NC Odonate Website

Related Species in COENAGRIONIDAE:		Number of records for 2025 = 2
Added in 2025-00-00 from a previous year = 1 (2024-12-28)

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e.g., flight data, high counts, and earliest/latest dates can be seen.
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Aurora Damsel (Chromagrion conditum) by John Petranka

Compare with: Distinctive
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 in females.

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Map

Click on county for list of all its records for Aurora Damsel

Flight Charts

Distribution

Throughout the mountains; scattered over the northern half of the Piedmont, but possibly absent in the extreme southeastern counties. Absent from the Coastal Plain.

Abundance

Fairly common in the mountains, at least locally. Rare over most of the Piedmont, but apparently uncommon in the foothills; clearly declining in the state away from the mountains, with hardly any recent records. Possibly absent in a few counties in the southeastern Piedmont. The highest counts are from the mountains and foothills.

Flight

The mountain flight is from late April to mid-August, whereas the Piedmont flight is from late April to mid-June. However, there is no reason the flight in the Piedmont should be narrower than that in the mountains, and it likely flies throughout July and into August.

Habitat

Still waters of pools/ponds -- such as beaver ponds, bogs, seeps, and slow streams. Not often found far from water.

Behavior

Males readily perch on leaves of shrubs or saplings along shores, rarely out on emergent vegetation in the water. The partially spread wings help in identification.

Comments

There are relatively few recent records from the Piedmont, especially the southern half of the Piedmont. Does this indicate a recent decline, and if so, owing to global warming? There has been an increase in Piedmont observers since the time of Cuyler a few decades ago, and yet the species is not being reported from this large region. The species should be easily identified, at least with photographs, if the yellow lower thorax is visible.

State Rank

S3S4

State Status

Global Rank

Federal Status

Synonym

Other Name

Species account update: LeGrand on 2023-01-18 11:36:09

The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
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Photo Gallery for Aurora Damsel 27 photos are shown.		Other NC Galleries: Jeff Pippen Will Cook Ted Wilcox
	Photo 1 by: Al Hooks Comment: Clay, 2025-05-17, Buck Creek Beaver Pond		Photo 2 by: P Dixon Comment: Madison, 2024-12-28, Hot springs, pond sample
	Photo 3 by: Harry LeGrand, Lori Arent, Audrey Whitlock Comment: Watauga, 2024-06-11, - Elk Knob SP pond; photo by Lori Arent		Photo 4 by: Matt Spangler Comment: Macon, 2023-05-13, Highlands--Ravenel Lake - teneral
	Photo 5 by: Tom Howe Comment: Swain, 2022-06-06, among vegetation at edge of wetland - blue rings on black abdomen, S10 black, S8-9 blue, wings spread at rest like Lestes		Photo 6 by: p dixon Comment: Madison, 2021-04-27, Davis Branch
	Photo 7 by: Richard Stickney Comment: Alleghany, 2020-06-08, Little Glade Millpond on Blue Ridge Parkway		Photo 8 by: Richard Stickney Comment: Alleghany, 2020-05-30, Little Glade Mill Pond on Blue Ridge Parkway
	Photo 9 by: John Petranka, Jim Petranka and party. Comment: Avery, 2019-05-21, Pond on private property that adjoins the Blue Ridge Parkway in southern Avery County. - Including tandem pairs.		Photo 10 by: Mark Shields, John Petranka, Sally Gewalt Comment: Jackson, 2018-06-26, Panthertown Valley, Nantahala National Forest - in bog and along Panthertown Creek. First record for county.
	Photo 11 by: Ken Kneidel Comment: Yancey, 2018-06-17 - vegetated area on edge of small pond		Photo 12 by: Vin Stanton Comment: Clay, 2018-05-12, Beaver pond on Buck Creek Road - Male, Female, teneral
	Photo 13 by: Vin Stanton Comment: Madison, 2018-05-09, River Road north of Hot Springs - Male		Photo 14 by: Mark Shields Comment: Alleghany, 2017-06-28, Little Glade Mill Pond, Blue Ridge Parkway
	Photo 15 by: John Petranka Comment: Transylvania, 2017-05-03, Lake Imaging, Dupont State Forest. - Male.		Photo 16 by: Owen McConnell Comment: Graham, 2016-06-12, New County Record - Tulula Wetlands, pond #8
	Photo 17 by: Curtis Smalling Comment: Watauga, 2015-06-02, Meat Camp Creek Environmental Studies Area		Photo 18 by: Vin Stanton, Virginia Senechal Comment: Henderson, 2013-06-20, Fletcher Park, Fletcher - Male
	Photo 19 by: Vin Stanton Comment: Buncombe, 2012-05-25, Owen Park ponds, Warren Wilson College,Swannanoa River - Male		Photo 20 by: Vin Stanton, Doug Johnston, Gail Lankford, Janie Owen Comment: Madison, 2012-05-17, French Broad River, Pisgah National Forest - Female
	Photo 21 by: Jeff Beane Comment: Wilkes; P, 2011-05-11, 6.25 mi. ESE Moravian Falls, ?Hartness Bog?		Photo 22 by: Curtis Smalling Comment: Watauga, 2010-05-28, Meat Camp Creek Environmental Studies Area - male and female
	Photo 23 by: Curtis Smalling Comment: Watauga, 2010-05-26, Meat Camp Creek Environmental Studies Area - 2 pairs in wheel		Photo 24 by: Jim Johnson Comment: Caldwell, 2009-06-01, Wilson Creek at Phillips Branch; iNaturalist Record #471262
	Photo 25 by: Ted Wilcox Comment: Ashe, 2006-05-27, immature male		Photo 26 by: Ted WIlcox Comment: Ashe, 2005-05-26, female
	Photo 27 by: Ted Wilcox Comment: Ashe, 2004-06-09, male