NC Odonate Website

Related Species in GOMPHIDAE:

Number of records for 2024 = 2

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e.g., flight data, high counts, and earliest/latest dates can be seen.
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Riverine Clubtail (Stylurus amnicola) by Steve Hall, Harry LeGrand

Compare with: Black-shouldered Spinyleg Dragonhunter
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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 Riverine Clubtail

Flight Charts

Distribution

Mainly in the upper half of the Coastal Plain, and very widely scattered across the entire Piedmont and southern half of the mountains. Absent from the eastern part of the Coastal Plain, and seemingly absent from the northern half of the mountains.

Abundance

Rare to locally uncommon in the Coastal Plain portion of the range, very rare (now) to rare and quite local in the Piedmont, and very rare in the mountains.

Flight

In the Coastal Plain, early June to early September. Upstate, records fall between late June and mid- to late September.

Habitat

Rivers with a moderate to rapid current and various substrates, for breeding. Recent records have been along fairly slow-moving brownwater rivers (i.e., Yadkin, Roanoke, Tar, and Cape Fear), except for the rapidly flowing French Broad River in Madison County (in 2021).

See also Habitat Account for General Rivers and Large Streams

Behavior

Perches on leaves or other vegetation close to the streams and rivers. Males can be seen patrolling up and down rivers. Males, at least, are rather unwary (compared to other Stylurus species).

Comments

Though there are records from about 65-70% of the geographic area of NC, there are only 22 county records, implying a scarce species that is not well known. Steve Hall and Harry LeGrand found the species on several occasions in summer 2012 along the Roanoke River, where photos from Bertie and Northampton counties established new county records and thus first records for the Roanoke River floodplain. Mark Shields saw two males patrolling up and down the Cape Fear River in Harnett County in 2017; and Mike Turner found one along the Tar River in Edgecombe County, also in 2017. A major "colony" was located by Richard Stickney in 2018 along a stretch of the Yadkin River in Surry and Yadkin counties, where he counted a remarkable 13 individuals in a single day. Mike Turner found the species along this same river farther downstream in Forsyth County in 2018. Pete Dixon added a new mountain county (Madison) in 2021. The species seems to be in decline in the Piedmont and mountains, where these Yadkin River sightings and photos are almost our only recent records. However, the species could be overlooked as a Black-shouldered Spinyleg unless carefully photographed or observed. The species has a State Rank of S3 (and is on the Watch List), though the State Rank might be closer to S2S3 (rather than the current S3), despite some recent records, as most are along the same few rivers.

State Rank

S3 [S2S3]

State Status

Global Rank

Federal Status

Synonym

Other Name

Species account update: LeGrand on 2023-01-10 13:33:15

The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
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Photo Gallery for Riverine Clubtail 25 photos are shown.		Other NC Galleries: Jeff Pippen Will Cook Ted Wilcox
	Photo 1 by: Lucas Wilson Comment: Richmond; P, 2024-06-25, - Andrew’s Pond, along Pee Dee River. Female.		Photo 2 by: Kevin Metcalf Comment: Surry, 2022-07-24, Elkin, Crater Lake Park area on north side of Yadkin River, mowed corridor east of the park, with a lot of kudzu. The photographed individual was perched in low vegetation when found.
	Photo 3 by: P Dixon Comment: Madison, 2021-08-05, Hot Springs area		Photo 4 by: Richard Stickney Comment: Forsyth, 2021-06-21, Park at Yadkin River and Old 421 - Teneral female
	Photo 5 by: Mike Turner Comment: Yadkin, 2019-08-03, Jonesville Greenway, Yadkin River		Photo 6 by: Richard Stickney Comment: Surry, 2019-07-22, Elkin, Crater Park and nearby utility ROW - One each sex; photo is female
	Photo 7 by: Mike Turner Comment: Forsyth, 2018-08-17, Yadkin River @ SR 1605 (Old US 421)		Photo 8 by: Mike Turner Comment: Yadkin, 2018-07-22, Jonesville Greenway, Yadkin River
	Photo 9 by: Mike Turner Comment: Surry, 2018-07-22, Crater Park, Yadkin River, Elkin		Photo 10 by: Richard Stickney Comment: Yadkin, 2018-07-15, Jonesville Greenway - All males except 1 female and 1 mating pair
	Photo 11 by: Mike Turner Comment: Surry, 2018-07-13, Crater Park, Yadkin River, Elkin		Photo 12 by: Richard Stickney Comment: Yadkin, 2018-07-08, Jonesville Greenway - Along greenway path; one mating pair
	Photo 13 by: Richard Stickney Comment: Surry, 2018-07-08, - Crater Park in Elkin, along shaded path just east of main park		Photo 14 by: Richard Stickney Comment: Surry, 2018-07-08, - Crater Park in Elkin, along shaded path just east of main park
	Photo 15 by: Mike Turner Comment: Edgecombe, 2017-07-29, Tar River @ NC 42; 35.7904, -77.5488 - netted, photographed, and released		Photo 16 by: Mike Turner Comment: Edgecombe, 2017-07-29, Tar River @ NC 42; 35.7904, -77.5488 - netted, photographed, and released
	Photo 17 by: Mike Turner Comment: Edgecombe, 2017-07-29, Tar River @ NC 42; 35.7904, -77.5488 - netted, photographed, and released		Photo 18 by: Mark Shields Comment: Harnett; C, 2017-07-21, Cape Fear River, Erwin. From NC 217 bridge to 2 km upstream, by kayak. - Males patrolling up and down middle of river, 11 am
	Photo 19 by: Steve Hall and Harry LeGrand Comment: Northampton, 2012-07-13, North shore of the Roanoke River at the US 258 bridge crossing - worn male and female		Photo 20 by: Steve Hall, Harry LeGrand Comment: Bertie, 2012-06-27, WRC -- Woods Island tract near Roanoke River - adult males
	Photo 21 by: Steve Hall and Harry LeGrand Comment: Bertie, 2012-06-06, Roanoke River Wetlands Game Lands, Woods Island Tract - teneral, all seen close to the ground		Photo 22 by: Steve Hall and Harry LeGrand Comment: Bertie, 2012-06-06, Roanoke River Wetlands Game Land, Woods Island Tract - teneral, all seen close to the ground
	Photo 23 by: Steve Hall and Harry LeGrand Comment: Bertie, 2012-06-06, Roanoke River Wetlands Game Land, Woods Island Tract - teneral, all seen close to the ground		Photo 24 by: Steve Hall and Harry LeGrand Comment: Bertie, 2012-06-06, Roanoke River Wetlands Game Land, Woods Island Tract - teneral, all seen close to the ground
	Photo 25 by: P Dixon Comment: Madison, 2024-03-20, Hot Springs area, French Broad, https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/203296578