NC Odonate Website

Related Species in GOMPHIDAE:

Number of records for 2025 = 0

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Mustached Clubtail (Hylogomphus adelphus) by John Petranka

Compare with: Green-faced Clubtail Sable Clubtail Cherokee Clubtail
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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 Mustached Clubtail

Flight Charts

Distribution

Mountains and adjacent foothills only; known from just nine counties, in the northern and central portions of the province. As expected from the state range map, this is a Northern species, ranging from Canada to northern GA (one record).

Abundance

Seemingly rare in the northern half of the mountains (and adjacent foothills), with seldom more than one or two individuals seen in a day. Obviously very rare, at best, in the southern half of the mountains. As there is a record for northern GA, it should occur sparingly in GA and SC border counties in NC.

Flight

A spring to early summer flight, with the flight period seemingly moving earlier in recent years (as has been the case for many odonates). Formerly seldom found prior to mid-May, but the flight now is from mid-April to late June, though May and early June are the usual dates for finding it. Some records previously reported earlier in May have been determined by website reviewers to be of Green-faced or Cobra clubtails.

Habitat

Rivers to small streams, where there are riffles or rapids. Occasionally at lakes.

Behavior

The species is most active in late afternoon. Adults may perch on rocks, shorelines, and leaves near rivers and creeks.

Comments

This is one of many montane species of dragonflies that is poorly known to most state biologists; the species is likely found mainly with a purposeful search, late in the day. A photographic record made by Curtis Smalling in 2015 added Watauga County to the list of known counties. More importantly, photos from foothill sites in Caldwell (by Mark Shields) and McDowell (by Smalling) counties added two additional counties to the state range, especially indicating that it ranges downward into the transition zone with the Piedmont province. In 2018, John Petranka added photographic documentation for Avery County, though there is a vague previous sighting for that county. Shields, along with Hunter Phillips, documented a first record for Mitchell County, to fill in a small gap in the range.

Records are increasing in recent years owing to more surveys of the northern and central mountains, and the species might better now be given a State Rank of S2 (instead of the current S1S2). As there are only 22 records with dates, perhaps moving the rank to S2 can wait for a few years, to see if more locations are discovered. It remains a Significantly Rare species, tracked by the N.C. Natural Heritage Program.

State Rank

S1S2

State Status

Global Rank

Federal Status

Synonym

Gomphus adelphus

Other Name

Species account update: LeGrand on 2023-01-10 10:22:20

The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
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Photo Gallery for Mustached Clubtail 34 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.		Other NC Galleries: Jeff Pippen Will Cook Ted Wilcox
	Photo 1 by: P Dixon Comment: Madison, 2024-12-22, Hot Springs, French Broad, first post Helene sample		Photo 2 by: P Dixon Comment: Yancey, 2024-06-01, Toe River, south of Burnsville
	Photo 3 by: P Dixon Comment: Madison, 2023-10-14, Spring Creek in Hot Springs, iNat Observation 187669451		Photo 4 by: P Dixon Comment: Buncombe, 2023-02-28, Forks of Ivy
	Photo 5 by: P Dixon Comment: Buncombe, 2023-04-01, Forks of Ivy		Photo 6 by: P Dixon Comment: Buncombe, 2023-04-01, Forks of Ivy
	Photo 7 by: Max Ramey Comment: Watauga, 2022-05-31, Watauga River Road (1/4 mile upstream from Hubert Thomas Rd.) - 2 males, first record for the Watauga drainage in NC		Photo 8 by: Max Ramey Comment: Watauga, 2022-05-31, Watauga River Road (1/4 mile upstream from Hubert Thomas Rd.) - 2 males, first record for the Watauga drainage in NC
	Photo 9 by: John Petranka, Jim Petranka, Becky Elkin Comment: Yancey, 2021-05-24, Along Cane River south of Burnsville. - Males.		Photo 10 by: Becky Elkin Comment: Madison, 2021-05-19, Along the French Broad River near Hot Springs at Murray Branch Picnic Area - Male
	Photo 11 by: p dixon Comment: Madison, 2020-05-07, Hot Springs area, 3-4, 63 degrees		Photo 12 by: p dixon Comment: Madison, 2020-05-07, Hot Springs area, 3-4, 63 degrees
	Photo 13 by: p dixon Comment: Madison, 2020-05-07, Hot Springs area, 3-4, 63 degrees		Photo 14 by: p dixon Comment: Madison, 2020-05-07, Hot Springs area, 63 degrees
	Photo 15 by: p dixon Comment: Madison, 2020-05-07, Hot Springs area, 63 degrees		Photo 16 by: p dixon Comment: Madison, 2020-05-03, French Broad River, Hot Springs area - Laurel River
	Photo 17 by: p dixon Comment: Madison, 2020-05-03, French Broad River, Hot Springs area - Laurel River		Photo 18 by: p dixon Comment: Madison, 2020-05-03, French Broad River, Hot Springs area - Laurel River
	Photo 19 by: p dixon Comment: Madison, 2020-04-17, Hot Springs area		Photo 20 by: p dixon Comment: Madison, 2020-04-17, Hot Springs area
	Photo 21 by: p dixon Comment: Madison, 2020-04-17, Hot Springs area		Photo 22 by: p dixon Comment: Madison, 2020-04-11, Hot Springs area - Davis Branch
	Photo 23 by: p dixon Comment: Madison, 2020-04-11, Hot Springs area - Davis Branch		Photo 24 by: p dixon Comment: Madison, 2020-04-11, Hot Springs area - Davis Branch
	Photo 25 by: Mark Shields, Hunter Phillips Comment: Mitchell, 2019-05-16, Nolichucky River at Poplar Access Area. - male		Photo 26 by: Mark Shields, Hunter Phillips Comment: Madison, 2019-05-15, French Broad River at NOC access upstream from US 25 bridge, Hot Springs
	Photo 27 by: John Petranka Comment: Avery, 2018-06-07, Linville River at Linville Falls Picnic Area third loop, Blue Ridge Parkway mile marker 316.5 - Male. Feeding from patch of sunny vegetation alongside river.		Photo 28 by: John Petranka Comment: Avery, 2018-06-06, Linville River at Linville Falls Picnic Area middle loop, Blue Ridge Parkway mile marker 316.5 - Male. Perched on rocks near shore.
	Photo 29 by: Curtis Smalling Comment: McDowell; M, 2017-06-06, at North Fork Catawba River 35.839236 -81.98814		Photo 30 by: Curtis Smalling Comment: McDowell; M, 2017-06-06, at North Fork Catawba River 35.839236 -81.98814