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 2023 = 0

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[View PDF]		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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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. Unlike most other bluets, it seldom occurs at ponds and lakes.
Behavior The bluet most often and 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 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). This is especially the case in the western half of the Piedmont.
State Rank S5
State Status
Global Rank G5
Federal Status
Synonym
Other Name
Species account update: LeGrand on 2023-01-18 15:08:36
Photo Gallery for Stream Bluet   26 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: Travis McLain

Comment: Cabarrus, 2022-06-18, Coddle Creek, iNaturalist Record #122381627
Photo 3 by: L. Arent

Comment: Wilkes; P, 2022-05-22, Yadkin River (below Kerr Scott Dam & Lowe's Park at Rivers Edge)		Photo 4 by: P Dixon

Comment: Madison, 2021-06-24, Laurel River
Photo 5 by: P Dixon

Comment: Madison, 2021-06-04, Hot Springs area		Photo 6 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 7 by: Mike Turner

Comment: Stanly, 2018-08-31, Rocky River @ NC 138		Photo 8 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Harnett; C, 2018-07-13, Cape Fear River Trail Park, Erwin
Photo 9 by: Mike Turner

Comment: Forsyth, 2018-07-08, Winston Lake		Photo 10 by: Mike Turner

Comment: Forsyth, 2018-07-01, Winston Lake
Photo 11 by: Mike Turner

Comment: Guilford, 2018-06-30, N. Buffalo Creek @ SR 2832		Photo 12 by: John Petranka, Chuck Smith

Comment: Caldwell, 2018-06-08, Wilson Creek at Visitor's Center. - Male.
Photo 13 by: Vin Stanton

Comment: Buncombe, 2017-08-13, Woodfin Riverside Park; Lat: 35.63133 Long -82.60006 - Male		Photo 14 by: Mark Shields, Hunter Phillips

Comment: Union, 2017-05-15, Rocky River at Randolph Landing, Rocky River Blueway Access and Nature Park
Photo 15 by: Owen McConnell

Comment: Graham, 2014-07-15, whitewater input ramp on the Cheoah River - photo of male		Photo 16 by: Doug Johnston, Vin Stanton

Comment: Macon, 2013-07-16, Patton
Photo 17 by: George Andrews

Comment: Union, 2013-05-29, Rocky River at Hilford Road, intersection of Union, Anson, and Stanly counties.		Photo 18 by: Doug Johnston, Simon Thompson, Gail Lankford, Vin Stanton

Comment: Henderson, 2011-08-06, Fletcher Park - Male
Photo 19 by: Vin Stanton, Doug Johnston

Comment: Haywood, 2011-06-08, Lake Junaluska - Male & Female		Photo 20 by: Vin Stanton, Doug Johnston

Comment: Haywood, 2011-06-08, Lake Junaluska - Male & Female
Photo 21 by: Bob Oberfelder

Comment: Wake, 2011-06-07, Observed in Cary at Lochmere Golf Course, male		Photo 22 by: Doug Johnston, Vin Stanton

Comment: Madison, 2011-06-05, Sandy Mush Creek
Photo 23 by: Doug Johnston

Comment: Buncombe, 2011-06-04, French Broad River, northern Buncombe County		Photo 24 by: E. Corey

Comment: Avery, 2008-06-18, southernmost bog
Photo 25 by: Ted Wilcox

Comment: Alleghany, 2006-07-19, mated 		Photo 26 by: Randy Emmitt

Comment: Durham, 2004-06-02, male