NC Odonate Website

Related Species in COENAGRIONIDAE:

Number of records for 2025 = 6

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e.g., flight data, high counts, and earliest/latest dates can be seen.
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Cherry Bluet (Enallagma concisum) by Mark Shields

Compare with: Burgundy 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 females.

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Map

Click on county for list of all its records for Cherry Bluet

Flight Charts

Distribution

The southern third/half of the Coastal Plain only, north to Craven Sampson, Cumberland, and Moore counties. NC lies at the northeastern end of the species' range.

Abundance

Generally uncommon, but locally fairly common at a few sites, where several single-day counts of 25 or more individuals were made in 2017, and a very high count of 91 was made in 2020. One of our less numerous bluet species.

Flight

The flight is quite extended, from very late March to late October. There is a real dip in numbers in midsummer, not a coverage bias, as much field work does occur in July. More easily found in May and June than later in the season.

Habitat

Ponds or lakes with sandy bottoms, particularly where there is much emergent vegetation.

See also Habitat Account for Coastal Plain Herbaceous Ponds and Sloughs

Behavior

Males perch on lilypads and other floating or emergent vegetation (such as twigs and grass blades), often well out from the shore.

Comments

Several "holes" in the county range map were filled in 2021-22, with Hoke and Duplin counties added to the range map. Though it is given an S3S4 State Rank by the N.C. Natural Heritage Program, it might not quite warrant a Watch List status. There have been quite a few records for the species from 2017-2022, including several sizable counts. However, with just 13 counties known in the state, a rank of straight S3 might be more appropriate. The scarlet-red (not "cherry") and black banding pattern on the thorax of the adult male is very stunning! For whatever reason, many males of this species are infested with water mites, marring an otherwise beautiful photo!

State Rank

S3S4

State Status

Global Rank

Federal Status

Synonym

Other Name

Species account update: LeGrand on 2024-09-18 10:30:33

The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
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Photo Gallery for Cherry Bluet 29 photos are shown.		Other NC Galleries: Jeff Pippen Will Cook Ted Wilcox
	Photo 1 by: Amy Padgett Comment: Bladen, 2024-08-12, Suggs Mill Pond Gamelands, Horseshoe Lake - 3:00P in emergent vegetation		Photo 2 by: Amy Padgett Comment: Bladen, 2024-06-19, Bay Tree Natural Area, Harrells, NC - 4:10P among sedges at smaller ponds
	Photo 3 by: Matt Spangler Comment: Carteret, 2023-06-11, Croatan NF--Patsy Pond area		Photo 4 by: Matt Spangler Comment: Carteret, 2023-06-11, Croatan NF--Patsy Pond area
	Photo 5 by: Lori Arent, Harry LeGrand Comment: Bladen, 2023-04-21, several locations in Bladen County - adult males; Suggs Mill Pond; photo by Lori Arent		Photo 6 by: Mike Turner Comment: Richmond; C, 2022-06-25, Sandhill Game Lands - Broadacres Lake - ad.male
	Photo 7 by: Mike Turner Comment: Hoke, 2022-06-19, Nicholson Creek Game Land - ad.males		Photo 8 by: Mike Turner Comment: Hoke, 2022-06-19, Nicholson Creek Game Land - ad.males
	Photo 9 by: Harry LeGrand. Lori Arent Comment: Richmond; C, 2022-04-28, many Sandhills locales - Broadacres Lake; adult male, but with many water mites; photo by Lori Arent		Photo 10 by: B. Bockhahn, K. Kittelberger Comment: Scotland, 2020-06-08, Scotland Lake
	Photo 11 by: B. Bockhahn, K. Kittelberger Comment: Scotland, 2020-06-08, Scotland Lake		Photo 12 by: B. Bockhahn, K. Kittelberger Comment: Scotland, 2020-06-08, Scotland Lake
	Photo 13 by: B. Bockhahn, K. Kittelberger Comment: Scotland, 2020-06-08, Scotland Lake; photo by K. Kittelberger		Photo 14 by: B. Bockhahn, K. Kittelberger Comment: Scotland, 2020-06-08, Scotland Lake; photo by K. Kittelberger
	Photo 15 by: Ken Kneidel Comment: Scotland, 2020-05-12, Scotland Lake, Sandhills Game Land, male		Photo 16 by: Mark Shields Comment: Onslow, 2020-05-05, Stones Creek Game Land, Dry Lake area - including 2 tandem pairs
	Photo 17 by: R.Emmitt, H. LeGrand, J. Pippen Comment: Scotland, 2019-04-28, Crawford Lake		Photo 18 by: R Emmitt and super DSA crew! Comment: Scotland, 2018-05-11, Scotland Lake
	Photo 19 by: Mark Shields Comment: Carteret, 2018-04-18, Ponds along Patsy Pond Nature Trail, Croatan National Forest		Photo 20 by: Conrad Wernett Comment: Carteret, 2017-05-21 - Patsy Pond. Single female.
	Photo 21 by: Mark Shields Comment: Bladen, 2017-05-07, Horseshoe Lake, Suggs Mill Pond Game Land		Photo 22 by: Conrad Wernett Comment: Carteret, 2017-04-30 - Males, females, tandems and oviposition seen at any body of water from Patsy Pond to NC Hwy 24
	Photo 23 by: Mark Shields Comment: Carteret, 2017-04-04, Ponds along Patsy Pond Nature Trail, Croatan National Forest - teneral		Photo 24 by: Mark Shields Comment: Onslow, 2016-08-05, 1 male, Stones Creek Game Land
	Photo 25 by: Mark Shields Comment: Carteret, 2016-03-29, ponds along Patsy Pond Nature Trail, Croatan National Forest		Photo 26 by: Mark Shields Comment: Brunswick, 2015-08-01, Boiling Spring Lakes - 1 at Spring Lake Park, 3 at North Lake Park
	Photo 27 by: John Petranka, Sally Gewalt Comment: Brunswick, 2014-10-18, Boiling Spring Lakes. Spring Lake Park. - Males on lilypads.		Photo 28 by: Ali Iyoob, Matt Daw, Dan Irizarry Comment: Scotland, 2011-05-05, Scotland Lake in the Sandhills Game Land
	Photo 29 by: E. Corey Comment: Onslow, 2007-06-13, immature male, notice thin black line below "shoulders". In the similar Burgundy Bluet, this line is more of a wedge.