The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
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North Carolina's 189 Odonate species
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Related Species in COENAGRIONIDAE: Number of records for 2022 = 44
Added in 2022 from a previous year = 26

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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  
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 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 Common to 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 2022-06-11 16:42:50
Photo Gallery for Blue-fronted Dancer   51 photos are available.
Only the most recent 30 are shown.
Other NC Galleries:    Jeff Pippen    Will Cook    Ted Wilcox
Photo 1 by: Kevin Metcalf

Comment: Mecklenburg, 2022-07-20, Latta Nature Preserve, Huntersville. Shore of Mountain Island Lake.		Photo 2 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Greene, 2022-06-20, Contentnea Creek at Caswell's Landing Nature Park, Hookerton
Photo 3 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Onslow, 2022-05-26, Stones Creek Game Land, Dry Lake area - female		Photo 4 by: P Dixon

Comment: Madison, 2021-07-10, Hot Springs area
Photo 5 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 6 by: Nora Murdock

Comment: Swain, 2020-09-03, Female, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Fairview Cemetery above Fontana Lake
Photo 7 by: p dixon

Comment: Madison, 2020-07-01, Hot Springs area		Photo 8 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 9 by: Aaron Edmonds

Comment: Harnett; C, 2018-07-21, Flat Branch		Photo 10 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Cumberland, 2018-07-13, Cape Fear Botanical Garden, Fayetteville
Photo 11 by: Mike Turner

Comment: Davie, 2018-07-07, Bullhole River Park		Photo 12 by: Mike Turner

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

Comment: Davie, 2018-07-03, S. Yadkin River @ Concord Church boating access		Photo 14 by: Mike Turner

Comment: Forsyth, 2018-07-01, Winston Lake
Photo 15 by: Mike Turner

Comment: Guilford, 2018-06-30, N. Buffalo Creek @ SR 2832		Photo 16 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 17 by: Vin Stanton, Janie Owens, Gail Lankford

Comment: Madison, 2017-09-19, River Road, north of Hot Springs 35.92085° -82.87313° - Male		Photo 18 by: Mark Shields

Comment: New Hanover, 2017-08-27, Sutton Lake Boating Access Area
Photo 19 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Lenoir, 2017-08-01, Neuseway Nature Park, Kinston		Photo 20 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Wayne, 2017-08-01, Neuse River, Seven Springs Boating Access Area
Photo 21 by: Conrad Wernett

Comment: Harnett; P, 2017-07-29, Raven Rock State Park - Campbell Creek		Photo 22 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Harnett; C, 2017-07-21, Cape Fear River, Erwin. From NC 217 bridge to 2 km upstream, by kayak.
Photo 23 by: Owen McConnell

Comment: Durham, 2017-07-15, Bank of Eno River near Guess Rd. - male		Photo 24 by: Rob Van Epps

Comment: Mecklenburg, 2017-07-08, Mallard Creek between Mallard Creek Church Rd and Harris Blvd.
Photo 25 by: Barbara McRae

Comment: Macon, 2017-07-01, Franklin, Little Tennessee River, Greenway - Male resting on paved trail near river		Photo 26 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Rutherford; P, 2017-06-02, Morse Park, Lake Lure
Photo 27 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Jones, 2016-08-24, Trent River, Trenton Boating Access Area		Photo 28 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 29 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Bladen, 2015-08-23, Jones Lake State Park; circumnavigated lake in a kayak		Photo 30 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Sampson, 2015-08-23, Black River by kayak from Ivanhoe Boating Access to 0.5 km upstream of Dr Kerr Rd bridge