NC Odonate Website

Related Species in AESHNIDAE:

Number of records for 2025 = 22

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e.g., flight data, high counts, and earliest/latest dates can be seen.
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Common Green Darner (Anax junius) by Mark Shields

Compare with: Comet Darner
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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 Green Darner

Flight Charts

Distribution

Statewide. Occurs in all 100 counties.

Abundance

Common statewide, with abundance levels somewhat equal across all three provinces. One of the more common dragonfly species in the mountains, with well over 350 records with flight data from that region of the state. Two new high counts were made in 2019, including an estimated 1000 in Surry County in September. The species is partially migratory, and these very high counts (200 or more individuals) relate to swarms seen moving southward in fall migration.

Flight

Generally from mid-March to mid-November, and straggling at least in the Coastal Plain to the end of the year. It has the longest flight period of any dragonfly in the state, as it is the dragonfly species most likely to be seen in early winter -- being absent only for about two months in mid- and late winter.

Habitat

Wide-ranging; found around lakes, ponds, marshes, and other mostly still waters. Forages over fields, ponds, lakes, and other open habitats, as well as along roads through woods.

Behavior

Typically seen flying at eye-level or higher, over a wide range of open habitats.

Comments

The species is seldom seen in truly large numbers or swarms, except in the fall season. It can often be the first species of dragonfly one sees in spring, or the last in late fall. The species is usually easily identified in flight, even at a distance of 100 feet or more, through binoculars.

State Rank

State Status

Global Rank

Federal Status

Synonym

Other Name

Species account update: LeGrand on 2023-01-09 11:33:10

The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
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Photo Gallery for Common Green Darner 41 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.		Other NC Galleries: Jeff Pippen Will Cook Ted Wilcox
	Photo 1 by: Mark Shields, Harry LeGrand Comment: Brunswick, 2025-11-05, Ev-Henwood Nature Preserve		Photo 2 by: Amy Padgett Comment: Bladen, 2024-09-27, 2 miles SE of Clarkton - 3:30P Perched near a pond
	Photo 3 by: B. Bockhahn Comment: Henderson, 2024-09-05, Bat Fork Bog		Photo 4 by: Lucas Wilson Comment: Richmond; C, 2024-06-28,
	Photo 5 by: John Petranka Comment: Orange, 2022-05-10, NHCBS, Hollow Rock Nature Park, West of Pickett Road, Meadow		Photo 6 by: Guy McGrane Comment: Watauga, 2021-04-17; appeared torpid
	Photo 7 by: Dick Thomas Comment: Guilford, 2021-04-16, Piedmont Environmental Center, High Point - male patrolling dam of retention pond		Photo 8 by: p dixon Comment: Madison, 2020-08-01, Pond at Wolf Laurel exit, I-26
	Photo 9 by: Sean Krieg Comment: Haywood, 2020-06-16, GSMNP, Cataloochee Valley, iNaturalist record# 49999246		Photo 10 by: Kevin Metcalf Comment: Mecklenburg, 2020-04-21, - Latta Nature Preserve
	Photo 11 by: Owen McConnell and Phil and Ann Weinrich Comment: Graham, 2019-10-01, Migrants were seen late in the afternoon for only two days - On 2019-09-30 and 2019-10-01 about 200 migrating Common Green Darners in groups of about 20 were seen along West Buffalo Rd. from the Cedar Cliff Baptist Church to Huffman Creek Rd. I netted this one as it flew over the Huffman Creek Rd. bridge over West Buffalo Creek		Photo 12 by: Mark Shields Comment: Onslow, 2019-09-30, my property, Holly Ridge - Female attracted to LED and UV lights, 9:30 pm
	Photo 13 by: Mark Shields Comment: Onslow, 2019-09-06, my property, Holly Ridge - at least 7 pairs ovipositing in pools and ditches filled by rain from Hurricane Dorian		Photo 14 by: Mark Shields, Hunter Phillips Comment: Mitchell, 2019-05-16, Living Waters Campground, Glen Ayre.
	Photo 15 by: John Petranka Comment: Caswell, 2019-04-30, Caswell Game Land. Game land road paralleling Country Line Creek near end of Gatewood Road. - Photographed Female.		Photo 16 by: Mark Shields, Hunter Phillips Comment: Bladen, 2019-04-16, Suggs Mill Pond Game Land - female with wing caught in a bramble, freed and released
	Photo 17 by: Paul Hart Comment: Alamance, 2018-09-08, 1.9 miles north of Snow Camp		Photo 18 by: Mark Shields Comment: Jackson, 2018-06-25, Pond beside Breedlove Road, 5 km northeast of Cashiers
	Photo 19 by: Mark Shields and Hunter Phillips Comment: Scotland, 2018-04-05, Lumber River State Park (LURI) - Chalk Banks section		Photo 20 by: J. Summers Comment: Chatham, 2018-03-15, Jordan Lake
	Photo 21 by: Mark Shields Comment: Duplin, 2017-09-22, Pond and ditch beside Quiet Water Drive, Chinquapin - tandem pair		Photo 22 by: Mark Shields Comment: Beaufort, 2016-07-08, Boardwalk along Pamlico River, Washington
	Photo 23 by: Mark Shields Comment: New Hanover, 2015-09-13, Ft. Fisher State Recreation Area (FOFI), Basin Trail - numerous; many pairs mating, flying in tandem		Photo 24 by: Mark Shields Comment: Pender, 2015-09-01, Holly Shelter Game Land
	Photo 25 by: Mark Shields Comment: Onslow, 2015-06-28, Small, wooded pond in Holly Ridge - Two mating and ovipositing pairs observed, along with one unmated male.		Photo 26 by: Owen McConnell Comment: Graham, 2014-09-10, at a pond at Tuskeegee
	Photo 27 by: Doug Johnston Comment: New Hanover, 2013-04-25, Carolina Beach State Park		Photo 28 by: Mike Turner Comment: Wake, 2012-09-12, Prairie Ridge Ecostation - about half were adult males
	Photo 29 by: Vin Stanton Comment: Buncombe, 2012-05-14, Richmond Hill Park, Asheville		Photo 30 by: Vin Stanton Comment: Buncombe, 2011-10-05, Beaver Lake, Asheville - Male & Female