NC Odonate Website

Related Species in COENAGRIONIDAE:

Number of records added in 2021 = 10

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

Compare with: Familiar 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 Atlantic Bluet

flight charts

distribution

Generally throughout the Coastal Plain, and the southeastern third of the Piedmont; also sparingly in the southern mountains. Seemingly absent over most of the northwestern half of the state, including most of the Piedmont and most of the central and northern mountains. This is basically an Atlantic slope species, not found west of the Appalachians and rarely within them.

abundance

Often overlooked because of identification difficulties, especially with Familiar and Big bluets. Uncommon to locally abundant in the southern half of the Coastal Plain, and rare to uncommon in the northwestern part of the Coastal Plain. Rare in the extreme eastern Coastal Plain and the southeastern Piedmont, and very rare west to McDowell, Henderson, and Transylvania counties. However, a 2019 count of 22, made from a kayak along the border of Camden and Currituck counties, suggests that it might be locally numerous in parts of the northern Coastal Plain.

flight

A very wide flight period, extending to early winter. In the Coastal Plain, records occur from mid-February to mid-January. The relatively few Piedmont records fall between early April and late October, whereas mountain records occur only from mid-June to late July (so far).

habitat

A variety of ponds and lakes, rarely slow-moving creeks/rivers, at least where emergent vegetation is present. Mainly a pond species.

See also Habitat Account for General Beaver Ponds and Semi-natural Impoundments

behavior

Males perch low on vegetation over water; females more often found in shoreline vegetation or on the ground on nearby roads or trails.

comments

Beaton (2007) notes that the species in GA is likely under-reported, and certainly the same can be said for NC. Though there are specimen records for about 35-38% of the counties, until a few years ago there were no posted photos on the website, suggesting that recent biologists had trouble distinguishing the species from other bluets by sight or even by photographs. Thankfully, we now have well over a dozen photos on the website. Much more data are desired to flesh out the range in the state, such as in the southern Piedmont and in the far-eastern Coastal Plain. Interestingly, Paulson (2011) calls it common, and the now 250 records with dates for the Coastal Plain suggest that it is locally abundant, at least in the southeastern portion of the province. Most of these recent records have come from field work done by Mark Shields, especially at several limesink ponds.

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Species account update: LeGrand on 2021-02-13 13:16:59

The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
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Photo Gallery for Atlantic Bluet 17 photos are shown.		Other NC Galleries: Jeff Pippen Will Cook Ted Wilcox
	Photo 1 by: Harry LeGrand, Lori Arent Comment: Wayne, 2021-06-17, Cliffs of the Neuse State Park		Photo 2 by: Mark Shields Comment: Camden, 2019-06-24, Indiantown Creek, from S. Indiantown Rd. bridge to confluence with North River and back, by kayak. - First record for county
	Photo 3 by: Mark Shields Comment: Currituck, 2019-06-24, Indiantown Creek, from S. Indiantown Rd. bridge to confluence with North River and back, by kayak. - First record for county		Photo 4 by: Mark Shields Comment: Brunswick, 2018-08-26, Boiling Spring Lakes - Spring Lake Park
	Photo 5 by: John Petranka, Sally Gewalt. Comment: Craven, 2017-10-26, Craven County Rest Area, jct. US 70 and Clarks Road; at the retention pond. - Males.		Photo 6 by: Mark Shields Comment: Duplin, 2017-09-22, Pond and ditch beside Quiet Water Drive, Chinquapin - male
	Photo 7 by: Mark Shields, Hunter Phillips Comment: Scotland, 2017-05-15, Scotland Lake and in-flowing creek, Sandhills Game Land		Photo 8 by: Mike Turner Comment: Wake, 2017-04-28, Wolf Ridge Apts. retention pond; 35.76977, -78.67225 - 5 adult males and 1 pair in wheel
	Photo 9 by: Mark Shields Comment: New Hanover, 2017-04-10, limesink ponds at Carolina Beach State Park		Photo 10 by: John Petranka Comment: Wake, 2017-04-04, Wilkerson Nature Preserve Park, Raleigh. At Pond. - Male.
	Photo 11 by: Mark Shields Comment: Carteret, 2016-11-18, ponds along Patsy Pond Nature Trail, Croatan National Forest		Photo 12 by: Mark Shields Comment: Pender, 2016-09-11, Holly Shelter Game Land, ponds
	Photo 13 by: Mark Shields Comment: Onslow, 2016-05-07, Stones Creek Game Land		Photo 14 by: Mark Shields Comment: Onslow, 2016-03-12, Stones Creek Game Land. Photo shows teneral male.
	Photo 15 by: Mark Shields Comment: Onslow, 2015-08-05, Stones Creek Game Land, second pond along Lake Road		Photo 16 by: John Petranka, Sally Gewalt Comment: Wayne, 2015-07-31, Cliffs of the Neuse State Park (CLNE). Along the lake shoreline across from the boathouse/dock. - ca. 50 seen along shoreline, but possibly many more present. Scanning with binoculars we estimated >1,000 male bluets flying low over the lake surface, but they were too far away to reliably identify as Atlantic Bluets.
	Photo 17 by: Mark Shields Comment: Onslow, 2015-07-27, Coastal Carolina Community College, Jacksonville - at retention pond