NC Odonate Website

Related Species in COENAGRIONIDAE:		Number of records for 2022 = 21
Added in 2022 from a previous year = 1 (2021-05-23)

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Stream Bluet (Enallagma exsulans) by Mark Shields

Compare with: Turquoise Bluet Skimming Bluet Slender 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

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Flight Charts

Distribution

Throughout the mountains and Piedmont; also in the upper Coastal Plain, east to Hertford, Pitt, and Cumberland counties.

Abundance

Common, at least locally, in the mountains and Piedmont; rare in the Coastal Plain portion of the range. Several counts of at least 100 individuals in a day have been made in the eastern Piedmont.

Flight

Late April to mid-October in the Piedmont, and mid-May to at least mid-September in the mountains. The relatively few dates from the Coastal Plain fall between late May and late September, though the flight ought to be similar to that in the Piedmont.

Habitat

A wide variety of creeks and rivers, with slow to moderate current.

Behavior

The bluet most easily seen along flowing, semi-shaded waters in the mountains and Piedmont. It often perches off the water on broad leaves of shrubs or trees, but it also can perch on snags barely above the water.

Comments

This species generally avoids lakes, ponds, and other still waters -- unlike nearly all other bluets. It seems to be one of the few bluets that observers in the Piedmont seem to bother to photograph in recent years, perhaps as most people there are looking at creeks and rivers for clubtails and other dragonflies, and not looking around pond and lake margins for those many damselfly species that favor lentic conditions (versus lotic conditions of flowing waters).

State Rank

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Global Rank

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Species account update: LeGrand on 2022-06-02 12:50:44

The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
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Photo Gallery for Stream Bluet 25 photos are shown.		Other NC Galleries: Jeff Pippen Will Cook Ted Wilcox
	Photo 1 by: Mark Shields Comment: Nash, 2022-06-20, Tar River at Battle Park, Rocky Mount		Photo 2 by: L. Arent Comment: Wilkes; P, 2022-05-22, Yadkin River (below Kerr Scott Dam & Lowe's Park at Rivers Edge)
	Photo 3 by: P Dixon Comment: Madison, 2021-06-24, Laurel River		Photo 4 by: P Dixon Comment: Madison, 2021-06-04, Hot Springs area
	Photo 5 by: Ruby Sarkar Comment: Wake, 2020-06-21, This damselfly was seen near the Falls Lake Dam, in Raleigh. It was a hot, sunny summer afternoon. This is a mature male. There were many of them from this species at that time. These damselflies were flying over a small pool of water adjacent to the dam. the water was not deep. These damselflies always preferred perching on twigs or grasses that stood out of water. They stayed close to water, didn't wander off.		Photo 6 by: Mike Turner Comment: Stanly, 2018-08-31, Rocky River @ NC 138
	Photo 7 by: Mark Shields Comment: Harnett; C, 2018-07-13, Cape Fear River Trail Park, Erwin		Photo 8 by: Mike Turner Comment: Forsyth, 2018-07-08, Winston Lake
	Photo 9 by: Mike Turner Comment: Forsyth, 2018-07-01, Winston Lake		Photo 10 by: Mike Turner Comment: Guilford, 2018-06-30, N. Buffalo Creek @ SR 2832
	Photo 11 by: John Petranka, Chuck Smith Comment: Caldwell, 2018-06-08, Wilson Creek at Visitor's Center. - Male.		Photo 12 by: Vin Stanton Comment: Buncombe, 2017-08-13, Woodfin Riverside Park; Lat: 35.63133 Long -82.60006 - Male
	Photo 13 by: Mark Shields, Hunter Phillips Comment: Union, 2017-05-15, Rocky River at Randolph Landing, Rocky River Blueway Access and Nature Park		Photo 14 by: Owen McConnell Comment: Graham, 2014-07-15, whitewater input ramp on the Cheoah River - photo of male
	Photo 15 by: Doug Johnston, Vin Stanton Comment: Macon, 2013-07-16, Patton		Photo 16 by: George Andrews Comment: Union, 2013-05-29, Rocky River at Hilford Road, intersection of Union, Anson, and Stanly counties.
	Photo 17 by: Doug Johnston, Simon Thompson, Gail Lankford, Vin Stanton Comment: Henderson, 2011-08-06, Fletcher Park - Male		Photo 18 by: Vin Stanton, Doug Johnston Comment: Haywood, 2011-06-08, Lake Junaluska - Male & Female
	Photo 19 by: Vin Stanton, Doug Johnston Comment: Haywood, 2011-06-08, Lake Junaluska - Male & Female		Photo 20 by: Bob Oberfelder Comment: Wake, 2011-06-07, Observed in Cary at Lochmere Golf Course, male
	Photo 21 by: Doug Johnston, Vin Stanton Comment: Madison, 2011-06-05, Sandy Mush Creek		Photo 22 by: Doug Johnston Comment: Buncombe, 2011-06-04, French Broad River, northern Buncombe County
	Photo 23 by: E. Corey Comment: Avery, 2008-06-18, southernmost bog		Photo 24 by: Ted Wilcox Comment: Alleghany, 2006-07-19, mated
	Photo 25 by: Randy Emmitt Comment: Durham, 2004-06-02, male