NC Odonate Website

Related Species in COENAGRIONIDAE:

Number of records for 2025 = 1

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Attenuated Bluet (Enallagma daeckii) by Mark Shields

Compare with: Pale Bluet Slender Bluet
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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 Attenuated Bluet

Flight Charts

Distribution

Roughly the eastern half of the state, and highly scattered elsewhere to the west. Specifically, nearly throughout the Coastal Plain (though perhaps absent in some Tidewater counties), the eastern third of the Piedmont, and very sparingly westward to include the extreme southern mountains. Presumed absent from the central and northern mountains; however, presumed to occur as a rarity in the western Piedmont counties.

Abundance

Common in the Sandhills, but mostly uncommon elsewhere in the southern half of the Coastal Plain (though locally common in Carteret County). Rare to uncommon in the northern Coastal Plain, and perhaps absent close to the northern coast. Rare in the eastern Piedmont, and very rare at best elsewhere in the Piedmont and southern mountains.

Flight

A shortened flight for a bluet, seemingly not occurring after mid-summer. In the Coastal Plain, it occurs from mid-April only to late July, and in the Piedmont from mid-May to early August. The only date record available for the mountains is for late June.

Habitat

Sand-bottomed ponds and lakes, usually with shrubby margins.

Behavior

Typically perches within clumps of grass or shrubs, where it can be difficult to observe. However, when seen on the wing, it is usually quite obvious owing to its very long and slender abdomen and overall pale blue coloration. Males often fly very slowly, almost like huge forktails.

Comments

Our two highest counts are now from the southeastern coastal area. There are also several sizable single-day counts from the Sandhills. Despite there being at least 15 county records west of the Fall Line, there are just a few recent reports from this large area, from Mecklenburg, Durham, and Wake counties. The species is fairly distinctive in its "skinny" look, and thus it has possibly declined in the Piedmont. New records for the Piedmont, and the northern half of the Coastal Plain, are greatly needed.

State Rank

State Status

Global Rank

Federal Status

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Species account update: LeGrand on 2023-01-18 12:58:54

The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
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Photo Gallery for Attenuated Bluet 23 photos are shown.		Other NC Galleries: Jeff Pippen Will Cook Ted Wilcox
	Photo 1 by: Rob Gilson, Carolina Butterfly Society Comment: Richmond; C, 2024-06-02, Sandhills Game Land; Broadacres Lake; photo by Lori Arent		Photo 2 by: Amy Padgett Comment: Bladen, 2024-05-23, Bay Tree Natural Area, Harrells, NC - 2:46P - in sedges at lake edge
	Photo 3 by: Mark Shields Comment: Richmond; C, 2023-06-30, Lake Baggett, Sandhills Game Land		Photo 4 by: Harry LeGrand, Lori Arent Comment: Hoke, 2022-06-26, Nicholson Creek Game Land; photo by Lori Arent
	Photo 5 by: Comment: Durham, 2022-06-12, Sandy Creek Dr., Durham; iNaturalist Record #121861402		Photo 6 by: Max Ramey Comment: Beaufort, 2022-05-30, Bear Grass VOA site
	Photo 7 by: Matt Spangler Comment: Richmond; C, 2021-05-06, Lake McKinney (lake & hatcheries) - teneral male		Photo 8 by: B. Bockhahn, K. Kittelberger Comment: Scotland, 2020-06-08, Scotland Lake; female by K. Kittelberger
	Photo 9 by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn Comment: Hoke, 2020-05-14, Nicholson Creek Game Land		Photo 10 by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn Comment: Hoke, 2020-05-14, Nicholson Creek Game Land
	Photo 11 by: Hunter Phillips Comment: Onslow, 2019-04-30, Private pond off Folkstone Road - One caught in spider web		Photo 12 by: Mark Shields Comment: Bladen, 2017-05-26, Horseshoe Lake, Suggs Mill Pond Game Land - 1 tandem pair, 1 lone male
	Photo 13 by: Conrad Wernett Comment: Carteret, 2017-05-21 - Patsy Pond. Most numerous population in one spot I've ever seen.		Photo 14 by: Mark Shields Comment: Brunswick, 2017-05-02, North Lake and Spring Lake parks, Boiling Spring Lakes
	Photo 15 by: Conrad Wernett Comment: Carteret, 2017-04-30 - Recently emerged, mature and copulating pairs in greater numbers than I have seen before		Photo 16 by: Mark Shields Comment: Carteret, 2017-04-26, Ponds along Patsy Pond Nature Trail, Croatan National Forest; females
	Photo 17 by: Mark Shields Comment: Carteret, 2016-05-08, ponds along Patsy Pond Nature Trail, Croatan National Forest		Photo 18 by: Mark Shields Comment: Carteret, 2016-05-08, ponds along Patsy Pond Nature Trail, Croatan National Forest
	Photo 19 by: Harry Wilson Comment: Wake, 2015-06-07, Perched on vegetation at edge of our pond		Photo 20 by: Kevin Metcalf Comment: Mecklenburg, 2013-06-17, First Mecklenburg Co. record - Latta Plantation Nature Preserve - near shore of Mountain Island Lake
	Photo 21 by: Kyle Kittelberger Comment: Moore; C, 2013-06-12, Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve - one at small beaver pond; rest at large beaver pond; many were mating		Photo 22 by: S. Hartley Comment: Moore; C, 2012-06-07, Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve
	Photo 23 by: E. Corey Comment: Pender, 2007-05-31