NC Odonate Website

Related Species in COENAGRIONIDAE:

Number of records for 2025 = 5

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e.g., flight data, high counts, and earliest/latest dates can be seen.
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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

State Status

Global Rank

Federal Status

Synonym

Other Name

Species account update: LeGrand on 2023-01-18 15:11:36

The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
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Photo Gallery for Skimming Bluet 21 photos are shown.		Other NC Galleries: Jeff Pippen Will Cook Ted Wilcox
	Photo 1 by: Rob Gilson, Carolina Butterfly Society Comment: Moore; C, 2024-06-01, - Sandhills Community College lake; Skimming Bluet on right, Burgundy Bluet on left, photo by Lori Arent		Photo 2 by: Mark Shields, Brian Bockhahn, et al. Comment: Gates, 2023-04-17, Merchants Millpond State Park
	Photo 3 by: Mike Turner Comment: Hoke, 2022-06-19, Nicholson Creek Game Land - ad.males		Photo 4 by: B. Bockhahn Comment: Buncombe, 2022-05-16, Pisgah State Park
	Photo 5 by: B. Bockhahn Comment: Warren, 2022-04-27, Kerr Lake State Recreation Area		Photo 6 by: Harry LeGrand, Lori Arent Comment: Richmond; C, 2021-06-14, - Indian Camp Lake; Skimming Bluet on right, Burgundy Bluet on left..
	Photo 7 by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin Comment: Yancey, 2021-06-01, Along Cane River south of Burnsville		Photo 8 by: p dixon Comment: Madison, 2020-09-27, Hot Springs area
	Photo 9 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 10 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 11 by: Mark Shields Comment: Cumberland, 2018-04-22, Lake Rim		Photo 12 by: Mark Shields Comment: Anson, 2018-04-21, Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge
	Photo 13 by: John Petranka Comment: Scotland, 2018-04-04, Lumber River at the US Hwy. 401 bridge; Wagram Boating Access. - Male.		Photo 14 by: Mark Shields Comment: Pender, 2015-08-09, Black River by kayak, between NC 53/11 bridge and Hunts Bluff Wildlife ramp
	Photo 15 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 16 by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Ed Corey Comment: Bladen, 2013-06-04, seen at Salter's Lake access
	Photo 17 by: Mike Turner Comment: Wake, 2013-04-27, Lake Raleigh		Photo 18 by: Doug Johnston Comment: Buncombe, 2011-08-16, Beaver Lake, northern Asheville
	Photo 19 by: Vin Stanton, Doug Johnston Comment: Haywood, 2011-06-08, Haywood Community College - Male		Photo 20 by: Vin Stanton Comment: Buncombe, 2011-05-09, Beaver Lake
	Photo 21 by: Scott Hartley Comment: Moore; C, 2009-04-05, Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve