NC Odonate Website

Related Species in CORDULEGASTRIDAE:		Number of records for 2024 = 3
Added in 2024-00-00 from a previous year = 1 (2023-06-01)

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e.g., flight data, high counts, and earliest/latest dates can be seen.
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Twin-spotted Spiketail (Zoraena maculata) by John Petranka

Compare with: Tiger Spiketail Arrowhead Spiketail Brown Spiketail
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Note: these identification tips apply specifically to mature males; features may differ in immature males and females.

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Map

Click on county for list of all its records for Twin-spotted Spiketail

Flight Charts

Distribution

Throughout the Piedmont, and essentially throughout the mountains and the western third/half of the Coastal Plain, being nearly absent from most counties east of Martin, Wayne, and Sampson (except for Onslow and New Hanover county records). The range is thus somewhat similar to that of the Brown Spiketail in NC, but that species has been found in many fewer counties and its abundance is centered in the mountains and foothills; the Brown also has not yet been found in coastal counties.

Abundance

Seemingly declining in numbers in recent years, especially across the Piedmont and Coastal Plain. Very uncommon to uncommon in the mountains and Piedmont (not truly rare), but quite rare in the central Coastal Plain and near the southern coast. Shockingly, if not disturbingly, there were only two reports for the entire state in 2017 and only two more in 2018, though thankfully there were five reports in 2019 and ten in 2020. A review of iNaturalist records in 2022 was partly responsible for the adding of a whopping 17 records, though some of those were pre-2022. Note that this widespread species simply does not occur in groups or swarms; normally, only one or two are seen on a trip, and the state's high daily count is just 6 individuals.

Flight

Downstate, primarily from late March to late May, with the peak in April. The mountain flight occurs from late March to mid-June, though it is scarce before late April.

Habitat

Creeks or small rivers, of many sizes and substrates, for breeding. These are typically in forested or semi-shaded areas and fairly pristine or clear waters.

Behavior

Males cruise along streams, but adults are more often seen well away from water along wooded roads or wide trails or wood margins. They perch conspicuously on twigs and other vegetation, in an oblique manner, typically only a foot or two above the ground, where easily studied.

Comments

This is one of the larger and more spectacular of the spring-season (only) dragonflies. It can be confused with the Brown Spiketail, which is browner on the abdomen, has somewhat more equal-sized yellow spots on the abdomen, and is slightly smaller in length. In 2014, several observers found a colony close to the coast in New Hanover County and documented this noteworthy record with photos.

Sadly, with the seeming decline statewide of this species, the editors suggest the State Rank be moved from S4S5 to now S4.

The spiketails in North America had a change in genus name from Cordulegaster to Zoraena in fall 2024 (Paulson et al. 2024).

State Rank

S4S5 [S4]

