NC Odonate Website

Related Species in GOMPHIDAE:		Number of records for 2024-00-00 = 2
Added in 2024-00-00 from a previous years = 3 (2023-02-10) (2023-10-28) (2023-12-18)

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e.g., flight data, high counts, and earliest/latest dates can be seen.
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Arrow Clubtail (Stylurus spiniceps) by Richard Stickney

Compare with: Laura's Clubtail Townes's Clubtail
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.

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Map

Click on county for list of all its records for Arrow Clubtail

Flight Charts

Distribution

Essentially throughout the mountains and Piedmont foothills, and in the northern Piedmont east to Rockingham County. A record for Chatham County, far to the east and southeast of other records, might be of a stray. A 2020 photo record from the immediate coast in Carteret County was a shock, and certainly was of a stray individual.

Abundance

Rare to locally uncommon in the mountains and foothills. Rare into the north-central Piedmont, at least away from the foothills.

Flight

Mainly in late summer and fall, but many dates starting in early summer. Flight is from mid- or late June to late October; generally from mid-August into early October.

Habitat

Large rivers, less so at large streams or at lakes. Favors sandy bottoms.

Behavior

Males are very strong fliers and may forage a long distance from water, in fields and other places. As with other Stylurus species, males in particular may perch on a leaf and hang vertically on it as the leaf bends under the weight of the insect. They also forage in long flights over water.

Comments

This large species has an unusually long (and slender) abdomen, giving rise to the common name, as it does resemble an arrow in some respects. It is not one of the rarer clubtails in the mountains and foothills; however, because it flies mostly in very late summer and autumn, after much of the odonate field work is done, records have been somewhat slow to accumulate. There are still less than 30 records for the mountain province, though we do have a number of recent photographs.

A re-evaluation of records of the species, and with the fact that there were no state records at all in 2019, suggest that the State Rank should best be moved up to a less numerous S3, instead of S3S4. However, the State Rank remains at S3S4 for now. At least, there were a gratifying six records for it in 2020, but just two in 2022.

State Rank

S3S4 [S3]

State Status

Global Rank

Federal Status

Synonym

Other Name

Species account update: LeGrand on 2023-01-10 14:38:59

The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
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Photo Gallery for Arrow Clubtail 32 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.		Other NC Galleries: Jeff Pippen Will Cook Ted Wilcox
	Photo 1 by: Guy McGrane Comment: Watauga, 2024-09-06, Boone Greenway - Blue Trail mile 0.3		Photo 2 by: Guy McGrane Comment: Watauga, 2024-09-06, Boone Greenway - Blue Trail mile 0.3
	Photo 3 by: Guy McGrane Comment: Watauga, 2024-09-06, Boone Greenway - Blue Trail mile 0.3		Photo 4 by: Curran Comment: Burke; P, 2024-08-05, iNaturalist Record 233977165
	Photo 5 by: P Dixon Comment: Madison, 2023-12-18, Hot Springs area, French Broad		Photo 6 by: P Dixon Comment: Yancey, 2023-10-28, Cane River, close to the confluence with Nolichucky River
	Photo 7 by: P Dixon Comment: Buncombe, 2023-02-10, Forks of Ivy.		Photo 8 by: L. Arent Comment: Wilkes; P, 2022-07-30, Yadkin River Greenway near the Mulberry Fields - Female, perched briefly on river bank vegetation.
	Photo 9 by: P Dixon Comment: Madison, 2022-06-21, Hot Springs area		Photo 10 by: Pete Dixon Comment: Madison, 2021-08-24, Hot Springs area - Road kill, River Road
	Photo 11 by: Joseph Johnson Comment: Ashe, 2020-10-19, New River State Park. female		Photo 12 by: Richard Stickney Comment: Surry, 2020-09-28, Elkin, Crater Park and nearby sewer line right-of-way
	Photo 13 by: Max Ramey Comment: Watauga, 2020-09-08, Valle Crucis. Watauga River near NC 194 bridge. - Male.		Photo 14 by: Vin Stanton Comment: Buncombe, 2020-08-11, Asheville yard - Female
	Photo 15 by: JC Besch Comment: Carteret, 2020-08-08, Landed on observer on the beach at western tip of Emerald Isle. Undoubted stray. iNaturalist #55809384 - Female.		Photo 16 by: JC Besch Comment: Carteret, 2020-08-08, Landed on observer on the beach at western tip of Emerald Isle. Undoubted stray. iNaturalist #55809384 - Female.
	Photo 17 by: Mike Turner Comment: Surry, 2018-10-06, Mitchell River @ public fishing area along SR 1330 - 2 male 1 female; patrolled middle of river from 4-5pm, occasionally flying up to roost in trees		Photo 18 by: Mike Turner Comment: Surry, 2018-10-06, Mitchell River @ public fishing area along SR 1330 - 2 male 1 female; patrolled middle of river from 4-5pm, occasionally flying up to roost in trees
	Photo 19 by: John Petranka, Sally Gewalt. Comment: Surry, 2018-07-12, Yadkin River, Crater Park in Elkin - Female. Recently emerged next to its exuvia. Barely above the bank on driftwood near the boat ramp.		Photo 20 by: Meshach Hopper Comment: Yadkin, 2017-08-25, Pinnix Street, Jonesville about 0.25 miles from the Yadkin River. iNaturalist record https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/7648693 - Female.
	Photo 21 by: Teddy Wilcox Comment: Watauga, 2016-10-25, Brookshire Park - female		Photo 22 by: Teddy Wilcox Comment: Watauga, 2016-10-25, Brookshire Park - female
	Photo 23 by: Teddy Wilcox Comment: Watauga, 2016-09-11, Brookshire Park		Photo 24 by: Teddy Wilcox Comment: Watauga, 2016-09-07, Boone Greenway
	Photo 25 by: Teddy Wilcox Comment: Watauga, 2016-09-07, Boone Greenway		Photo 26 by: Marion Dobbs Comment: Jackson, 2012-12-15, Tuckaseegee River @ Dillsboro, N 35.3666 W 83.2510
	Photo 27 by: Vin Stanton Comment: Henderson, 2011-09-12, Fletcher Park		Photo 28 by: Vin Stanton, Doug Johnston Comment: Transylvania, 2011-08-19, Brevard - Male
	Photo 29 by: Vin Stanton, Doug Johnston Comment: Transylvania, 2011-08-19, Brevard - Male		Photo 30 by: Vin Stanton Comment: Henderson, 8/30/2009, Image taken at Fletcher Park