NC Odonate Website

Related Species in GOMPHIDAE:

Number of records added in 2021 = 8

PDF has more details,
e.g., flight data, high counts, and earliest/latest dates can be seen.
[View PDF]

Green-faced Clubtail (Hylogomphus viridifrons) by John Petranka

Compare with: Mustached 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.

[Google images]

map

Click on county for list of all its records for Green-faced Clubtail

flight charts

distribution

A Northern species, with the southeastern edge of the range reaching the mountains of the Carolinas and extreme northeastern GA (Rabun County). So far, NC records are only for Ashe, Alleghany, Buncombe, Madison, Macon, and Yancey counties; however, it is likely being overlooked because of identification difficulties.

abundance

Dunkle (2000) says it is "scarce" within its overall range, and NatureServe gives it a G3G4 (rare to uncommon) global rank. Thus, it is assumed to also be rare in NC, especially considering that we have only 41 state records with dates. However, it is not rare immediately along the French Broad River in Madison and Buncombe counties, at least in recent years.

flight

Mainly late April into mid- or late June, but there are two fairly recent records in early April; the flight period might be moving earlier in the past few years.

habitat

Rocky and fast-moving rivers and large streams. Likes a mixed substrate of silt and gravel.

behavior

The species is most active late in the afternoon or in cloudy conditions. Males may perch on rocks in the rivers, or on vegetation or the ground near the shore.

comments

This is one of many clubtails that are poorly known in NC, as well as rather rare/scarce throughout the overall range. Thankfully, the large gap in the NC range between Ashe and Macon counties was "filled" by records from Madison and Buncombe counties in spring 2012, and Yancey in 2021. Jeff Pippen photographed one (shown on his website) from many angles, on 9 April, and this set of photos was reviewed by experts and determined to be this seemingly rare species. This is a difficult-to-identify species; in fact, several of this website's reviewers/editors have determined in 2016 and 2017 that quite a few photo records previously identified as Mustached Clubtail appear to be Green-faced Clubtail, and have been moved to this species account. Also, Green-faced Clubtail can easily be confused with Cobra Clubtail. All three species occur, or are believed to occur, along the French Broad River in Madison and Buncombe counties. What is most puzzling is that, despite this flurry of recent photographic records from Buncombe and Madison Counties, Duncan Cuyler never collected any individuals of Green-faced Clubtail from either of these counties! With the increase in records (and counties) in the past few years, the State Rank probably should be moved from S1 down to S1S2 or to S2, as it no longer is critically endangered in the state.

state_status

S_rank

fed_status

G_rank

G3G4

date_spread

[Overwinter:] [Date Spread:] [No Late Date:] [Split on Feb:] [Default:]

synonym

Gomphus viridifrons

other_name

Species account update: LeGrand on 2021-07-28 15:12:01

The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
Home Page	Search	Odonate Resources	Login	NC Biodiversity Project

