NC Odonate Website

Related Species in COENAGRIONIDAE:		Number of records for 2025 = 5
Added in 2025-00-00 from a previous year = 1 (2024-11-06)

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e.g., flight data, high counts, and earliest/latest dates can be seen.
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Dusky Dancer (Argia translata) by Rob Van Epps

Compare with: Blue-tipped 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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Map

Click on county for list of all its records for Dusky Dancer

Flight Charts

Distribution

Throughout the mountains and Piedmont. Essentially absent from the Coastal Plain, though present along the Fall Line in a few such counties. Two previous reports from the Sandhills/Coastal Plain have now been deleted, as they are sight reports only and are believed to be in error. Oddly, the range map in Paulson (2011) shows it nearly "absent" in the Piedmont of both VA and SC.

Abundance

Fairly common in the Piedmont and mountains (at least locally); nowhere truly common, as the peak one-day count is just 17 individuals. Absent, or nearly absent, from the Coastal Plain (including the Sandhills), except near the Fall Line.

Flight

In the mountains and Piedmont, mainly late May or early June to late October (Piedmont) and to late September (mountains). Each province has a very early record for mid-April. The few Coastal Plain records are from early July to late September only, meaningless for establishing a flight period at the upper edge of that province.

Habitat

A variety of rivers and creeks; scarce at ponds or lakes. Often on rocks in the creek or river.

Behavior

Most other dancers are often found well away from creeks, rivers, or ponds. However, this species normally stays close to its shaded creek, perching on rocks or along vegetation along the shore -- where their dark coloration can make them much less conspicuous than other dancer species.

Comments

The seeming near-absence of records from the VA and SC Piedmont is puzzling, considering that it not only has been found in nearly all such counties in NC, but that there are some single-day counts in double-digits. One must presume that it is being overlooked, especially in VA.

State Rank

State Status

Global Rank

Federal Status

Synonym

Other Name

Species account update: LeGrand on 2023-01-18 11:33:20

The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
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Photo Gallery for Dusky Dancer 32 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.		Other NC Galleries: Jeff Pippen Will Cook Ted Wilcox
	Photo 1 by: B. Bockhahn Comment: Richmond; C, 2024-11-06, Pee Dee Game Lands		Photo 2 by: Steve Hall and Harry LeGrand Comment: Chatham, 2024-06-04,
	Photo 3 by: Mike Turner Comment: Richmond; P, 2023-06-03, Great Pee Dee River-portage below Blewett Falls dam - ovipositing in tandem		Photo 4 by: Kevin Metcalf Comment: Lincoln, 2022-07-16, Catawba River at Rte. 73 bridge and boat access point.
	Photo 5 by: Harry LeGrand, Lori Arent Comment: Orange, 2022-07-04, Johnston Mill Preserve, New Hope Creek - Includes 2 pair in copulation; photo by Lori Arent		Photo 6 by: John Petranka Comment: Orange, 2021-09-04, NHCBS, Hollow Rock Nature Park, West of Pickett Road, New Hope Creek
	Photo 7 by: P Dixon Comment: Madison, 2021-07-06, River Road, Hot Springs		Photo 8 by: Harry LeGrand, Lori Arent Comment: Wake, 2020-08-28, Wooten Meadows Park - photo by Lori Arent
	Photo 9 by: p dixon Comment: Madison, 2020-08-16, Hot Springs area		Photo 10 by: Mike Turner Comment: Yadkin, 2018-08-26, Pilot Mountain State Park; river section
	Photo 11 by: Mike Turner Comment: Montgomery, 2018-08-25, Uwharrie River @ Low Water Bridge		Photo 12 by: Mike Turner Comment: Forsyth, 2018-07-08, Winston Lake
	Photo 13 by: Mark Shields Comment: Anson, 2018-07-06, Pee Dee River; 2 km stretch upstream from Diggs Tract Access, by kayak		Photo 14 by: Mike Turner Comment: Forsyth, 2018-07-01, Winston Lake
	Photo 15 by: John Petranka Comment: Orange, 2018-06-24, Brumley Forest Preserve. Along rocky area of Stony Creek upstream of the railroad bridge. - 3 tandem pairs ovipositing.		Photo 16 by: Conrad Wernett Comment: Harnett; P, 2017-07-29 - Raven Rock State Park - Campbell Creek
	Photo 17 by: Vin Stanton Comment: Buncombe, 2017-07-25, Ledges River Park, French Broad River - Male and Female		Photo 18 by: Rob Van Epps Comment: Mecklenburg, 2017-07-08, Mallard Creek between Mallard Creek Church Rd and Harris Blvd.
	Photo 19 by: Rob Van Epps Comment: Mecklenburg, 2017-07-08, Mallard Creek between Mallard Creek Church Rd and Harris Blvd.		Photo 20 by: Mike Turner Comment: Vance, 2017-07-04, Tar River @ SR1101 (Charlie Grissom Rd.) - adult males
	Photo 21 by: John Petranka Comment: Orange, 2014-07-14, Eno River State Park (ENRI). Pleasant Green Access. - 3 males 2 females. Oviposting pair, male with yellowish thoracic color as noted by Paulson when in tandem.		Photo 22 by: Doug Johnston, Vin Stanton Comment: Graham, 2013-07-16, Lake Santeetlah north of Robbinsville - Male & Female
	Photo 23 by: Mark Swanson Comment: Avery, 2012-09-12 - Possibly two individuals; only one photographed.		Photo 24 by: Vin Stanton Comment: Henderson, 2012-07-03, Fletcher Park, Fletcher - Male
	Photo 25 by: Vin Stanton, Doug Johnston, Gail Lankford, Janie Owen Comment: Madison, 2012-06-15, North of Hot Springs on River Road-French Broad River - Male		Photo 26 by: Vin Stanton, Doug Johnston Comment: Transylvania, 2011-08-19, Brevard - Female
	Photo 27 by: Curtis Smalling Comment: Watauga, 2011-07-23, along the South Fork of the New River upstream from Todd - pair in wheel with Powdered Dancers		Photo 28 by: Vin Stanton & Virginia Senechal Comment: Buncombe, 2011-06-24, Beaver Lake, mating pairs along shore on vegetation - Male & Female
	Photo 29 by: Paul Hart Comment: Harnett; P, 2009-08-21, Raven Rock State Park - Seen along edge of Cape Fear River		Photo 30 by: Beth Brinson Comment: Yadkin, 2008-06-10, Pilot Mountain State Park - Yadkin River Section - Immature male