NC Odonate Website

Related Species in COENAGRIONIDAE:

Number of records for 2024 = 3

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Big Bluet (Enallagma durum) by John Petranka

Compare with: Familiar Bluet Atlantic 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 Big Bluet

Flight Charts

Distribution

Essentially just the eastern half of the Coastal Plain; absent from the western half of the Coastal Plain counties, including the Sandhills. Absent in the mountains and Piedmont, except for a specimen record from Rutherford County (correct?). As would be expected from the NC range, this species' US range is mainly limited to tidal and estuarine areas, north to ME, though it does occur over most of peninsular FL. In addition, the Odonata Central range map shows scattered records for TN, northeastern AL, and north-central GA; thus the record for Rutherford County may well be legitimate.

Abundance

Locally fairly common in coastal counties and those in the Tidewater zone, as there are several one-day counts of at least 30 individuals (plus an excellent count of 217 individuals from Hyde County). Rare to uncommon farther inland (such as in Bladen County).

Flight

The flight occurs from late April (rarely early April) to late October. The Rutherford County record is for late July.

Habitat

Unusual for most damselflies -- mainly along the lower portions of large rivers near or at estuaries, including the vicinity of brackish marshes. Also at large lakes with sandy bottoms, such as Lake Waccamaw, as well as coastal impoundments.

Behavior

Often perches low on emergent vegetation, though often in sun and thus not one of the harder bluets to find, if you are able to reach its habitats.

Comments

This species has a range in NC like no other damselfly, but quite a bit like several dragonflies, particularly Needham's Skimmer, Four-spotted Pennant, and Seaside Dragonlet. It is certainly one of the very few damselflies that can be locally numerous in coastal marshes and other wetlands along the coast, such as at Lake Mattamuskeet in Hyde County. The species had been given a State Rank of S4S5 for a number of years, but the N.C. Natural Heritage Program moved it to a more reasonable S4 rank in late 2020.

State Rank

State Status

Global Rank

Federal Status

Synonym

Other Name

Species account update: LeGrand on 2024-01-03 12:33:52

The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
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Photo Gallery for Big Bluet 17 photos are shown.		Other NC Galleries: Jeff Pippen Will Cook Ted Wilcox
	Photo 1 by: Harry LeGrand, Lori Arent Comment: Columbus, 2024-05-26, Lake Waccamaw spillway area - Expected more		Photo 2 by: Amy Padgett Comment: Bladen, 2024-05-23, Bay Tree Natural Area, Harrells, NC - 2:07P - in sedges at lake edge
	Photo 3 by: Matt Spangler Comment: Dare; OBL, 2023-08-06, Cape Hatteras--Salt Pond		Photo 4 by: Matt Spangler Comment: Dare; OBL, 2023-08-06, Cape Hatteras--Salt Pond
	Photo 5 by: Kyle Kittelberger Comment: Dare; OBM, 2020-05-26, Pea Island NWR, South Pond - male		Photo 6 by: Mark Shields Comment: Dare; OBU, 2019-06-14, Jockey's Ridge State Park (JORI)
	Photo 7 by: Mark Shields Comment: Currituck, 2018-09-08, Historic Corolla Park, Corolla		Photo 8 by: Mark Shields, Hunter Phillips Comment: Dare; OBM, 2018-06-29, North Pond, Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge
	Photo 9 by: Mark Shields Comment: Columbus, 2016-07-22, Lake Waccamaw, southern end between dam and pier		Photo 10 by: Mark Shields Comment: Columbus, 2016-07-22, Lake Waccamaw, southern end between dam and pier
	Photo 11 by: Mark Shields Comment: Hyde, 2016-06-19, Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge		Photo 12 by: Mark Shields Comment: Hyde, 2016-06-19, Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge
	Photo 13 by: John Petranka Comment: Bladen, 2016-04-27, Bay Tree Lake State Park. South shore of lake near white sandy beach. Males.		Photo 14 by: Mark Shields Comment: Pamlico, 2015-09-04, Upper Broad Creek at Lee
	Photo 15 by: Mark Shields Comment: Hyde, 2015-07-08, Mattamuskeet NWR		Photo 16 by: Kristy Baker Comment: Currituck, 2015-06-09, Pine Island Audubon Sanctuary
	Photo 17 by: R. Emmitt Comment: Craven, 2005-05-25, Pinecliff along the Neuse River in Croatan National Forest