State Status

Global Rank

Federal Status

Synonym

Cordulegaster maculata

Other Name

Species account update: LeGrand on 2024-09-29 13:03:34

The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
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Photo Gallery for Twin-spotted Spiketail 28 photos are shown.		Other NC Galleries: Jeff Pippen Will Cook Ted Wilcox
	Photo 1 by: Zane Fish Comment: Orange, 2024-04-10, Brumley North, ovipositing in Stony Creek		Photo 2 by: Roger Shaw Comment: Richmond; C, 2024-03-30, Sandhills Game Land
	Photo 3 by: Harry LeGrand Comment: Granville, 2022-04-17, Veazey Road sewerline clearing; photo by Brenda Wichmann		Photo 4 by: P Dixon Comment: Madison, 2022-04-16, Polecat Road
	Photo 5 by: L. Arent Comment: Wilkes; P, 2022-04-15, Maple Springs area		Photo 6 by: John Petranka Comment: Orange, 2022-04-04, NHCBS, Hollow Rock Nature Park, Pickett Road Edges
	Photo 7 by: Kevin Metcalf Comment: Mecklenburg, 2022-03-28, Female. - Buckeye Cove Nature Preserve		Photo 8 by: Jan Hansen Comment: Madison, 2021-04-12, Along French Broad River near Hot Springs
	Photo 9 by: John Petranka Comment: Orange, 2021-04-07, Duke Forest road off of University Station Road. - Male		Photo 10 by: Matt Cook, Jemima Cook Comment: Madison, 2020-04-18, Laurel River Store, US 25/70, Laurel River
	Photo 11 by: p dixon Comment: Madison, 2020-04-11, Hot Springs area		Photo 12 by: John Petranka Comment: Durham, 2020-03-30, Duke Forest - Durham Division, Gate 10 to Gate 13 Rd. - 3 seen in flight, 2 perched and photographed (1m, 1f).
	Photo 13 by: Mark Shields, Hunter Phillips Comment: Cumberland, 2020-03-19, Carvers Creek State Park (CACR) - Sandhills Access - female. First record for county.		Photo 14 by: Mark Shields, Hunter Phillips Comment: Onslow, 2020-03-18, Stones Creek Game Land - female
	Photo 15 by: John Petranka Comment: Avery, 2019-05-21, Linville River at Linville Falls Picnic Area, Blue Ridge Parkway mile marker 316.5 - Female. Ovipositing along Linville River near bank.		Photo 16 by: John Petranka, Sally Gewalt Comment: Rockingham, 2019-04-10, Mayo River State Park (MARI) Deshazo Road section, Fall Creek Trail downstream from waterfall. - Female.
	Photo 17 by: Mark Shields, John Petranka, Sally Gewalt Comment: Jackson, 2018-06-26, Panthertown Valley, Nantahala National Forest - along Panthertown Creek. Male.		Photo 18 by: R Emmitt Comment: Caswell, 2018-04-28. Male
	Photo 19 by: A. Fairbanks Comment: New Hanover, 2014-04-02, Halyburton Park, green trail north side of cypress limesink - 2nd sighting at the park. Male		Photo 20 by: A. Fairbanks and S. Covell Comment: New Hanover, 2014-03-28, Halyburton Park, xeric sandhill scrub perched oblique 1-2 feet above ground on young Turkey Oak - Sunny, low 70s, west of grass limesink pond approximately 100 yards from perimeter of pond. Female.
	Photo 21 by: A. Fairbanks and S. Covell Comment: New Hanover, 2014-03-28, Halyburton Park, xeric sandhill scrub perched oblique 1-2 feet above ground on young Turkey Oak - Sunny, low 70s, west of grass limesink pond approximately 100 yards from perimeter of pond. Female.		Photo 22 by: A. Fairbanks and S. Covell Comment: New Hanover, 2014-03-28, Halyburton Park, xeric sandhill scrub perched oblique 1-2 feet above ground on young Turkey Oak - Sunny, low 70s, west of grass limesink pond approximately 100 yards from perimeter of pond. Female
	Photo 23 by: Dennis Burnette,Doug Johnston, Gail Lankford, Janie Owens, Vin Stanton Comment: Haywood, 2012-04-28, Found along Cold Creek, Pisgah National Forest - Female		Photo 24 by: Doug Johnston Comment: Buncombe, 2012-04-02, north Buncombe County, Leicester patch. Female
	Photo 25 by: Vin Stanton, Doug Johnston, Gail Lankford Comment: Buncombe, 2012-03-27, Cedar Hill, Sandy Mush Game Land, northern Buncombe County, Temp upper 60s, Sunny, light northerly wind - Male, seen along dirt road		Photo 26 by: Vin Stanton, Doug Johnston, Gail Lankford Comment: Buncombe, 2012-03-27, Cedar Hill, Sandy Mush Game Land, northern Buncombe County, Temp upper 60s, Sunny, light northerly wind - Male, seen along dirt road
	Photo 27 by: Paul Hart Comment: Harnett; P, 2010-04-03, Raven Rock State Park - Seen during hike with Wake Audubon group. Male.		Photo 28 by: Melissa Dowland Comment: Transylvania, 2008-05-08, Patrolling a gravel road, perching horizontally on stems. Male.