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 2023 = 4

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e.g., flight data, high counts, and earliest/latest dates can be seen.
[View PDF]		Slender Bluet (Enallagma traviatum) by John Petranka, Jim Petranka
Compare with: Azure Bluet   Attenuated Bluet   Turquoise Bluet   Pale 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 Slender Bluet
Flight Charts
Distribution Throughout the mountains and Piedmont, and over the western half of the Coastal Plain, barely reaching the counties along the western part of Albemarle Sound.
Abundance Fairly common, to very locally common, over the mountains and Piedmont; rare to uncommon (at least formerly) in the Coastal Plain, with but one recent report. More numerous in the mountains than downstate.
Flight Early or mid-May to late August in the mountains and Piedmont, but the Coastal Plain records extend only to mid-July (though should occur to the end of August).
Habitat A variety of lakes and ponds, typically with emergent vegetation.

See also Habitat Account for General Pond Shorelines
Behavior Males often perch on stubs or twigs low over the water, well out from shore. Thus, it is more readily visible -- in full sun -- than a number of other bluet species. Of course, females tend to stay close to shore in thick vegetation, as with other bluets.
Comments As with so many of our damselflies, there are few people looking for them in recent years in the upper half of the Coastal Plain; thus, it is no surprise that there is but a single recent flight date record from this large region. (Most odonate field work in the Coastal Plain occurs in the Sandhills and eastward to the southern half of the coast.)
State Rank S5
State Status
Global Rank G5
Federal Status
Synonym
Other Name
Species account update: LeGrand on 2023-01-18 15:32:28
Photo Gallery for Slender Bluet   25 photos are shown. Other NC Galleries:    Jeff Pippen    Will Cook    Ted Wilcox
Photo 1 by: Ken Kneidel

Comment: Mecklenburg, 2023-05-06, Ribbonwalk Nature Preserve - assuming teneral because of the color		Photo 2 by: Ken Kneidel

Comment: Mecklenburg, 2023-05-06, Ribbonwalk Nature Preserve - assuming teneral because of the color
Photo 3 by: John Petranka

Comment: Granville, 2021-06-28, Turtle Pond. Ledge Creek Forest Conservation Area near Stem, NC. - Male.		Photo 4 by: L. Arent

Comment: Yadkin, 2021-06-07, Yadkin County Park
Photo 5 by: Kevin Markham

Comment: Wake, 2021-06-06, Harris Lake County Park - 8 tandem pairs, one lone individual		Photo 6 by: Kevin Markham

Comment: Wake, 2021-05-31, Salem Pond Park, Apex - male
Photo 7 by: p dixon

Comment: Madison, 2020-08-12, Pond at Wolf Laurel exit, I-26		Photo 8 by: Doug Allen

Comment: Polk; P, 2020-06-14, Caroland Farms - NC section, private ponds - 14 pair in tandem
Photo 9 by: Barbara McRae

Comment: Macon, 2018-06-01, Wetland area near Little Tennessee River in Franklin - Male; perched near wetland pond		Photo 10 by: Rob Van Epps

Comment: Mecklenburg, 2017-06-13 - Roosevelt Wilson Park in Davidson. Many mated pairs.
Photo 11 by: John Petranka, Jim Petranka

Comment: Madison, 2016-06-06, Wolf Laurel Community Park Pond, Alternate US Hwy. 23 at Laurel Valley Rd. Both sexes, many tandem pairs. Photo.		Photo 12 by: John Petranka

Comment: Orange, 2016-06-01, Brumley Forest Preserve, Triangle Land Conservancy Preserve. Near main pond on south side of Hwy. NC 10. Many tandem pairs. Photo.
Photo 13 by: John Petranka, Sally Gewalt

Comment: Alleghany, 2015-07-15, Little Glade Millpond, along Blue Ridge Parkway about 0.5 mi. south of US 21 at Mile Marker 230 - Males		Photo 14 by: Owen McConnell

Comment: Graham, 2014-07-07, Bear Creek Junction ponds
Photo 15 by: Mike Turner

Comment: Orange, 2013-06-22, Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area - in wheel at upper pond		Photo 16 by: Doug Johnston

Comment: Madison, 2012-06-08, Leach Pond, close to Sandy Mush Game Land
Photo 17 by: Vin Stanton, Doug Johnston

Comment: Haywood, 2011-06-08, Haywood Community College - Male & Female		Photo 18 by: Vin Stanton, Doug Johnston

Comment: Haywood, 2011-06-08, Haywood Community College - Male & Female
Photo 19 by: Vin Stanton, Doug Johnston

Comment: Haywood, 2011-06-08, Haywood Community College - Male & Female		Photo 20 by: Vin Stanton

Comment: Buncombe, 2011-05-28, Beaver Lake Asheville - Male & Female
Photo 21 by: Vin Stanton

Comment: Buncombe, 2011-05-28, Beaver Lake Asheville - Male & Female		Photo 22 by: Lori Owenby

Comment: Catawba, 2009-06-04, all sightings from Riverbend Park - two on each side of our 3/4-acre pond edges
Photo 23 by: Beth Brinson

Comment: Haywood, 2007-06-09, Haywood Community College 		Photo 24 by: Beth Brinson

Comment: Iredell, 2007-06-02, Allison Woods - Mated pair
Photo 25 by: Patrick Coin

Comment: Orange, 2003-06-10, Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area - female