NC Odonate Website

Related Species in COENAGRIONIDAE:

Number of records for 2024 = 1

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Double-striped Bluet (Enallagma basidens) by P Dixon

Compare with: Familiar Bluet Atlantic Bluet Big Bluet
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Note: these identification tips apply specifically to mature males; features may differ in immature males and females.

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Map

Click on county for list of all its records for Double-striped Bluet

Flight Charts

Distribution

Essentially statewide. Though absent from a handful of mountain and far eastern Coastal Plain counties, it likely occurs in essentially all 100 counties.

Abundance

Despite its very wide range in the state, this is by no means a common or really numerous damselfly, much less numerous than many of our other bluets. Uncommon to locally fairly common in the mountains and Piedmont, but mostly uncommon in the Coastal Plain, and rare near the coast. For example, in 2022, there were just nine reports for the entire state.

Flight

The flight starts in April in all provinces, being a bit earlier in the Coastal Plain and Piedmont (early or mid-April) than in the mountains (late April). The long flight continues to mid-October (rarely to early November) in the Piedmont, at least to early October in the Coastal Plain, and to early October in the mountains.

Habitat

Ponds and small lakes, as well as slow-moving streams, usually where there is emergent vegetation.

Behavior

Though males often perch in the open at a pond, these are about our smallest bluets, and perching is usually very close to the water, where they can be overlooked by observers.

Comments

As with so many of our damselflies, the number of recent records with flight dates is far fewer than what would be expected from the large number of county records historically -- implying little effort at studying damselflies by more recent biologists. Though the species occurs perhaps in all 100 counties, it is not overly numerous anywhere, with just two single-day tallies of over 15 individuals.

State Rank

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Global Rank

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Other Name

Species account update: LeGrand on 2024-09-18 10:33:07

The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
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Photo Gallery for Double-striped Bluet 28 photos are shown.		Other NC Galleries: Jeff Pippen Will Cook Ted Wilcox
	Photo 1 by: Harry Wilson Comment: Wake, 2024-04-29, Observed and photographed at my pond in eastern Wake.		Photo 2 by: Mark Shields Comment: Craven, 2023-09-15, Martin Marietta Park, New Bern
	Photo 3 by: L. Arent Comment: Yadkin, 2022-08-01, Yadkin County Park		Photo 4 by: Matt Spangler Comment: Chatham, 2022-05-15, Haw River--Bynum Dam
	Photo 5 by: P Dixon Comment: Madison, 2021-07-06, River Road, Hot Springs		Photo 6 by: Mark Shields Comment: Alleghany, 2021-06-23, New River State Park - Kings Creek Access
	Photo 7 by: John Petranka, Jim Petranka, Becky Elkin Comment: Yancey, 2021-05-24, Along Cane River south of Burnsville. - Pair in wheel.		Photo 8 by: Lori Arent Comment: Wake, 2021-05-15, Umstead State Park, powerline east of Big Lake
	Photo 9 by: p dixon Comment: Madison, 2020-08-12, Pond at Wolf Laurel exit, I-26		Photo 10 by: Ken Kneidel Comment: Mecklenburg, 2019-06-30, on margin of small wet marsh
	Photo 11 by: Ken Kneidel Comment: Mecklenburg, 2019-06-30, on margin of small wet marsh, 2400 Water Oak Rd, Charlotte		Photo 12 by: Mark Shields and Hunter Phillips Comment: Rockingham, 2018-05-13, Mayo River State Park (MARI) - Mayo Mountain Access - mostly tandem/ovipositing pairs at ponds near park office
	Photo 13 by: Rob Van Epps Comment: Mecklenburg, 2017-06-13 - Roosevelt Wilson Park; Davidson		Photo 14 by: Rob Van Epps Comment: Mecklenburg, 2017-06-13 - Roosevelt Wilson Park; Davidson
	Photo 15 by: Curtis Smalling Comment: Robeson, 2017-04-12, at WRC put-in on river 34.591680, -78.983892		Photo 16 by: Mark Shields Comment: Duplin, 2016-09-09, Cabin Lake County Park
	Photo 17 by: Conrad Wernett Comment: Onslow, 2015-06-07 - Single male found at retention pond		Photo 18 by: Owen McConnell Comment: Orange, 2015-05-26, Ayr Mount
	Photo 19 by: Owen McConnell Comment: Orange, 2015-05-22, Ayr Mount		Photo 20 by: Mike Turner Comment: Granville, 2013-08-15, Lake Butner (Holt Lake) - males
	Photo 21 by: George Andrews Comment: Mecklenburg, 2013-06-08, Beatty Park, 17:00-18:00, 30% cloud cover, 80° F, light wind, day after heavy rain. - In vegetation at edge of pond		Photo 22 by: Doug Johnston Comment: Madison, 2012-06-08, Leach Pond, close to Sandy Mush Game Land
	Photo 23 by: Vin Stanton Comment: Buncombe, 2012-05-25, Owen Park ponds, Warren Wilson College, Swannanoa River - Male & Female		Photo 24 by: Vin Stanton, Doug Johnston Comment: Haywood, 2011-06-08, Lake Junaluska and Haywood Community College
	Photo 25 by: Vin Stanton Comment: Buncombe, 2011-05-25, Beaver Lake, Asheville - Male & Female		Photo 26 by: Floyd Williams Comment: Camden, 2009-07-28, Dismal Swamp State Park - Pair in wheel on bridge.
	Photo 27 by: Ted Wilcox Comment: Ashe, 2005-06-04, mated		Photo 28 by: Ted Wilcox Comment: Ashe, 2004-08-03, female