Photo Gallery for Green-faced Clubtail 47 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.		Other NC Galleries: Jeff Pippen Will Cook Ted Wilcox
	Photo 1 by: Max Ramey Comment: Ashe, 2021-06-01, New River, right where Mill Creek flows in. On Railroad Grade Rd.		Photo 2 by: Kevin Dodson Comment: Yancey, 2021-05-08, Nolichucky River, Lat: 36.070378 Lon: -82.379518. iNat Record 78211319 posted by John Petranka - Female.
	Photo 3 by: Kevin Dodson Comment: Yancey, 2021-05-08, Nolichucky River, Lat: 36.070378 Lon: -82.379518. iNat Record 78211319 posted by John Petranka - Female.		Photo 4 by: Jason P. Love Comment: Macon, 2021-05-06, Found near wetland about 40 m from Little Tennessee River, Needmore Gamelands - Female; pic sent to John Petranka for identification
	Photo 5 by: p dixon Comment: Madison, 2021-04-20, Hot Springs area		Photo 6 by: B. Bockhahn, K. Kittelberger Comment: Alleghany, 2020-06-03, New River State Park
	Photo 7 by: B. Bockhahn, K. Kittelberger Comment: Alleghany, 2020-06-03, New River State Park		Photo 8 by: B. Bockhahn, K. Kittelberger Comment: Alleghany, 2020-06-03, New River State Park; photo by K. Kittelberger
	Photo 9 by: B. Bockhahn, K. Kittelberger Comment: Alleghany, 2020-06-03, New River State Park; photo by K. Kittelberger		Photo 10 by: B. Bockhahn, K. Kittelberger Comment: Alleghany, 2020-06-03, New River State Park; photo by K. Kittelberger
	Photo 11 by: B. Bockhahn, K. Kittelberger Comment: Alleghany, 2020-06-03, New River State Park; photo by K. Kittelberger		Photo 12 by: B. Bockhahn, K. Kittelberger Comment: Alleghany, 2020-06-03, New River State Park; photo by K. Kittelberger
	Photo 13 by: B. Bockhahn, K. Kittelberger Comment: Alleghany, 2020-06-03, New River State Park; photo by K. Kittelberger		Photo 14 by: p dixon Comment: Madison, 2020-05-14, Beside the French Broad River, Hot Springs area - riverside foliage
	Photo 15 by: p dixon Comment: Madison, 2020-05-02, Hot Springs area, River Road		Photo 16 by: p dixon Comment: Madison, 2020-05-02, Hot Springs area, River Road
	Photo 17 by: p dixon Comment: Madison, 2020-04-29, Hot Springs area, French Broad River		Photo 18 by: p dixon Comment: Madison, 2020-04-29, Hot Springs area, French Broad River
	Photo 19 by: John Petranka. Comment: Alleghany, 2019-06-04, New River at Farmers Fish Camp Rd.. - Female. With accumulated egg mass.		Photo 20 by: Pete Dixon Comment: Madison, 2019-05-29, River Road, 1:30-4:30pm, Broadwing farm to Murray Branch, sunny, high 80s
	Photo 21 by: Mike Turner Comment: Alleghany, 2018-06-09, New River State Park - King's Creek Access - South Fork New River		Photo 22 by: Mike Turner Comment: Alleghany, 2018-06-09, New River State Park - King's Creek Access - South Fork New River
	Photo 23 by: Rob Van Epps Comment: Alleghany, 2018-06-03, New River State Park - Kings Creek Access Area		Photo 24 by: John Petranka Comment: Madison, 2018-05-14, Along the French Broad River at Hot Springs Campground upstream from the US Hwy 25 bridge. - Males. Perched on rocks in river and low on streamside vegetation.
	Photo 25 by: John Petranka Comment: Madison, 2018-05-14, Along the French Broad River at Hot Springs Campground upstream from the US Hwy 25 bridge. - Males. Perched on rocks in river and low on streamside vegetation.		Photo 26 by: John Petranka Comment: Madison, 2018-05-14, Along the French Broad River at Hot Springs Campground upstream from the US Hwy 25 bridge. - Males. Perched on rocks in river and low on streamside vegetation.
	Photo 27 by: Vin Stanton Comment: Madison, 2018-05-09, River Road north of Hot Springs - Male and Female		Photo 28 by: Tim Deering, Martha Barnette Comment: Buncombe, 2017-04-29, Richmond Hill Park, creek feeding into French Broad River. - First specimen missing right middle leg. At least two others seen. Between 3:30 and 4:00 pm.
	Photo 29 by: Tim Deering, Martha Barnette Comment: Buncombe, 2017-04-29, Richmond Hill Park, creek feeding into French Broad River. - First specimen missing right middle leg. At least two others seen. Between 3:30 and 4:00 pm.		Photo 30 by: Tim Deering, Martha Barnette Comment: Buncombe, 2017-04-29, Richmond Hill Park, creek feeding into French Broad River. - First specimen missing right middle leg. At least two others seen. Between 3:30 and 4:00 pm.