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 = 22

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e.g., flight data, high counts, and earliest/latest dates can be seen.
[View PDF]		Familiar Bluet (Enallagma civile) by Mark Shields
Compare with: Atlantic Bluet   Big Bluet   Hagen's Bluet   Little 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 Familiar Bluet
Flight Charts
Distribution Statewide. Though no records for four counties in the southwestern tip of the state and one eastern county, it is assumed to occur in all 100 counties.
Abundance Common, at least locally, and widespread across the Coastal Plain and Piedmont; common in the northern and central mountains, but less numerous in the southwestern mountains.
Flight A very long flight period for a damselfly -- in the Coastal Plain from mid-March to late December, though scarce after mid-November. In the Piedmont and mountains, the flight starts around mid-April and extends to mid-November in both provinces.
Habitat A wide array of ponds and other still water habitats, even slow-moving rivers -- especially where emergent vegetation is present.
Behavior As with many other bluets, it typically is found in full sun at ponds, perching on emergent vegetation just above the water. And, like most, it can be quite local and not found in some ponds or lakes that may seem to appear to be perfect for them.
Comments This is one of the state's most widespread and often seen pond damselflies, and one of the few that is numerous in truly coastal counties. It is quite similar in appearance to Atlantic Bluet, and thus sight reports of these two in the Coastal Plain and eastern Piedmont must be made with care and might be suspect. This is especially true as the Atlantic Bluet can often greatly outnumber the Familiar Bluet at some/many Coastal Plain ponds and lakeshores.
State Rank S5
State Status
Global Rank G5
Federal Status
Synonym
Other Name
Species account update: Howard on 2023-01-24 15:12:56
Photo Gallery for Familiar Bluet   35 photos are available.
Only the most recent 30 are shown.
Other NC Galleries:    Jeff Pippen    Will Cook    Ted Wilcox
Photo 1 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Yadkin, 2021-08-10, Yadkin River at Jonesville Greenway		Photo 2 by: Bob Oberfelder

Comment: Wake, 2021-07-30, Seen near the Mill at Yates Mill Park
Photo 3 by: Matt Spangler

Comment: Richmond; C, 2021-05-06, Lake McKinney (lake & hatcheries)		Photo 4 by: p dixon

Comment: Madison, 2020-11-06, Hot Springs area
Photo 5 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Carteret, 2020-08-11, Cedar Island		Photo 6 by: Rob Van Epps, Kevin Metcalf

Comment: Richmond; C, 2020-04-26, Lake McKinney fish hatchery
Photo 7 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Duplin, 2019-06-02, Northeast Cape Fear River, from Wayne's Landing to 3.5 km upstream and back, by kayak		Photo 8 by: Mike Turner

Comment: Wilkes; P, 2018-07-21, Lowe's River Edge Park; retention pond
Photo 9 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Bladen, 2018-07-13, Cape Fear River at William O. Huske Lock and Dam		Photo 10 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Chowan, 2018-06-09, Edenton National Fish Hatchery
Photo 11 by: Mark Shields and Hunter Phillips

Comment: Rockingham, 2018-05-13, Mayo River State Park (MARI) - Mayo Mountain Access - males at pond near park office		Photo 12 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Lenoir, 2018-05-01, Neuseway Nature Park, Kinston
Photo 13 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Jones, 2017-10-03, Trent River at Pollocksville Boating Access Area		Photo 14 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Onslow, 2017-09-03, Everett Creek Nature Preserve
Photo 15 by: Mark Shields

Comment: New Hanover, 2017-08-27, Sutton Lake Boating Access Area		Photo 16 by: Mark Shields

Comment: New Hanover, 2017-08-27, Sutton Lake Boating Access Area
Photo 17 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Brunswick, 2017-04-12, North Lake and Spring Lake parks, Boiling Spring Lakes		Photo 18 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Onslow, 2016-10-18, retention pond, Coastal Carolina Community College, Jacksonville
Photo 19 by: Mike Turner

Comment: Dare; OBL, 2015-09-09, Cape Hatteras Lighthouse area - 9 adult males; 1 pair ovipositing in tandem		Photo 20 by: Mike Turner

Comment: Dare; OBL, 2015-09-09, Cape Hatteras Lighthouse area - 9 adult males; 1 pair ovipositing in tandem
Photo 21 by: Conrad Wernett

Comment: Columbus, 2014-05-24 - In front of Lake Waccamaw park center		Photo 22 by: George Andrews

Comment: Mecklenburg, 2013-05-15
Photo 23 by: George Andrews

Comment: Mecklenburg, 2013-05-15, Colonel Beatty Park (Mecklenburg/Union county line) - temp. near 90° F, gusty wind.		Photo 24 by: Mike Turner

Comment: Wake, 2012-09-13, Lake Raleigh - including 1 blue adult female (photo is of the blue adult female)
Photo 25 by: Curtis Smalling; Harry LeGrand

Comment: Watauga, 2012-06-19, at private pond - numerous over water and perched		Photo 26 by: Vin Stanton, Doug Johnston

Comment: Transylvania, 2011-08-19, Brevard - Female
Photo 27 by: Vin Stanton, Doug Johnston

Comment: Haywood, 2011-06-08, Lake Junaluska and Haywood Community College - Male & Female seen		Photo 28 by: Doug Johnston

Comment: Buncombe, 2011-06-04, French Broad River, northern Buncombe County
Photo 29 by: Ali Iyoob, Matt Daw, Dan Irizarry

Comment: Richmond; C, 2011-05-05, McKinney Lake Fish Hatchery		Photo 30 by: Vin Stanton

Comment: Henderson, 2009-09-28, Fletcher Park Pond