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 2022 = 6

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[View PDF]		Aurora Damsel (Chromagrion conditum) by John Petranka
Compare with:   Distinctive
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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 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 G5
Federal Status
Synonym
Other Name
Species account update: LeGrand on 2022-06-11 16:21:11
Photo Gallery for Aurora Damsel   22 photos are shown. Other NC Galleries:    Jeff Pippen    Will Cook    Ted Wilcox
Photo 1 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 2 by: p dixon

Comment: Madison, 2021-04-27, Davis Branch
Photo 3 by: Richard Stickney

Comment: Alleghany, 2020-06-08, Little Glade Millpond on Blue Ridge Parkway		Photo 4 by: Richard Stickney

Comment: Alleghany, 2020-05-30, Little Glade Mill Pond on Blue Ridge Parkway
Photo 5 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 6 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 7 by: Ken Kneidel

Comment: Yancey, 2018-06-17 - vegetated area on edge of small pond		Photo 8 by: Vin Stanton

Comment: Clay, 2018-05-12, Beaver pond on Buck Creek Road - Male, Female, teneral
Photo 9 by: Vin Stanton

Comment: Madison, 2018-05-09, River Road north of Hot Springs - Male		Photo 10 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Alleghany, 2017-06-28, Little Glade Mill Pond, Blue Ridge Parkway
Photo 11 by: John Petranka

Comment: Transylvania, 2017-05-03, Lake Imaging, Dupont State Forest. - Male.		Photo 12 by: Owen McConnell

Comment: Graham, 2016-06-12, New County Record - Tulula Wetlands, pond #8
Photo 13 by: Curtis Smalling

Comment: Watauga, 2015-06-02, Meat Camp Creek Environmental Studies Area		Photo 14 by: Vin Stanton, Virginia Senechal

Comment: Henderson, 2013-06-20, Fletcher Park, Fletcher - Male
Photo 15 by: Vin Stanton

Comment: Buncombe, 2012-05-25, Owen Park ponds, Warren Wilson College,Swannanoa River - Male		Photo 16 by: Vin Stanton, Doug Johnston, Gail Lankford, Janie Owen

Comment: Madison, 2012-05-17, French Broad River, Pisgah National Forest - Female
Photo 17 by: Jeff Beane

Comment: Wilkes; P, 2011-05-11, 6.25 mi. ESE Moravian Falls, ?Hartness Bog?		Photo 18 by: Curtis Smalling

Comment: Watauga, 2010-05-28, Meat Camp Creek Environmental Studies Area - male and female
Photo 19 by: Curtis Smalling

Comment: Watauga, 2010-05-26, Meat Camp Creek Environmental Studies Area - 2 pairs in wheel		Photo 20 by: Ted Wilcox

Comment: Ashe, 2006-05-27, immature male
Photo 21 by: Ted WIlcox

Comment: Ashe, 2005-05-26, female		Photo 22 by: Ted Wilcox

Comment: Ashe, 2004-06-09, male