NC Odonate Website

Related Species in COENAGRIONIDAE:		Number of records for 2025 = 17
Added in 2025-00-00 from a previous year = 1 (2024-06-26)

PDF has more details,
e.g., flight data, high counts, and earliest/latest dates can be seen.
[View PDF]

Orange Bluet (Enallagma signatum) by

Compare with: Vesper Bluet Golden Bluet
Identification Tips: Move the cursor over the image, or tap the image if using a mobile device, to reveal ID Tips.
Note: these identification tips apply specifically to mature males; features may differ in immature males and females.

[Google images] [Global Biodiversity Information Facility] iNaturalist

Map

Click on county for list of all its records for Orange Bluet

Flight Charts

Distribution

Statewide, lacking records from just two mountain counties. Certainly present in all 100 counties. Unlike many damselflies with a "statewide" range, this species has been recorded from all coastal counties.

Abundance

Common and widespread in the Coastal Plain and Piedmont; locally abundant in a few areas. Fairly common to perhaps locally common in the mountains.

Flight

A long flight period -- early or mid-April to late October, in all three provinces.

Habitat

A broad range of lakes, ponds, and slow-moving streams.

Behavior

This species is active mostly in the afternoons at its ponds and streams; often hard to find on a morning visit, though it certainly can be seen before noon.

Comments

This is as widespread in the state as any damselfly, and is reasonably common as well. The orange color on the male is quite noticeable. As mentioned above, if you visit pond and lake shores mostly in the morning, you might have trouble finding any and wonder why the species is considered to be common and widespread!

State Rank

State Status

Global Rank

Federal Status

Synonym

Other Name

Species account update: LeGrand on 2023-01-18 15:26:44

The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
Home Page	Search	Odonate Resources	Maps	Login	NC Biodiversity Project	Comments

Photo Gallery for Orange Bluet 46 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.		Other NC Galleries: Jeff Pippen Will Cook Ted Wilcox
	Photo 1 by: Al Hooks Comment: Johnston; C, 2025-05-01, Wilsons Mills Rd 1.3 mile S of US70/I42		Photo 2 by: Amy Padgett Comment: Bladen, 2025-03-29, Turnbull Creek at Braxton Edge Road, Ammon - 2PM at an ephemeral pond at edge of Slades Swamp
	Photo 3 by: B. Bockhahn Comment: Sampson, 2024-10-23, Black River, Ivanhoe Access		Photo 4 by: Amy Padgett Comment: Bladen, 2024-07-05, William O Huske Lock and Dam 3, NC - 5:00PM at an island of floating vegetation
	Photo 5 by: Ken Kneidel Comment: Watauga, 2024-06-26, Boone Fork Lake margin		Photo 6 by: Amy Padgett Comment: Bladen, 2024-04-13, Slades Swamp: mixed hardwoods 2 miles SW of Clarkton - Edge of woods, first stream
	Photo 7 by: Ken Kneidel Comment: Mecklenburg, 2023-05-23, edge of city cement pond		Photo 8 by: L. Arent Comment: Yadkin, 2022-08-31, Yadkin County Park
	Photo 9 by: Mark Shields Comment: Ashe, 2021-08-08, Ashe Park Pond, Jefferson		Photo 10 by: P Dixon Comment: Madison, 2021-06-04, Hot Springs area
	Photo 11 by: p dixon Comment: Madison, 2021-05-30,		Photo 12 by: John Petranka, Jim Petranka, Becky Elkin Comment: Yancey, 2021-05-24, Along Cane River south of Burnsville. - Pair in wheel.
	Photo 13 by: Mark Shields Comment: Onslow, 2021-04-16, Sandy Run Savannas State Natural Area (SARU)		Photo 14 by: B. Bockhahn, K. Kittelberger Comment: Moore; P, 2020-05-13
	Photo 15 by: Mark Shields Comment: Onslow, 2020-05-05, Stones Creek Game Land, Dry Lake area		Photo 16 by: Rob Van Epps, Kevin Metcalf Comment: Richmond; C, 2020-04-26, Lake McKinney fish hatchery - Many mated pairs
	Photo 17 by: Mark Shields Comment: Richmond; C, 2019-04-18, McKinney Lake State Fish Hatchery		Photo 18 by: Vin Stanton Comment: Madison, 2018-08-25, Max Patch pond - Male
	Photo 19 by: Mike Turner Comment: Forsyth, 2018-07-01, Winston Lake		Photo 20 by: Mark Shields and Hunter Phillips Comment: Rockingham, 2018-05-13, Mayo River State Park (MARI) - Mayo Mountain Access - tandem/ovipositing pairs at ponds near park office
	Photo 21 by: Mark Shields Comment: Duplin, 2018-05-11, Northeast Cape Fear River at Chinquapin Boating Access Area		Photo 22 by: Mark Shields Comment: Johnston, 2018-05-01, Little River at Rains Mill Road bridge, Princeton
	Photo 23 by: Mark Shields Comment: Dare; Mainland, 2018-04-28, Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge - canal at end of Buffalo City Road		Photo 24 by: Mark Shields Comment: Washington, 2018-04-28, Scuppernong River at Creswell Boating Access Area - 1 male and 1 tandem pair
	Photo 25 by: Mark Shields Comment: Anson, 2018-04-21, Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge		Photo 26 by: Barbara McRae Comment: Macon, 2017-06-27, He was perched on water plant in beaver pond, near Little Tennessee River, Franklin - male
	Photo 27 by: Rob Van Epps Comment: Mecklenburg, 2017-06-13, - Roosevelt Wilson Park; Davidson		Photo 28 by: Mark Shields, Hunter Phillips Comment: Currituck, 2017-04-14, Maple Park, Barco - tenerals
	Photo 29 by: Mark Shields, Hunter Phillips Comment: Camden, 2017-04-14, Dismal Swamp State Park (DISW) - teneral male		Photo 30 by: Mark Shields, Hunter Phillips Comment: Gates, 2017-04-14, Merchants Millpond State park (MEMI)