The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
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North Carolina's 189 Odonate species
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Related Species in GOMPHIDAE: Number of records for 2024 = 2
Added in 2024-00-00 from a previous years = 2

PDF has more details,
e.g., flight data, high counts, and earliest/latest dates can be seen.
[View PDF]		Harpoon Clubtail (Phanogomphus descriptus) by Vin Stanton, Doug Johnston
Compare with: Rapids Clubtail   Beaverpond Clubtail  
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Note: these identification tips apply specifically to mature males; features may differ in immature males and in females.
Phanogomphus_descriptus

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Map
Click on county for list of all its records for Harpoon Clubtail
Flight Charts
Distribution Mountains only, where recorded only from three counties (Avery, Madison, and Haywood). NC is at the southern end of the range, as the species does not range into the GA mountains. The species ranges north into southeastern Canada. Unfortunately, all recent records have come from a rather short stretch of the French Broad River in Madison County.
Abundance Very rare, as records only for three mountain counties and only nine records with dates at the present time. This is certainly one of the rarest of dragonflies in the state, though at least it can be intentionally searched for in the Hot Springs area, as there are records for several recent years.
Flight Late April into mid-June. The dates available for NC fall from 20 April to 16 June.
Habitat Breeds at rocky streams and rivers. All NC records are from the vicinity of small to moderate-sized rivers (i.e., French Broad, Linville, and East Fork Pigeon).
Behavior Males perch on rocks in rivers and streams, on the ground near the water, or on vegetation close to the water.
Comments This is another poorly known dragonfly in NC. Until recently, the last known record for NC was from 1965, and it had been considered of historical occurrence. However, a male photographed by Vin Stanton in 2013 from the French Broad River in Madison County reconfirms this species in the state. One was well observed close to the same area in May 2016, and again in April 2020 and 2021 (with photos by Pete Dixon). Continued field work for clubtails in the mountains is greatly needed, especially by persons seeking out rare species by netting them along creeks and rivers, and could lead to additional records for this species.
State Rank S1
State Status SR
Global Rank G4G5
Federal Status
Synonym Gomphus descriptus
Other Name
Species account update: LeGrand on 2023-01-10 12:31:36
Photo Gallery for Harpoon Clubtail   17 photos are shown. Other NC Galleries:    Jeff Pippen    Will Cook    Ted Wilcox
Harpoon Clubtail, Phanogomphus descriptusPhoto 1 by: Kevin Metcalf

Comment: Madison, 2024-05-12, At least one mature male, mostly perching low on vegetation or on the ground. In the Big Laurel Creek-Shelton Laurel Creek Watershed		Harpoon Clubtail, Phanogomphus descriptusPhoto 2 by: Kevin Metcalf

Comment: Madison, 2024-05-12, At least one mature male, mostly perching low on vegetation or on the ground. In the Big Laurel Creek-Shelton Laurel Creek Watershed
Harpoon Clubtail, Phanogomphus descriptusPhoto 3 by: Kevin Metcalf

Comment: Madison, 2024-05-12, At least one mature male, mostly perching low on vegetation or on the ground. In the Big Laurel Creek-Shelton Laurel Creek Watershed		Harpoon Clubtail, Phanogomphus descriptusPhoto 4 by: Pete Dixon, Harry LeGrand

Comment: Madison, 2024-04-29, Along River Road at the TN state line - netted by Dixon, and photographed in hand by LeGrand
Harpoon Clubtail, Phanogomphus descriptusPhoto 5 by: Pete Dixon, Harry LeGrand

Comment: Madison, 2024-04-29, Along River Road at the TN state line - netted by Dixon, and photographed in hand by LeGrand		Harpoon Clubtail, Phanogomphus descriptusPhoto 6 by: P Dixon

Comment: Madison, 2023-10-14, Spring Creek, in Hot Springs
Harpoon Clubtail, Phanogomphus descriptusPhoto 7 by: P Dixon

Comment: Madison, 2023-04-18, Laurel River Trail - Both teneral, iNat observations 155539405, 155537858		Harpoon Clubtail, Phanogomphus descriptusPhoto 8 by: P Dixon

Comment: Madison, 2023-03-10, Nymph capture in Laurel River, reared, emerged 4/2/23 and released
Harpoon Clubtail, Phanogomphus descriptusPhoto 9 by: P Dixon

Comment: Madison, 2023-03-10, Nymph capture in Laurel River, reared, emerged 4/2/23 and released		Harpoon Clubtail, Phanogomphus descriptusPhoto 10 by: p dixon

Comment: Madison, 2021-04-20, Hot Springs area
Harpoon Clubtail, Phanogomphus descriptusPhoto 11 by: Pete Dixon, Chris Talkington, Robert Gilson

Comment: Madison, 2020-04-22, Hot Springs area		Harpoon Clubtail, Phanogomphus descriptusPhoto 12 by: Pete Dixon, Chris Talkington, Robert Gilson

Comment: Madison, 2020-04-22, Hot Springs area
Harpoon Clubtail, Phanogomphus descriptusPhoto 13 by: Vin Stanton

Comment: Madison, 2013-04-30, Found on River Road, French Broad River - Male, ID verified by Bugguide		Harpoon Clubtail, Phanogomphus descriptusPhoto 14 by: Vin Stanton

Comment: Madison, 2013-04-30, Found on River Road, French Broad River - Male, ID verified by Bugguide
Harpoon Clubtail, Phanogomphus descriptusPhoto 15 by: Vin Stanton, Doug Johnston

Comment: Madison, 2013-04-30, Found on River Road, French Broad River - Male, ID verified by Bugguide		Harpoon Clubtail, Phanogomphus descriptusPhoto 16 by: P Dixon, Heather Rayburn, Harry LeGrand

Comment: Madison, 2024-04-29, Hot Springs area, French Broad
Harpoon Clubtail, Phanogomphus descriptusPhoto 17 by: P Dixon, Heather Rayburn, Harry LeGrand

Comment: Madison, 2024-04-29, Hot Springs area, French Broad, close to Paint Creek where nymphs have been observed