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 = 11

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e.g., flight data, high counts, and earliest/latest dates can be seen.
[View PDF]		Skimming Bluet (Enallagma geminatum) by Mark Shields
Compare with: Turquoise Bluet   Slender Bluet   Lilypad Forktail  
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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 Skimming Bluet
Flight Charts
Distribution Essentially statewide, though of spotty distribution in the mountains and upper Piedmont, and close to the coast. However, it likely occurs in all 100 counties.
Abundance Fairly common statewide, and locally common (several daily counts over 100 individuals). Not obviously more numerous in one province than another, though the two highest counts have come from Wake County in the eastern Piedmont. Interestingly, there seem to be few recent records for most of the Coastal Plain, outside of the Sandhills region and the southeastern counties; thus, it now appears to be rare to uncommon in this large region.
Flight A long flight season, downstate from late March or early April to mid-October (and sparingly to early November). In the mountains, it flies from late April to early October.
Habitat A variety of still, open waters, typically lakes and ponds, especially where there are lily pads or other floating vegetation.

See also Habitat Account for General Pond Shorelines
Behavior This species likes full sun, and often is found on lily pads or on other vegetation close to shore, but in sun. However, like most bluets, it can be quite local, and many suitable ponds seem to lack this species.
Comments Additional field work in the western third of the state ought to provide new county records. However, there are fewer lakes and ponds in that part of the state that contain water lilies and other floating vegetation, not that this is a requirement to find this bluet.
State Rank S5
State Status
Global Rank G5
Federal Status
Synonym
Other Name
Species account update: LeGrand on 2023-01-18 15:11:36
Photo Gallery for Skimming Bluet   20 photos are shown. Other NC Galleries:    Jeff Pippen    Will Cook    Ted Wilcox
Photo 1 by: Mark Shields, Brian Bockhahn, et al.

Comment: Gates, 2023-04-17, Merchants Millpond State Park		Photo 2 by: Mike Turner

Comment: Hoke, 2022-06-19, Nicholson Creek Game Land - ad.males
Photo 3 by: B. Bockhahn

Comment: Buncombe, 2022-05-16, Pisgah State Park		Photo 4 by: B. Bockhahn

Comment: Warren, 2022-04-27, Kerr Lake State Recreation Area
Photo 5 by: Harry LeGrand, Lori Arent

Comment: Richmond; C, 2021-06-14, - Indian Camp Lake; Skimming Bluet on right, Burgundy Bluet on left..		Photo 6 by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin

Comment: Yancey, 2021-06-01, Along Cane River south of Burnsville
Photo 7 by: p dixon

Comment: Madison, 2020-09-27, Hot Springs area		Photo 8 by: Mark Shields, Hunter Phillips

Comment: Mitchell, 2019-05-16, Living Waters Campground, Glen Ayre. Males along edge of large pond. First record for county.
Photo 9 by: Mark Shields and Hunter Phillips

Comment: Rockingham, 2018-05-13, Mayo River State Park (MARI) - Mayo Mountain Access - tandem pairs at pond near park office		Photo 10 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Cumberland, 2018-04-22, Lake Rim
Photo 11 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Anson, 2018-04-21, Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge		Photo 12 by: John Petranka

Comment: Scotland, 2018-04-04, Lumber River at the US Hwy. 401 bridge; Wagram Boating Access. - Male.
Photo 13 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Pender, 2015-08-09, Black River by kayak, between NC 53/11 bridge and Hunts Bluff Wildlife ramp		Photo 14 by: John Petranka

Comment: Alleghany, 2014-07-04, Little Glade Millpond, along Blue Ridge Parkway about 0.5 mi. south of US 21 at Mile Marker 230 - Male.
Photo 15 by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Ed Corey

Comment: Bladen, 2013-06-04, seen at Salter's Lake access		Photo 16 by: Mike Turner

Comment: Wake, 2013-04-27, Lake Raleigh
Photo 17 by: Doug Johnston

Comment: Buncombe, 2011-08-16, Beaver Lake, northern Asheville		Photo 18 by: Vin Stanton, Doug Johnston

Comment: Haywood, 2011-06-08, Haywood Community College - Male
Photo 19 by: Vin Stanton

Comment: Buncombe, 2011-05-09, Beaver Lake		Photo 20 by: Scott Hartley

Comment: Moore; C, 2009-04-05, Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve