NC Odonate Website

Related Species in GOMPHIDAE:

Number of records for 2025 = 14

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Common Sanddragon (Progomphus obscurus) by John Petranka

Compare with: Belle's Sanddragon
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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 Common Sanddragon

Flight Charts

Distribution

Nearly statewide, but absent from the extreme northeastern and eastern counties, and oddly lacking records from the southwestern mountains (where ought to be present). No records east of Halifax, Martin, and Craven counties in the Coastal Plain; and known from just eight counties in the mountains.

Abundance

Fairly common to occasionally common in the Piedmont and much of the Coastal Plain, but seemingly absent in the northeastern and eastern portions of the latter province. Rare in much of the mountains, and presumably scarce to absent over 3000-feet elevation. This species and the Black-shouldered Spinyleg are the most frequently seen clubtails across the state during the late spring and early summer months (whereas Ashy and Lancet clubtails are the most common clubtails in the spring season). There are several one-day counts of over 25 individuals (all from the Coastal Plain), including a remarkable 65 in Duplin County in May 2017.

Flight

Generally from mid-May to mid-August. However, there are scattered records as early as 16 March and as late as 9 September. The flight starts slightly later in the mountains than downstate.

Habitat

Creeks or small rivers with sandy shores, sand bars, and other sandy areas nearby. These are often in rather open habitats, but may be in wooded areas.

Behavior

As the common name implies, this species is most often seen perching on damp sand or sandbars close to water. In hot weather, the males obelisk with the abdomen held angled up from the surface of the sand. They also perch on twigs near water and fly short distance over water.

Comments

A dragonfly perching -- with the abdomen raised -- on sand next to a small stream will more than likely be a Common Sanddragon. Though seldom seen in large numbers in NC on a given day, it is quite widespread, with records from practically all Piedmont and Coastal Plain counties (except in the far east). The shape of the yellow markings on the dorsal side of the abdominal segments is quite unusual, like a hand bell, with the wide, open end of the bell at the anterior portion of each segment.

State Rank

State Status

Global Rank

Federal Status

Synonym

Other Name

Species account update: LeGrand on 2023-01-10 12:58:07

The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
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Photo Gallery for Common Sanddragon 53 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.		Other NC Galleries: Jeff Pippen Will Cook Ted Wilcox
	Photo 1 by: Matt Spangler Comment: Buncombe, 2025-07-04, Sandy Mush GL--Turkey Creek from NC-20 to 0.5 mi downstream		Photo 2 by: B. Bockhahn Comment: Richmond; P, 2025-06-10, Sandhills Game Land
	Photo 3 by: Amy Padgett Comment: Bladen, 2025-06-07, South River Bridge Wildlife Ramp, Garland - 2:53PM perched along the banks of the river		Photo 4 by: Amy Padgett Comment: Bladen, 2025-06-07, South River Bridge Wildlife Ramp, Garland - Perched on ground around boat ramp
	Photo 5 by: P Dixon Comment: Buncombe, 2025-02-05, Flat Creek, 1 mile north of Hwy 25/70		Photo 6 by: P Dixon Comment: Buncombe, 2025-01-28, Flat Creek, 200 yards north of Hwy 25/70
	Photo 7 by: Lori Arent, Harry LeGrand, Jeff Pippen Comment: Granville, 2024-06-25, two gasline/powerline clearings in the Butner area - one in gasline clearing, one at a creek. Photo by Lori Arent		Photo 8 by: Amy Padgett Comment: Bladen, 2024-05-22, Turnbull Creek Educational State Forest - 2:41PM along forested creek
	Photo 9 by: Ken Kneidel Comment: Mecklenburg, 2022-07-21,		Photo 10 by: Mark Shields Comment: Nash, 2022-06-20, Tar River at Battle Park, Rocky Mount
	Photo 11 by: Alicia Jackson Comment: Hoke, 2021-06-24, Washed out sandy road crossing of Wolf Pit Creek		Photo 12 by: Matt Spangler Comment: Bladen, 2021-05-24, Jones Lake SP (circumnavigating lake by kayak) - on swim beach
	Photo 13 by: Jan Hansen Comment: Moore; C, 2020-07-31		Photo 14 by: Doug Allen Comment: Polk; P, 2020-06-11, FENCE (Foothills Equestrian Nature Center)
	Photo 15 by: Salman Abdulali Comment: Pitt, 2019-06-30, Fork Swamp Creek near Boyd Lee Park		Photo 16 by: John Petranka Comment: Ashe, 2019-06-25, South Fork of New River at Todd Island Park; on rock at midstream. Ashe/Watauga county line. - Male.
	Photo 17 by: Mark Shields Comment: Sampson, 2019-05-24, Black River, from Ivanhoe Boating Access Area to 4.5 km upstream and back, by kayak.		Photo 18 by: Mike Turner Comment: Davie, 2018-07-07, Bullhole River Park
	Photo 19 by: Mike Turner Comment: Rowan, 2018-07-07, Bullhole River Park		Photo 20 by: Mike Turner Comment: Guilford, 2018-06-30, N. Buffalo Creek @ SR 2832
	Photo 21 by: Robert Gilson Comment: Mecklenburg, 2018-06-28, Albert Stevens		Photo 22 by: Mark Shields Comment: Pitt, 2018-05-25, Tar River at Falkland Boating Access Area - teneral, just emerged
	Photo 23 by: Rob Van Epps Comment: Mecklenburg, 2017-07-08, Mallard Creek between Mallard Creek Church Rd and Harris Blvd.		Photo 24 by: Mark Shields Comment: Alleghany, 2017-06-28, New River State Park (NERI), King's Creek Access
	Photo 25 by: John Petranka Comment: Orange, 2017-06-13, Hollow Rock Nature Park. Along New Hope Creek downstream from the Erwin Road bridge. - 3 males, 1 female. Photo is of female.		Photo 26 by: John Petranka Comment: Orange, 2017-06-13, Hollow Rock Nature Park. Along New Hope Creek downstream from the Erwin Road bridge. - 3 males, 1 female.
	Photo 27 by: Curtis Smalling Comment: McDowell; M, 2017-06-06, at North Fork Catawba River; 35.839236 -81.98814		Photo 28 by: Mark Shields Comment: Caldwell, 2017-06-04, Wilson Creek, US Forest Service access off Brown Mountain Beach Road
	Photo 29 by: John Petranka Comment: Davie, 2017-06-02, South Yadkin River at Bullhole River Park, Cooleemee. - Males.		Photo 30 by: Conrad Wernett Comment: Wayne, 2017-05-29, - Cliffs of the Neuse State Park, along dike of swimming lake