NC Odonate Website

Related Species in GOMPHIDAE:		Number of records for 2024 = 1
Added in 2024-00-00 from a previous year = 1 (2018-05-03)

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e.g., flight data, high counts, and earliest/latest dates can be seen.
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Banner Clubtail (Hylogomphus apomyius) by Mark Shields

Compare with: Spine-crowned Clubtail Piedmont 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 in females.

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Map

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

Flight Charts

Distribution

Primarily found in the southwestern quarter of the Coastal Plain, ranging northeastward to the west-central Coastal Plain, and also into the southeastern Piedmont -- west to Catawba and Gaston counties. A photograph in 2019 established a new record for Surry County in the northwestern Piedmont, quite a surprising extension of the range. It is absent from coastal counties. NC lies at the northeastern end of the range, and thus Wilson, Granville (newly found in 2021), and Surry form the northern border of the range.

Abundance

Uncommon, at least in former years; might now be better stated "rare to uncommon and somewhat poorly known", as there are no recent records for nearly all of the Piedmont nor for the west-central Coastal Plain. Records are increasing in recent years, owing to more observers, including photos on iNaturalist, and clearly not rare in the southwestern Coastal Plain. Dunkle (2000) calls the species "scarce", and Beaton (2007) calls it "rare and local" in its range in Georgia.

Flight

Ranges from very early April to early June in the Coastal Plain. In the Piedmont, the flight appears to be slightly narrower -- mid-April to late May.

Habitat

Generally in clean streams and rivers with sandy or gravelly bottoms.

See also Habitat Account for General Rivers and Large Streams

Behavior

Males perch on rocks or other perches close to rivers and streams. They are most active early in the morning and toward dusk.

Comments

This is one of the smaller clubtails (only up to 1.5 inches in length). Males have a very wide club. Despite its range occurring close to the locations of many biologists, it is poorly known to most persons, and thus the N.C. Natural Heritage Program has the species on its Watch List. The species can be easily confused with the Spine-crowned Clubtail; in fact, several former reports and photos listed as Banner Clubtail have been re-evaluated and determined to be Spine-crowned Clubtail. It is likely that this species has declined in the state since the time of Cuyler's collecting efforts; there are relatively few reports since the 1980s in the northern half of the range in the state (north of Moore and Sampson counties). Notable recent range extensions were made by Richard Stickney, who photographed the Banner Clubtail from Surry County in 2019; and by John Petranka, who added new records for Granville County, along the Tar River, in spring 2021.

It still probably should remain on the Watch List, as there is a lack of records from much of the former range (e.g., the southwestern Piedmont and the central Coastal Plain) as documented by Duncan Cuyler with his older collections. In late 2020, the N.C. Natural Heritage Program moved the rank to straight S3, though it stays on the Watch List.

State Rank

State Status

Global Rank

G3G4

Federal Status

Synonym

Gomphus apomyius

Other Name

Species account update: LeGrand on 2023-01-10 10:29:05

The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
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Photo Gallery for Banner Clubtail 20 photos are shown.		Other NC Galleries: Jeff Pippen Will Cook Ted Wilcox
	Photo 1 by: Kevin Metcalf Comment: Rowan, 2023-05-12, South Yadkin River, Cooleemee Falls, the Bullhole River Park - just below the falls - male perched on rock near shore		Photo 2 by: Kevin Metcalf Comment: Rowan, 2023-05-12, South Yadkin River, Cooleemee Falls, the Bullhole River Park - just below the falls - male perched on rock near shore
	Photo 3 by: Kevin Metcalf Comment: Rowan, 2023-05-12, South Yadkin River, Cooleemee Falls, the Bullhole River Park - just below the falls - male perched on rock near shore		Photo 4 by: Mike Turner Comment: Hoke, 2023-03-30, Lumber River - Wagram boat ramp on US 401 - tenerals
	Photo 5 by: Harry LeGrand. Lori Arent Comment: Richmond; C, 2022-04-28, many Sandhills locales - Drowning Creek at Hoffman Road; photo by Lori Arent		Photo 6 by: Matt Spangler Comment: Scotland, 2022-04-10, Lumber River--Turnpike Rd to SP at Chalk Banks (by kayak) - most teneral
	Photo 7 by: John Petranka Comment: Granville, 2021-04-28, Tar River at Wilton Slopes - Males		Photo 8 by: Denise Williams Comment: Robeson, 2021-04-17, Lumber River State Park Princess Ann Access. iNaturalist record # 74637232 entered by John Petranka - Male
	Photo 9 by: Richard Stickney Comment: Surry, 2019-05-27, Mitchell River at SR 1330 - Male on rocks in river, significant range extension, confirmed by several		Photo 10 by: Richard Stickney Comment: Surry, 2019-05-27, Mitchell River at SR 1330 - Male on rocks in river, significant range extension, confirmed by several
	Photo 11 by: R.Emmitt, H. LeGrand, J. Pippen Comment: Richmond; C, 2019-04-28, Hoffman Road at Drowning Creek		Photo 12 by: R.Emmitt, H. LeGrand, J. Pippen Comment: Richmond; C, 2019-04-28, Hoffman Road at Drowning Creek
	Photo 13 by: Jeff Pippen, Randy Emmitt, Harry LeGrand Comment: Moore; C, 2019-04-28, A handful flying around creek under bridge at county line (with Richmond County); one dead in water, some perched on rocks, gravel, and trees		Photo 14 by: Richard Stickney Comment: Scotland, 2018-04-22, Lumber River State Park, Chalk Banks - Teneral, 1 each sex
	Photo 15 by: Mark Shields and Hunter Phillips Comment: Hoke, 2018-04-05, Wagram Boating Access Area, Lumber River - teneral		Photo 16 by: Mark Shields and Hunter Phillips Comment: Scotland, 2018-04-05, Lumber River State Park (LURI) - Chalk Banks - recently emerged tenerals
	Photo 17 by: Mark Shields and Hunter Phillips Comment: Scotland, 2018-04-05, Lumber River State Park (LURI) - Chalk Banks - recently emerged tenerals		Photo 18 by: Mark Shields, John Petranka Comment: Bladen, 2017-04-17, South River at Sloan's Bridge
	Photo 19 by: Mark Shields Comment: Bladen, 2017-04-16, South River at Sloan's Bridge		Photo 20 by: Mark Shields Comment: Sampson, 2017-04-16, South River at Sloan's Bridge