NC Odonate Website

Related Species in GOMPHIDAE:

Number of records for 2025 = 2

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Appalachian Snaketail (Ophiogomphus incurvatus) by John Petranka

Compare with: Edmund's Snaketail Maine Snaketail Rusty Snaketail Brook Snaketail
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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 Appalachian Snaketail

Flight Charts

Distribution

Throughout the western and central Piedmont; and sparingly in the lower elevations of the mountains, though so far known only from Buncombe and Mitchell counties in that province. Apparently absent from the northeastern Piedmont, other than a surprising record in 2022 for Wake County. Recorded east to Caswell, Wake, Moore, and Richmond counties; in the latter two counties, the records have come from the Sandhills region within the Coastal Plain. For some odd reason, the species has a rather limited range from MD to AL, and even though the common name is "Appalachian", and the general range is the southern Appalachians and Piedmont, for some interesting reason (elevation?) there are few "true" mountain records for NC.

Abundance

Uncommon (to very locally fairly common). It is quite widespread for a clubtail in the state, as there are records for most counties in the western 2/3rds of the NC Piedmont (though most are pre-2000). However, this is globally a scarce species, as NatureServe has a G3 (rare) global rank. Thus, NC might have the highest density of the species.

Flight

Early or mid-April to late June, both in the mountains/foothills and in the remainder of the Piedmont and western Sandhills. The records for Richmond County are from early April to mid-May, and thus in the southern Piedmont and Sandhills counties, the flight may start about 7-10 days earlier than in the northern Piedmont/foothills.

Habitat

Small to medium streams, often in the open, for breeding; usually the streams are clear with some riffles and some gravel.

Behavior

Males typically perch on twigs or low vegetation near a creek; they make short patrols over the water.

Comments

Though this is a globally scarce species, with Paulson (2011) calling it "rare" and Dunkle (2000) calling it "uncommon", it apparently is most numerous in its range in the western and central NC Piedmont. Snaketails (clubtails in the genus Ophiogomphus) are typically a bit more colorful than clubtails in other genera, especially with the bright lime-green or grass-green sides of the thorax. Because of its G3 global rank, though it is not a rare species in NC, the N.C. Natural Heritage Program has added the species to its Watch List in 2012. There have been quite a few recent records, and most significant are the handful from small Sandhills streams in the far western Coastal Plain (Moore and Richmond counties). In fact, this is our only snaketail (Ophiogomphus) that occurs in the Coastal Plain, even if just at the western edge. However, despite these recent records from the western Sandhills, there has been nary a single recent record for the large region from Richmond and Moore counties to the Piedmont foothills. Has the species clearly declined across most of the Piedmont, or is there simply not enough field work in the southern Piedmont?

State Rank

State Status

Global Rank

Federal Status

Synonym

Other Name

Species account update: LeGrand on 2023-01-10 11:18:57

The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
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Photo Gallery for Appalachian Snaketail 27 photos are shown.		Other NC Galleries: Jeff Pippen Will Cook Ted Wilcox
	Photo 1 by: P Dixon, Jo Comment: Davie, 2024-11-06, Elisha Creek north of Mocksville		Photo 2 by: Jason York Comment: Alexander, 2023-09-12, Lower Little River, Lat: 35.97186 Lon: -81.242583, https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/193604868 - Lower Little River, Lat: 35.97186 Lon: -81.242583, https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/193604868
	Photo 3 by: Jason York Comment: Alexander, 2023-09-12, Lower Little River, Lat: 35.97186 Lon: -81.242583, https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/193604868 - Lower Little River, Lat: 35.97186 Lon: -81.242583, https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/193604868		Photo 4 by: P Dixon Comment: Madison, 2023-03-26, Sandy Mush Creek, Teague Rd. Nymph captured 3/26/23, adult emerged 4/28/23, iNat observation 152449515
	Photo 5 by: P Dixon Comment: Madison, 2023-03-26, Sandy Mush Creek, Teague Rd. Nymph captured 3/26/23, adult emerged 4/28/23, iNat observation 152449515		Photo 6 by: Richard Stickney Comment: Wake, 2022-04-10, Temple Flat Rock and nearby fields, near Rolesville
	Photo 7 by: Richard Stickney Comment: Wake, 2022-04-10, Temple Flat Rock and nearby fields, near Rolesville		Photo 8 by: Doug Allen Comment: Polk; P, 2020-04-04, Caroland Farms, NC sector - first record for Polk County
	Photo 9 by: Chuck Smith, John Petranka and party. Comment: Burke; P, 2019-05-15, South Mountains State Park (SOMO). Along Clear Creek below the dam of Clear Creek Lake. - Male.		Photo 10 by: R Emmitt and super DSA crew! Comment: Moore; C, 2018-05-11, Drowning Creek at Richmond County line. - Vouchered by Boris
	Photo 11 by: Mike Turner Comment: Richmond; C, 2018-05-06, Naked Creek @ Derby Rd. (SR 1003) - adult male		Photo 12 by: John Petranka Comment: Wilkes; M, 2017-05-31, Stone Mountain State Park (STMO). East Prong of the Roaring River at the Bridle Loop Trail parking area. Along stream restoration site. - 1 male, 1 female.
	Photo 13 by: John Petranka Comment: Wilkes; M, 2017-05-31, Stone Mountain State Park (STMO). East Prong of the Roaring River at the Bridle Loop Trail parking area. Along stream restoration site. - 1 male, 1 female.		Photo 14 by: John Petranka Comment: Caswell, 2017-05-08, Along NC 62 at Country Line Creek. About 1.2 miles south of Main Street in Yanceyville. - Female. Sunning and feeding in vegetation alongside the bridge.
	Photo 15 by: John Petranka Comment: Caswell, 2017-05-08, Along NC 62 at Country Line Creek. About 1.2 miles south of Main Street in Yanceyville. - Female. Sunning and feeding in vegetation alongside the bridge.		Photo 16 by: John Petranka, Jim Petranka Comment: Buncombe, 2016-06-07, Sandy Mush Game Land, Bear Creek Road access. Sandy Mush Creek via main trail west from parking area. Female feeding in clearing near creek. Photo.
	Photo 17 by: John Petranka, Jim Petranka Comment: Buncombe, 2016-06-07, Sandy Mush Game Land, Bear Creek Road access. Sandy Mush Creek via main trail west from parking area. Female feeding in clearing near creek. Photo.		Photo 18 by: Timothy Deering Comment: Buncombe, 2016-06-07, Dark Hollow Creek
	Photo 19 by: Timothy Deering Comment: Buncombe, 2016-05-23, Dark Hollow Creek		Photo 20 by: Rick Cheicante Comment: Surry, 2016-04-24, - Pilot Mountain State Park - clearing along Pilot Knob Park Rd
	Photo 21 by: Doug Johnston Comment: Buncombe, 2011-06-24, Sandy Mush Game Land, Bear creek access		Photo 22 by: Doug Johnston, Gail Lankford Comment: Buncombe, 2010-05-20, Sandy Mush Game Land
	Photo 23 by: Ted Wilcox Comment: Wilkes; M, 2007-05-17, female		Photo 24 by: Ted Wilcox Comment: Wilkes; M, 2007-05-14, mated pair
	Photo 25 by: Ted Wilcox Comment: Wilkes; M, 2007-05-14, male		Photo 26 by: Ted Wilcox Comment: Wilkes; M, 2007-05-17, female
	Photo 27 by: Ted Wilcox Comment: Wilkes County; M, 2007-05-17, female