NC Odonate Website

Related Species in COENAGRIONIDAE:

Number of records for 2025 = 2

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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.

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Species account update: Howard on 2023-01-24 15:12:56

The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
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Photo Gallery for Familiar Bluet 36 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.		Other NC Galleries: Jeff Pippen Will Cook Ted Wilcox
	Photo 1 by: Amy Padgett Comment: Bladen, 2024-07-05, William O Huske Lock and Dam 3, NC - 5:00PM at an island of floating vegetation		Photo 2 by: Mark Shields Comment: Yadkin, 2021-08-10, Yadkin River at Jonesville Greenway
	Photo 3 by: Bob Oberfelder Comment: Wake, 2021-07-30, Seen near the Mill at Yates Mill Park		Photo 4 by: Matt Spangler Comment: Richmond; C, 2021-05-06, Lake McKinney (lake & hatcheries)
	Photo 5 by: p dixon Comment: Madison, 2020-11-06, Hot Springs area		Photo 6 by: Mark Shields Comment: Carteret, 2020-08-11, Cedar Island
	Photo 7 by: Rob Van Epps, Kevin Metcalf Comment: Richmond; C, 2020-04-26, Lake McKinney fish hatchery		Photo 8 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 9 by: Mike Turner Comment: Wilkes; P, 2018-07-21, Lowe's River Edge Park; retention pond		Photo 10 by: Mark Shields Comment: Bladen, 2018-07-13, Cape Fear River at William O. Huske Lock and Dam
	Photo 11 by: Mark Shields Comment: Chowan, 2018-06-09, Edenton National Fish Hatchery		Photo 12 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 13 by: Mark Shields Comment: Lenoir, 2018-05-01, Neuseway Nature Park, Kinston		Photo 14 by: Mark Shields Comment: Jones, 2017-10-03, Trent River at Pollocksville Boating Access Area
	Photo 15 by: Mark Shields Comment: Onslow, 2017-09-03, Everett Creek Nature Preserve		Photo 16 by: Mark Shields Comment: New Hanover, 2017-08-27, Sutton Lake Boating Access Area
	Photo 17 by: Mark Shields Comment: New Hanover, 2017-08-27, Sutton Lake Boating Access Area		Photo 18 by: Mark Shields Comment: Brunswick, 2017-04-12, North Lake and Spring Lake parks, Boiling Spring Lakes
	Photo 19 by: Mark Shields Comment: Onslow, 2016-10-18, retention pond, Coastal Carolina Community College, Jacksonville		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: Mike Turner Comment: Dare; OBL, 2015-09-09, Cape Hatteras Lighthouse area - 9 adult males; 1 pair ovipositing in tandem		Photo 22 by: Conrad Wernett Comment: Columbus, 2014-05-24 - In front of Lake Waccamaw park center
	Photo 23 by: George Andrews Comment: Mecklenburg, 2013-05-15		Photo 24 by: George Andrews Comment: Mecklenburg, 2013-05-15, Colonel Beatty Park (Mecklenburg/Union county line) - temp. near 90° F, gusty wind.
	Photo 25 by: Mike Turner Comment: Wake, 2012-09-13, Lake Raleigh - including 1 blue adult female (photo is of the blue adult female)		Photo 26 by: Curtis Smalling; Harry LeGrand Comment: Watauga, 2012-06-19, at private pond - numerous over water and perched
	Photo 27 by: Vin Stanton, Doug Johnston Comment: Transylvania, 2011-08-19, Brevard - Female		Photo 28 by: Vin Stanton, Doug Johnston Comment: Haywood, 2011-06-08, Lake Junaluska and Haywood Community College - Male & Female seen
	Photo 29 by: Doug Johnston Comment: Buncombe, 2011-06-04, French Broad River, northern Buncombe County		Photo 30 by: Ali Iyoob, Matt Daw, Dan Irizarry Comment: Richmond; C, 2011-05-05, McKinney Lake Fish Hatchery