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 2024-00-00 = 0

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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 [S3]
State Status
Global Rank G4
Federal Status
Synonym
Other Name
Species account update: LeGrand on 2023-01-18 12:16:33

Photo Gallery for Cherry Bluet   27 photos are shown. Other NC Galleries:    Jeff Pippen    Will Cook    Ted Wilcox
Photo 1 by: Matt Spangler

Comment: Carteret, 2023-06-11, Croatan NF--Patsy Pond area
Photo 2 by: Matt Spangler

Comment: Carteret, 2023-06-11, Croatan NF--Patsy Pond area
Photo 3 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 4 by: Mike Turner

Comment: Richmond; C, 2022-06-25, Sandhill Game Lands - Broadacres Lake - ad.male
Photo 5 by: Mike Turner

Comment: Hoke, 2022-06-19, Nicholson Creek Game Land - ad.males
Photo 6 by: Mike Turner

Comment: Hoke, 2022-06-19, Nicholson Creek Game Land - ad.males
Photo 7 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 8 by: B. Bockhahn, K. Kittelberger

Comment: Scotland, 2020-06-08, Scotland Lake
Photo 9 by: B. Bockhahn, K. Kittelberger

Comment: Scotland, 2020-06-08, Scotland Lake
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 by K. Kittelberger
Photo 12 by: B. Bockhahn, K. Kittelberger

Comment: Scotland, 2020-06-08, Scotland Lake; photo by K. Kittelberger
Photo 13 by: Ken Kneidel

Comment: Scotland, 2020-05-12, Scotland Lake, Sandhills Game Land, male
Photo 14 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Onslow, 2020-05-05, Stones Creek Game Land, Dry Lake area - including 2 tandem pairs
Photo 15 by: R.Emmitt, H. LeGrand, J. Pippen

Comment: Scotland, 2019-04-28, Crawford Lake
Photo 16 by: R Emmitt and super DSA crew!

Comment: Scotland, 2018-05-11, Scotland Lake
Photo 17 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Carteret, 2018-04-18, Ponds along Patsy Pond Nature Trail, Croatan National Forest
Photo 18 by: Conrad Wernett

Comment: Carteret, 2017-05-21 - Patsy Pond. Single female.
Photo 19 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Bladen, 2017-05-07, Horseshoe Lake, Suggs Mill Pond Game Land
Photo 20 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 21 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Carteret, 2017-04-04, Ponds along Patsy Pond Nature Trail, Croatan National Forest - teneral
Photo 22 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Onslow, 2016-08-05, 1 male, Stones Creek Game Land
Photo 23 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Carteret, 2016-03-29, ponds along Patsy Pond Nature Trail, Croatan National Forest
Photo 24 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Brunswick, 2015-08-01, Boiling Spring Lakes - 1 at Spring Lake Park, 3 at North Lake Park
Photo 25 by: John Petranka, Sally Gewalt

Comment: Brunswick, 2014-10-18, Boiling Spring Lakes. Spring Lake Park. - Males on lilypads.
Photo 26 by: Ali Iyoob, Matt Daw, Dan Irizarry

Comment: Scotland, 2011-05-05, Scotland Lake in the Sandhills Game Land
Photo 27 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.