and the central and southern Coastal Plain. Rare in the northeastern and far eastern Coastal Plain, and probably absent near the coast there.
Flight Early May through late October in the Piedmont and the Coastal Plain. The flight in the mountains is from mid-May at least to mid-September (and likely later).
Habitat Favors rivers and large streams, but can be found away from water. Also occurs around lake and pond margins.
Behavior Prefers open areas with sunlight, using rocks, ground, or available vegetation for perching. It seems to be the most commonly seen dancer on dirt roads and other bare ground well away from water.
Comments This is one of our most common and widespread damselflies, except near the northeastern and eastern coastal areas. There are several one-day counts of at least 50 individuals, all from the lower Piedmont.
State Rank S5
State Status
Global Rank G5
Federal Status
Synonym
Other Name
Species account update: LeGrand on 2023-01-18 10:50:12
Photo Gallery for Blue-fronted Dancer   52 photos are available.
Only the most recent 30 are shown.
Other NC Galleries:    Jeff Pippen    Will Cook    Ted Wilcox
Photo 1 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Craven, 2023-09-15, Martin Marietta Park, New Bern		Photo 2 by: Kevin Metcalf

Comment: Mecklenburg, 2022-07-20, Latta Nature Preserve, Huntersville. Shore of Mountain Island Lake.
Photo 3 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Greene, 2022-06-20, Contentnea Creek at Caswell's Landing Nature Park, Hookerton		Photo 4 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Onslow, 2022-05-26, Stones Creek Game Land, Dry Lake area - female
Photo 5 by: P Dixon

Comment: Madison, 2021-07-10, Hot Springs area		Photo 6 by: Nora Murdock, Tom Howe, Keith Langdon, Robert Emmott, Jason Hollinger

Comment: Swain, 2020-09-03, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Fairview Cemetery above Fontana Lake - male
Photo 7 by: Nora Murdock

Comment: Swain, 2020-09-03, Female, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Fairview Cemetery above Fontana Lake		Photo 8 by: p dixon

Comment: Madison, 2020-07-01, Hot Springs area
Photo 9 by: Ruby Sarkar

Comment: Wake, 2020-06-21, This damselfly was seen near the Falls Lake Dam, in Raleigh. It was a hot, sunny summer afternoon. This particular one is a mature male. Seen this and some more of the same species there on that day. They all were near the dam but little away from water. These damselflies preferred solid ground than water surface. They were mostly perched on ground or short grasses.		Photo 10 by: Aaron Edmonds

Comment: Harnett; C, 2018-07-21, Flat Branch
Photo 11 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Cumberland, 2018-07-13, Cape Fear Botanical Garden, Fayetteville		Photo 12 by: Mike Turner

Comment: Davie, 2018-07-07, Bullhole River Park
Photo 13 by: Mike Turner

Comment: Rowan, 2018-07-07, Bullhole River Park		Photo 14 by: Mike Turner

Comment: Davie, 2018-07-03, S. Yadkin River @ Concord Church boating access
Photo 15 by: Mike Turner

Comment: Forsyth, 2018-07-01, Winston Lake		Photo 16 by: Mike Turner

Comment: Guilford, 2018-06-30, N. Buffalo Creek @ SR 2832
Photo 17 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Duplin, 2017-09-24, Northeast Cape Fear River, from Chinquapin Boating Access Area to 3 km upstream and 1 km downstream, by kayak		Photo 18 by: Vin Stanton, Janie Owens, Gail Lankford

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

Comment: New Hanover, 2017-08-27, Sutton Lake Boating Access Area		Photo 20 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Lenoir, 2017-08-01, Neuseway Nature Park, Kinston
Photo 21 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Wayne, 2017-08-01, Neuse River, Seven Springs Boating Access Area		Photo 22 by: Conrad Wernett

Comment: Harnett; P, 2017-07-29, Raven Rock State Park - Campbell Creek
Photo 23 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Harnett; C, 2017-07-21, Cape Fear River, Erwin. From NC 217 bridge to 2 km upstream, by kayak.		Photo 24 by: Owen McConnell

Comment: Durham, 2017-07-15, Bank of Eno River near Guess Rd. - male
Photo 25 by: Rob Van Epps

Comment: Mecklenburg, 2017-07-08, Mallard Creek between Mallard Creek Church Rd and Harris Blvd.		Photo 26 by: Barbara McRae

Comment: Macon, 2017-07-01, Franklin, Little Tennessee River, Greenway - Male resting on paved trail near river
Photo 27 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Rutherford; P, 2017-06-02, Morse Park, Lake Lure		Photo 28 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Jones, 2016-08-24, Trent River, Trenton Boating Access Area
Photo 29 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Pender, 2016-08-04, Holly Shelter Game Land, dike between Northeast Cape Fear River and greentree impoundment, southwest of Holly Shelter Boating Access		Photo 30 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Bladen, 2015-08-23, Jones Lake State Park; circumnavigated lake in a kayak