NC Odonate Website

Related Species in CORDULEGASTRIDAE:

Number of records for 2025 = 1

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Brown Spiketail (Zoraena bilineata) by Mark Shields

Compare with: Twin-spotted Spiketail Arrowhead Spiketail Tiger Spiketail
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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 Brown Spiketail

Flight Charts

Distribution

Present over most of the state, except absent close to the coast and in most of the lower Coastal Plain; a few recent photo records for the lower half of the Coastal Plain (Gates and Jones counties). Most widespread in the mountains, lacking records for just three counties there.

Abundance

Fairly common in the mountains (at least in the northern counties), but uncommon in the northern Piedmont and rather rare in the southern Piedmont. Rare to uncommon in the Coastal Plain portion of the range. Much more common in the mountains than downstate. Many recent records across the state, and possibly is increasing in the Coastal Plain and eastern Piedmont portions of the range.

Flight

Late April to mid-July in the mountains, but strongly advanced (as expected) in the Piedmont, where it flies from late March or early April and extends at least to mid-June (if not later). The Coastal Plain flight occurs from late March only to early June, though April is the primary month.

Habitat

Small streams or seeps, often with little flow; typically in wooded areas.

Behavior

Typically flies slowly over streams or seeps or in nearby clearings. Perches on low twigs, in an oblique manner typical of spiketails.

Comments

This species can be confused with the somewhat similar, but slightly more widespread Twin-spotted Spiketail. Both can occur together along mountain and Piedmont wooded roadsides and clearings along woods and small creeks. Steve Hall and Harry LeGrand saw and photographed the species on several occasions in 2012 near the Roanoke River, adding first records for Halifax and Northampton counties. Surprising were photo records in 2017 by Hunter Phillips for Jones County and by Signa and Floyd Williams for Gates County. A photo record in 2019 added Wayne County, near the eastern edge of the range, to the species map.

The spiketails in North America had a change in genus name from Cordulegaster to Zoraena in fall 2024 (Paulson et al. 2024).

State Rank

State Status

Global Rank

Federal Status

Synonym

Cordulegaster bilineata

Other Name

Species account update: LeGrand on 2024-09-29 13:04:57

The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
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Photo Gallery for Brown Spiketail 38 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.		Other NC Galleries: Jeff Pippen Will Cook Ted Wilcox
	Photo 1 by: G. McGrane Comment: Caldwell, 2024-06-11, Globe Mtn Road - FR 288		Photo 2 by: Amy Padgett Comment: Bladen, 2024-04-10, Turnbull Creek Educational State Forest - Clearing at edge of forest
	Photo 3 by: Amy Padgett Comment: Bladen, 2024-04-10, Turnbull Creek Educational State Forest - Clearing at edge of forest		Photo 4 by: B. Bockhahn Comment: Buncombe, 2022-05-16, Pisgah State Park
	Photo 5 by: P Dixon Comment: Madison, 2022-05-12, Davis Branch		Photo 6 by: B. Bockhahn Comment: Wilkes; M, 2022-05-02, Rendezvous Mountain State Park - Above Amadahy Falls
	Photo 7 by: Max Ramey, Aaron Reb Comment: Watauga, 2021-07-17, Cow Pasture Fen- Blue Ridge Parkway		Photo 8 by: Cesar Castillo Comment: Swain, 2021-06-17, Cherokee. Near Oconaluftee River Trail. Lat: 35.500177 Lon: -83.303785 iNaturalist record #85398796
	Photo 9 by: Will Stuart Comment: Rutherford; M, 2021-05-06, One along CC Road, the second well above the gates. - About 2 miles apart.		Photo 10 by: p dixon Comment: Madison, 2020-05-02, Hot Springs area, River Rd
	Photo 11 by: p dixon Comment: Madison, 2020-05-01, Davis Branch Meadows, Hot Springs area		Photo 12 by: John Petranka, Sally Gewalt Comment: Yancey, 2019-05-23, Black Mountain Campground. - Males. At seep.
	Photo 13 by: Pete Dixon Comment: Madison, 2019-05-13, River Road, Murray Branch Meadows		Photo 14 by: Pete Dixon Comment: Madison, 2019-05-13, River Road, Murray Branch Meadows
	Photo 15 by: John Petranka, Mark Shields Comment: Durham, 2019-04-18, Eno River State Park (ENRI) - Cole Mill Section. Along powerline corridor SW of Old Cole Mill Rd. - Female.		Photo 16 by: Mark Shields, Hunter Phillips Comment: Wayne, 2019-04-15, Cliffs of the Neuse State Park (CLNE) - First record for county.
	Photo 17 by: John Petranka, Sally Gewalt Comment: Guilford, 2019-04-11, Haw River State Park (HARI). Iron Ore Belt Access; seep and wetland along Great Blue Heron Trail. - Males.		Photo 18 by: Mark Shields, John Petranka, Sally Gewalt Comment: Jackson, 2018-06-26, Panthertown Valley, Nantahala National Forest - in bog
	Photo 19 by: John Petranka, Sally Gewalt. Comment: Orange, 2018-05-07, Brumley Forest Preserve, South side of Hwy. NC 10. - Males. Seep below spring house.		Photo 20 by: John Petranka Comment: Orange, 2017-04-22, Patrolling seep at Brumley Forest Nature Preserve. - Males.
	Photo 21 by: Hunter Phillips Comment: Jones, 2017-04-09, Haywood Landing Recreation Site		Photo 22 by: S. Williams, F. Williams Comment: Gates, 2017-04-09, MEMI
	Photo 23 by: Timothy Deering Comment: Buncombe, 2016-05-27, Dark Hollow Creek		Photo 24 by: Jim Petranka Comment: Buncombe, 2015-05-29, Along shaded, first-order stream at Sandy Bottom
	Photo 25 by: John Petranka Comment: Durham, 2015-05-15, Eno River State Park (ENRI). Along Pump Station Trail. - Male.		Photo 26 by: Vin Stanton, Gail Lankford, Janie Owen Comment: Madison, 2014-05-21, River Road, French Broad River north of Hot Springs - Male
	Photo 27 by: Cary and David Paynter Comment: Watauga, 2012-06-19, high elevation bog		Photo 28 by: Doug Johnston Comment: Buncombe, 2012-05-16, north Buncombe County, Leicester patch
	Photo 29 by: Steve Hall and Harry LeGrand Comment: Halifax, 2012-03-30, One male observed patrolling along a creek; one male and a mated pair photographed along a pipeline; all located near the Roanoke River		Photo 30 by: Steve Hall and Harry LeGrand Comment: Halifax, 2012-03-30, One male observed patrolling along a creek; one male and a mated pair photographed along a pipeline; all located near the Roanoke River