NC Odonate Website

Related Species in GOMPHIDAE:		Number of records for 2024 = 3
Added in 2024-00-00 from a previous years = 3 (2020-05-31) (2023-06-12) (2023-07-00)

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e.g., flight data, high counts, and earliest/latest dates can be seen.
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Eastern Least Clubtail (Stylogomphus albistylus) by Mark Shields

Compare with: Interior Least 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 Eastern Least Clubtail

Flight Charts

Distribution

Mountains and Piedmont only. Essentially throughout the mountains, but more widely scattered across the Piedmont, eastward to Granville, Wake, and Moore counties.

Abundance

Uncommon in the mountains and in the northern Piedmont (to Durham County), but mostly rare to very uncommon in the central and southern portions of the latter province. Despite the moderate number of records, the peak one-day count was just of 5 individuals, until Pete Dixon had local counts of 10 and 20 individuals at one site in Madison County in 2021. However, this quite small species is easily overlooked in its shady habitat.

Flight

Early May to early August in the Piedmont, and mainly from mid-May to mid-August in the mountains, though there are a few recent records there as early as 29 April.

Habitat

Small, clear, woodland creeks are preferred; sandy or gravel bottoms.

Behavior

Males often perch on rocks in the streams, where they are difficult to spot because of their small size and dark coloration. They also perch on vegetation near the water and make small, quick flights over water.

Comments

This species might be more overlooked and harder to spot rather than being truly "scarce". Despite its range, including the Triangle and eastern Piedmont where most biologists study odonates, there are very few reports from State Park personnel. This is not a species one would casually stumble into while in the field; rather, one should look carefully along small shaded or semi-shaded creeks from the latter part of May into the first half of July. The State Rank is approaching S4 now, with the addition of a few more counties to the range map in 2020 and 2021.

State Rank

S3S4

State Status

Global Rank

Federal Status

Synonym

Other Name

Least Clubtail

Species account update: LeGrand on 2023-01-10 13:27:23

The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
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Photo Gallery for Eastern Least Clubtail 39 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.		Other NC Galleries: Jeff Pippen Will Cook Ted Wilcox
	Photo 1 by: L. Arent Comment: Caldwell, 2024-06-15, Dirt roads near Globe NC		Photo 2 by: Robert Gilson and Chris Talkington Comment: Rutherford; M, 2023-06-12, - South Mountains Game Land - Old CC Road creek crossing
	Photo 3 by: Robby Deans Comment: Forsyth, 2023-06-08, Rural Hall, iNaturalist Record #122813496 - Female		Photo 4 by: P Dixon Comment: Madison, 2022-04-29, Davis Branch Meadows, Hot Springs area
	Photo 5 by: P Dixon Comment: Madison, 2021-06-24, Laurel River		Photo 6 by: P Dixon Comment: Madison, 2021-06-20, Spring Creek Gorge
	Photo 7 by: P Dixon Comment: Madison, 2021-06-20, Spring Creek Gorge		Photo 8 by: P Dixon Comment: Madison, 2021-06-06, Hot Springs area - Several teneral individuals leaving the river
	Photo 9 by: P Dixon Comment: Madison, 2021-06-06, Hot Springs area - Several teneral individuals leaving the French Broad		Photo 10 by: Matt Stansberry Comment: Alamance, 2021-05-27, Tributary to Cane Creek near Snow Camp 35.907245, -79.421888 iNaturalist record #80496704 - Male, teneral.
	Photo 11 by: p dixon Comment: Madison, 2020-06-06, French Broad River, Hot Springs area		Photo 12 by: Matt Guilin Comment: Cabarrus, 2020-05-19, Between Parks Lafferty Rd. and Rocky River along the Rocky River Biking Trail - Female.
	Photo 13 by: Mark Swanson Comment: Avery, 2019-06-02, - Teneral male photographed near Linville River.		Photo 14 by: Mark Shields, John Petranka, Sally Gewalt Comment: Jackson, 2018-06-26, Panthertown Valley, Nantahala National Forest - along Panthertown Creek
	Photo 15 by: John Petranka Comment: Wilkes; M, 2018-06-04, Stone Mountain State Park (STMO),East Prong of the Roaring River. Along river near parking area at the end of the paved part of Stone Mountain Rd. - Male perched on rock.		Photo 16 by: Mike Turner Comment: Surry, 2018-05-26, Riverside Park on the Ararat River, Mt. Airy - teneral male
	Photo 17 by: John Petranka, Sally Gewalt Comment: Burke; M, 2017-06-21, Linville River at Blue Ridge Parkway, Linville River Campground. - Male.		Photo 18 by: John Petranka Comment: Orange, 2017-06-15, New Hope Creek, Johnston Mill Preserve just downstream from Mt. Sinai Rd. Perched on small rocks at riffles. - Males.
	Photo 19 by: John Petranka Comment: Orange, 2017-06-15, New Hope Creek, Johnston Mill Preserve just downstream from Mt. Sinai Rd. Perched on small rocks at riffles. - Males.		Photo 20 by: Curtis Smalling Comment: McDowell; M, 2017-06-07, at North Fork Catawba River; 35.839236 -81.98814
	Photo 21 by: B. Bockhahn Comment: Surry, 2017-05-17, teneral - Pilot Mountain State Park, Yadkin River		Photo 22 by: John Petranka Comment: Caldwell, 2016-05-09, Wilson Creek at Brown Mountain Beach Resort. Teneral female. Photo.
	Photo 23 by: Tim Deering Comment: Buncombe, 2015-06-10, Small creek off Lower Flat Creek. - male and female		Photo 24 by: Tim Deering Comment: Buncombe, 2015-06-07, Small creek off Lower Flat Creek.
	Photo 25 by: Bob Cherry Comment: Watauga, 2014-06-17, Flannery Fork at base of Trout Lake dam, Cone Park, Blue Ridge Parkway		Photo 26 by: Doug Johnston, Vin Stanton Comment: Graham, 2013-07-16, Robbinsville - Male
	Photo 27 by: Curtis Smalling Comment: Watauga, 2011-06-30, Meat Camp Creek Environmental Studies Area		Photo 28 by: Vin Stanton, Janie Owen Comment: Buncombe, 2012-06-03, Owen Park ponds, Warren Wilson College, Swannanoa River - Male
	Photo 29 by: Vin Stanton, Janie Owen Comment: Buncombe, 2012-06-03, Owen Park ponds, Warren Wilson College, Swannanoa River - Male		Photo 30 by: Doug Johnston, Vin Stanton Comment: Madison, 2012-05-17