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 2024 = 3

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[View PDF]		Hagen's Bluet (Enallagma hageni) by John Petranka, Sally Gewalt
Compare with: Familiar Bluet   Atlantic Bluet  
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Note: these identification tips apply specifically to mature males; features may differ in immature males and in females.
Enallagma_hageni

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Map
Click on county for list of all its records for Hagen's Bluet
Flight Charts
Distribution Probably throughout the mountains, and likely the extreme upper Piedmont foothills. Not surprisingly, NC lies at the southern end of the species' range, it not having yet been recorded from SC, and just at one site in extreme northeastern GA. There is a surprisingly wide gap in records in the central mountains, and fairly heavily worked Buncombe and Madison counties lack a record. Most records are from elevations higher than 3500 feet, and it is clearly scarce below 3000 feet, partly explaining the absence of records in Madison and Buncombe counties, where there seem to be few ponds or lakes at these higher elevations.
Abundance Uncommon to locally fairly common in the mountains, but very rare in the upper parts of Piedmont foothill counties. Interestingly, there is a count of 39 individuals from Macon County; thus, it isn't overly rare in parts of the southern mountains. Paulson (2011) says "Often most common species at large northern lakes." Of course, such is not the case in NC, at the southern edge of the range. However, in the northern mountains, it can be common at some high elevation ponds.
Flight The NC records in the mountains fall between mid-June and late August, though the flight there likely starts in May. The few Piedmont records are only for late May and mid-June.
Habitat Ponds, small lakes, and other open water with much emergent vegetation; often at bogs and marshes.

See also Habitat Account for Montane Herbaceous Ponds
Behavior Males are not inconspicuous along pond margins, though females stay relatively hidden in vegetation, as with other bluet species.
Comments Though there are numerous dragonflies that occur in NC only in the mountains, there are very few such damselflies with this type of range. The lack of records in the central mountain counties is puzzling, though this may represent poor coverage in its pond-like habitats; much of the coverage in these counties centers on the French Broad River and its tributaries (i.e., riverine habitats), sites perhaps too low and/or warm for this higher-elevation species in the state.
State Rank S3
State Status
Global Rank G5
Federal Status
Synonym
Other Name
Species account update: LeGrand on 2023-01-18 15:16:19
Photo Gallery for Hagen's Bluet   12 photos are shown. Other NC Galleries:    Jeff Pippen    Will Cook    Ted Wilcox
Photo 1 by: B. Bockhahn

Comment: Macon, 2024-07-24, Wilson Lakes, Nantahala National Forest		Photo 2 by: Harry LeGrand, Lori Arent, Audrey Whitlock

Comment: Ashe, 2024-06-12, - males at Pond Mountain eastern pond; photo by Lori Arent
Photo 3 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Ashe, 2021-06-23, Pond Mountain Game Land		Photo 4 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Jackson, 2018-06-27, The Village Green, Cashiers - male at small creek
Photo 5 by: John Petranka, Barbara McRae, Sally Gewalt

Comment: Macon, 2017-07-20, Cliffside Lake at Cliffside Lake Recreation Area, ca. 4 miles NW of Highlands. - Mostly males, but several mating pairs.		Photo 6 by: John Petranka, Barbara McRae, Sally Gewalt

Comment: Macon, 2017-07-20, Cliffside Lake at Cliffside Lake Recreation Area, ca. 4 miles NW of Highlands. - Mostly males, but several mating pairs.
Photo 7 by: Jim Petranka

Comment: Avery, 2016-07-15, In permanent pond with emergent vegetation. 		Photo 8 by: John Petranka

Comment: Alleghany, 2016-06-20, Pond along Blue Ridge Parkway about 4.3 mi. north of US 21. Junction of BRP with Mountain View Rd. (State Rd. 1463). Male.
Photo 9 by: John Petranka, Sally Gewalt

Comment: Watauga, 2015-06-30, Meat Camp Creek Environmental Studies Area. - Males.		Photo 10 by: Doug Johnston, Vin Stanton

Comment: Swain, 2013-07-16, Ferebee Park, Nantahala River - Male
Photo 11 by: Curtis Smalling

Comment: Watauga, 2010-06-20, Meat Camp Creek Environmental Studies Area - numerous pairs		Photo 12 by: Curtis Smalling

Comment: Watauga, 2010-06-20, Meat Camp Creek Environmental Studies Area - numerous pairs