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 2023 = 0
Added in 2023 from a previous years = 3

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  
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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 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 44 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; the editors suggest S1S2 for a revised State Rank.
State Rank S1 [S1S2]
State Status SR
Global Rank G3G4
Federal Status
Synonym Gomphus viridifrons
Other Name
Species account update: LeGrand on 2023-01-10 10:38:27
Photo Gallery for Green-faced Clubtail   51 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, 2022-06-21, Hot Springs area		Photo 2 by: P Dixon

Comment: Madison, 2022-06-21, Hot Springs area
Photo 3 by: P Dixon

Comment: Madison, 2022-04-27, Davis Branch, Hot Springs		Photo 4 by: P Dixon

Comment: Madison, 2022-04-27, Hot Springs area, several teneral individuals moving around the banks of Davis Branch
Photo 5 by: Max Ramey

Comment: Ashe, 2021-06-01, New River, right where Mill Creek flows in. On Railroad Grade Rd.		Photo 6 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 7 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 8 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 9 by: p dixon

Comment: Madison, 2021-04-20, Hot Springs area		Photo 10 by: B. Bockhahn, K. Kittelberger

Comment: Alleghany, 2020-06-03, New River State Park
Photo 11 by: B. Bockhahn, K. Kittelberger

Comment: Alleghany, 2020-06-03, New River State Park		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: B. Bockhahn, K. Kittelberger

Comment: Alleghany, 2020-06-03, New River State Park; photo by K. Kittelberger
Photo 15 by: B. Bockhahn, K. Kittelberger

Comment: Alleghany, 2020-06-03, New River State Park; photo by K. Kittelberger		Photo 16 by: B. Bockhahn, K. Kittelberger

Comment: Alleghany, 2020-06-03, New River State Park; photo by K. Kittelberger
Photo 17 by: B. Bockhahn, K. Kittelberger

Comment: Alleghany, 2020-06-03, New River State Park; photo by K. Kittelberger		Photo 18 by: p dixon

Comment: Madison, 2020-05-14, Beside the French Broad River, Hot Springs area - riverside foliage
Photo 19 by: p dixon

Comment: Madison, 2020-05-02, Hot Springs area, River Road 		Photo 20 by: p dixon

Comment: Madison, 2020-05-02, Hot Springs area, River Road
Photo 21 by: p dixon

Comment: Madison, 2020-04-29, Hot Springs area, French Broad River		Photo 22 by: p dixon

Comment: Madison, 2020-04-29, Hot Springs area, French Broad River
Photo 23 by: John Petranka.

Comment: Alleghany, 2019-06-04, New River at Farmers Fish Camp Rd.. - Female. With accumulated egg mass.		Photo 24 by: Pete Dixon

Comment: Madison, 2019-05-29, River Road, 1:30-4:30pm, Broadwing farm to Murray Branch, sunny, high 80s
Photo 25 by: Mike Turner

Comment: Alleghany, 2018-06-09, New River State Park - King's Creek Access - South Fork New River		Photo 26 by: Mike Turner

Comment: Alleghany, 2018-06-09, New River State Park - King's Creek Access - South Fork New River
Photo 27 by: Rob Van Epps

Comment: Alleghany, 2018-06-03, New River State Park - Kings Creek Access Area		Photo 28 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 29 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 30 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.