NC Odonate Website

Related Species in COENAGRIONIDAE:

Number of records for 2025 = 4

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e.g., flight data, high counts, and earliest/latest dates can be seen.
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Blue-ringed Dancer (Argia sedula) by Mark Shields

Compare with: Skimming Bluet
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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Map

Click on county for list of all its records for Blue-ringed Dancer

Flight Charts

Distribution

Occurs over most of the state, but apparently absent in the eastern third or quarter of the Coastal Plain (i.e., the Tidewater areas near Albemarle and Pamlico sounds). Probably present over all of the mountains, but just one record for the southwestern counties.

Abundance

Common to locally abundant (at least near the Fall Line) in the Piedmont; fairly common in the western Coastal Plain, but likely uncommon to locally fairly common in the remainder of the Coastal Plain part of the range. Uncommon to locally fairly common in the mountains, but apparently rare (though likely not absent) in the southwestern counties. Presumed absent in the Tidewater zone, from Pamlico Sound to the VA border.

Flight

The Piedmont flight occurs from late April to mid-October, sparingly to mid-November. The mountain flight is from mid-May to late September, whereas the Coastal Plain flight occurs from mid-May to mid-October.

Habitat

Streams and rivers, typically where somewhat rocky, and usually where there is some herbaceous vegetation along the water. Sometimes around shores of lakes and ponds, and can be found along roads and other corridors away from water.

Behavior

Males can perch higher off the water than for other dancers, at times several feet. Females and at times males can often be found well away from water, on dirt tracks.

Comments

There have been a few remarkably high counts for the species along the Neuse River below the Falls Lake dam. This is another of the common species of dancers, normally easily found in most parts of the state. The absence of records for the extreme southwestern mountains seems puzzling, considering that range maps include most of the Southeastern states.

State Rank

State Status

Global Rank

Federal Status

Synonym

Other Name

Species account update: LeGrand on 2023-01-18 11:03:46

The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
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Photo Gallery for Blue-ringed Dancer 36 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.		Other NC Galleries: Jeff Pippen Will Cook Ted Wilcox
	Photo 1 by: Amy Padgett Comment: Bladen, 2024-07-05, William O Huske Lock and Dam 3, NC - 5:00PM on the shoreline		Photo 2 by: Steve Hall and Parker Backstrom Comment: Chatham, 2024-06-08,
	Photo 3 by: Paul Hart Comment: Harnett; C, 2023-08-07, Cape Fear River Trail Park		Photo 4 by: Matt Spangler Comment: Chatham, 2023-06-02, Haw River--Bynum Dam (by kayak)
	Photo 5 by: Mike Turner Comment: Cumberland, 2022-07-03, Cape Fear River - boat access on Person St. in Fayetteville		Photo 6 by: Mark Shields Comment: Nash, 2022-06-20, Tar River at Battle Park, Rocky Mount
	Photo 7 by: Matt Spangler Comment: Chatham, 2021-08-01, Haw River--Bynum Dam		Photo 8 by: Max Ramey, Aaron Reb Comment: Wilkes; P, 2021-07-17, Kerr Scott Dam/ Yadkin River (Dam to 1000 ft downstream)
	Photo 9 by: p dixon Comment: Madison, 2020-07-09, Hot Springs area		Photo 10 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. It had been flying over and around a small pool of water adjacent to the dam.
	Photo 11 by: Mike Turner Comment: Stanly, 2018-08-31, Rocky River @ NC 138		Photo 12 by: Mike Turner Comment: Yadkin, 2018-08-26, Pilot Mountain State Park; river section
	Photo 13 by: Mike Turner Comment: Montgomery, 2018-08-25, Uwharrie River @ Low Water Bridge		Photo 14 by: Mark Shields Comment: Harnett; C, 2018-07-13, Cape Fear River Trail Park, Erwin
	Photo 15 by: Mark Shields Comment: Bladen, 2018-07-13, Cape Fear River at William O. Huske Lock and Dam		Photo 16 by: Mike Turner Comment: Forsyth, 2018-07-08, Winston Lake
	Photo 17 by: Mark Shields Comment: Anson, 2018-07-06, Pee Dee River; 2 km stretch upstream from Diggs Tract Access, by kayak		Photo 18 by: Mark Shields Comment: Richmond; C, 2018-07-06, Pee Dee River; 2 km stretch upstream from Diggs Tract Access, by kayak
	Photo 19 by: Mike Turner Comment: Davie, 2018-07-03, S. Yadkin River @ Cooleemee boating access		Photo 20 by: Mike Turner Comment: Forsyth, 2018-07-01, Winston Lake - adult males
	Photo 21 by: Vin Stanton, Janie Owens, Gail Lankford Comment: Madison, 2017-09-19, River Road, north of Hot Springs 35.92085° -82.87313°; Male		Photo 22 by: Conrad Wernett Comment: Harnett; P, 2017-07-29 - Raven Rock State Park - Lower Campbell Creek
	Photo 23 by: Vin Stanton Comment: Buncombe, 2017-07-25, Ledges River Park, French Broad River - Male and Female		Photo 24 by: Rob Van Epps Comment: Mecklenburg, 2017-07-08, Mallard Creek between Mallard Creek Church Rd and Harris Blvd.
	Photo 25 by: Rob Van Epps Comment: Mecklenburg, 2017-06-13 - Roosevelt Wilson Park; Davidson		Photo 26 by: Mark Shields Comment: Columbus, 2016-08-27, Lumber River, between Boardman Boating Access and Lumber River State Park Princess Ann Access
	Photo 27 by: Mark Shields Comment: Robeson, 2016-08-27, Lumber River, between Boardman Boating Access and Lumber River State Park Princess Ann Access		Photo 28 by: Owen McConnell Comment: Graham, 2014-07-08, white-water input ramp on the Cheoah River
	Photo 29 by: Vin Stanton, Doug Johnston, Simon Thompson Comment: Polk; P, 2012-08-04, Foothills Equestrian Nature Center (FENCE) - Male		Photo 30 by: Steve Hall and Harry LeGrand Comment: Northampton, 2012-07-13, North shore of the Roanoke River at the US 258 bridge crossing