NC Odonate Website

Related Species in GOMPHIDAE:		Number of records for 2024 = 0
Added in 2024-00-00 from a previous year = 1 (2023-03-10)

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Maine Snaketail (Ophiogomphus mainensis) by John Petranka, Jim Petranka

Compare with: Edmund's Snaketail Appalachian 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 Maine Snaketail

Flight Charts

Distribution

Essentially the mountains only, including Atlantic drainage streams along the upper Piedmont/Blue Ridge Escarpment. Probably ranges throughout the mountain province, as this is a Northern species but yet ranging south to northern GA (two counties). Records are lacking for the four extreme southwestern counties.

Abundance

Rare to uncommon, and best called "uncommon in the northern mountains to rare in the southern mountans". Not as rare as several other mountain/foothills-only clubtails, as NC now has records for 13 counties. In fact, there are recent records, including photos, for most of these counties.

Flight

Formerly early or mid-May to mid-June; however, in recent years the flight period seems to be moving earlier, as there is a 2015 record as early as 21 April, and now a 2022 record for 4 April. Thus, the flight is roughly from late April to mid-June.

Habitat

Clear and rapid mountain streams or small rivers, in forested areas, for breeding.

Behavior

Males perch on rocks in the streams, but adults tend to feed in fields, according to Dunkle (2000). Several NC records are well away from obvious streams or rivers.

Comments

This species has a fairly extensive range in terms of latitude, from New Brunswick to northern Georgia, but it ranges west only through the Appalachians. As Dunkle (2000) calls it "fairly common", and Beaton (2007) cites three records from northern Georgia, we suspect that it is not rare in NC, but probably uncommon, likely being present in most counties in the mountains with further study. In fact, in October 2018 this species was indeed moved by the N.C. Natural Heritage Program from its Rare List to the Watch List.

State Rank

State Status

Global Rank

G4G5

Federal Status

Synonym

Other Name

Species account update: LeGrand on 2023-01-10 11:22:24

The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
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Photo Gallery for Maine Snaketail 30 photos are shown.		Other NC Galleries: Jeff Pippen Will Cook Ted Wilcox
	Photo 1 by: P Dixon, Jeff Pippen Comment: Haywood, 2023-05-19, Pigeon River		Photo 2 by: P Dixon Comment: Madison, 2023-04-15, Hot Springs area - By a pond in Hot Springs
	Photo 3 by: P Dixon Comment: Madison, 2023-03-10, Laurel River, 1/2 mile downstream from Hwy 25/70		Photo 4 by: P Dixon Comment: Madison, 2022-05-22, Meadowfork, in creek sections adjacent to fields
	Photo 5 by: P Dixon Comment: Madison, 2022-05-22, Meadowfork, in creek sections adjacent to fields		Photo 6 by: P Dixon Comment: Madison, 2022-04-04, Ophiogomphus 3/24/22 Female F0 MtTWL:HW 1.2 Captured in silt beside a grassy bank on 3/24/22, wing pads were swollen, kept in captivity until emergence on 4/4/22 and then released to same location. OAL 25mm AL 15mm AW 7mm 31 teeth on ligula 13,14 teeth on palps Posterolateral hooks S7-9 Dorsal medial hooks(blunt) S2-9 Anterolater sclerite S7-8, no no
	Photo 7 by: P Dixon Comment: Madison, 2022-04-04, iNaturalist Observation 110429225 Ophiogomphus 3/24/22 Female F0 MtTWL:HW 1.2 Captured in silt beside a grassy bank on 3/24/22, wing pads were swollen, kept in captivity until emergence on 4/4/22 and then released to same location. OAL 25mm AL 15mm AW 7mm 31 teeth on ligula 13,14 teeth on palps Posterolateral hooks S7-9 Dorsal medial hooks(blunt) S2-9 Anterolater sclerite S7-8, no no		Photo 8 by: John Petranka, Jim Petranka, Becky Elkin Comment: Yancey, 2021-05-24, Along Cane River south of Burnsville. - Male.
	Photo 9 by: B. Bockhahn, K. Kittelberger Comment: Wilkes; M, 2020-06-02		Photo 10 by: B. Bockhahn, K. Kittelberger Comment: Wilkes; M, 2020-06-02, Stone Mountain State Park
	Photo 11 by: B. Bockhahn, K. Kittelberger Comment: Wilkes; M, 2020-06-02, Stone Mountain State Park; photo by K. Kittelberger		Photo 12 by: B. Bockhahn, K. Kittelberger Comment: Wilkes; M, 2020-06-02, Stone Mountain State Park; photo by K. Kittelberger, female with developing egg mass
	Photo 13 by: Matt Cook, Jemima Cook Comment: Madison, 2020-04-20, Laurel River Store, US 25/70, Laurel River		Photo 14 by: Matt Cook, Jemima Cook Comment: Madison, 2020-04-20, Laurel River Store, US 25/70, Laurel River
	Photo 15 by: John Petranka, Sally Gewalt Comment: Yancey, 2019-05-24, South Toe River along South Toe River Rd. at 35°45'40.6		Photo 16 by: John Petranka Comment: Burke; M, 2019-05-21, Linville River at Linville Falls Campground, Blue Ridge Parkway. - Males.
	Photo 17 by: John Petranka Comment: Avery, 2019-05-21, Linville River at Linville Falls Picnic Area, Blue Ridge Parkway mile marker 316.5 - Males.		Photo 18 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. - Males perched on rocks in river.
	Photo 19 by: Mark Shields Comment: Mitchell, 2017-06-03, Cane Creek at Wade Tipton Memorial Ball Park, Bakersville		Photo 20 by: John Petranka Comment: Wilkes; P, 2016-06-22, Stone Mountain State Park, East Prong of the Roaring River. Along river near parking area at the end of the paved part of Stone Mountain Rd. Males. Photo.
	Photo 21 by: Curtis Smalling Comment: Watauga, 2016-05-30, male, Meat Camp Creek		Photo 22 by: John Petranka, Jim Petranka Comment: Caldwell, 2016-05-10, Wilson Creek at Brown Mountain Beach Resort. Males. Photo.
	Photo 23 by: John Petranka, Jim Petranka Comment: Caldwell, 2016-05-10, Wilson Creek at Brown Mountain Beach Resort. Males. Photo.		Photo 24 by: Teddy Wilcox Comment: Watauga, 2016-05-07, Tanawha Trail near Holloway Mountain Road
	Photo 25 by: Teddy Wilcox Comment: Watauga, 2016-05-07, Tanawha Trail near Holloway Mountain Road		Photo 26 by: Doug Johnston Comment: Buncombe, 2015-04-21, Sandy Mush Game Land - On trail above Sandy Mush Creek
	Photo 27 by: Doug Johnston Comment: Buncombe, 2015-04-21, Sandy Mush Game Land - On trail above Sandy Mush Creek		Photo 28 by: Chris Talkington Comment: Ashe, 2014-05-24, Big Horse Creek, Lansing - East bank along creek near Tuckerdale Baptist Church
	Photo 29 by: Chris Talkington Comment: Ashe, 2014-05-24, Big Horse Creek, Lansing - East bank along creek near Tuckerdale Baptist Church		Photo 30 by: Marion Dobbs Comment: Jackson, 2013-05-26, Photo downloaded from Marion Dobbs' website - two photos on her website. http://www.mamomi.net/Gomphidae/Pages/Ophiogomphus_mainensis_-_Maine_Snaketail.html#0'