NC Odonate Website

Related Species in COENAGRIONIDAE:

Number of records added in 2021 = 13

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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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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

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).

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[Overwinter:] [Date Spread:] [No Late Date:] [Split on Feb:] [Default:]

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Species account update: LeGrand on 2021-02-13 14:33:06

The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
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Photo Gallery for Stream Bluet 23 photos are shown.		Other NC Galleries: Jeff Pippen Will Cook Ted Wilcox
	Photo 1 by: P Dixon Comment: Madison, 2021-06-24, Laurel River		Photo 2 by: P Dixon Comment: Madison, 2021-06-04, Hot Springs area
	Photo 3 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 4 by: Mike Turner Comment: Stanly, 2018-08-31, Rocky River @ NC 138
	Photo 5 by: Mark Shields Comment: Harnett; C, 2018-07-13, Cape Fear River Trail Park, Erwin		Photo 6 by: Mike Turner Comment: Forsyth, 2018-07-08, Winston Lake
	Photo 7 by: Mike Turner Comment: Forsyth, 2018-07-01, Winston Lake		Photo 8 by: Mike Turner Comment: Guilford, 2018-06-30, N. Buffalo Creek @ SR 2832
	Photo 9 by: John Petranka, Chuck Smith Comment: Caldwell, 2018-06-08, Wilson Creek at Visitor's Center. - Male.		Photo 10 by: Vin Stanton Comment: Buncombe, 2017-08-13, Woodfin Riverside Park; Lat: 35.63133 Long -82.60006 - Male
	Photo 11 by: Mark Shields, Hunter Phillips Comment: Union, 2017-05-15, Rocky River at Randolph Landing, Rocky River Blueway Access and Nature Park		Photo 12 by: Owen McConnell Comment: Graham, 2014-07-15, whitewater input ramp on the Cheoah River - photo of male
	Photo 13 by: Doug Johnston, Vin Stanton Comment: Macon, 2013-07-16, Patton		Photo 14 by: George Andrews Comment: Union, 2013-05-29, Rocky River at Hilford Road, intersection of Union, Anson, and Stanly counties.
	Photo 15 by: Doug Johnston, Simon Thompson, Gail Lankford, Vin Stanton Comment: Henderson, 2011-08-06, Fletcher Park - Male		Photo 16 by: Vin Stanton, Doug Johnston Comment: Haywood, 2011-06-08, Lake Junaluska - Male & Female
	Photo 17 by: Vin Stanton, Doug Johnston Comment: Haywood, 2011-06-08, Lake Junaluska - Male & Female		Photo 18 by: Bob Oberfelder Comment: Wake, 2011-06-07, Observed in Cary at Lochmere Golf Course, male
	Photo 19 by: Doug Johnston, Vin Stanton Comment: Madison, 2011-06-05, Sandy Mush Creek		Photo 20 by: Doug Johnston Comment: Buncombe, 2011-06-04, French Broad River, northern Buncombe County
	Photo 21 by: E. Corey Comment: Avery, 2008-06-18, southernmost bog		Photo 22 by: Ted Wilcox Comment: Alleghany, 2006-07-19, mated
	Photo 23 by: Randy Emmitt Comment: Durham, 2004-06-02, male