NC Odonate Website

Related Species in AESHNIDAE:

Number of records for 2024 = 30

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e.g., flight data, high counts, and earliest/latest dates can be seen.
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Swamp Darner (Epiaeschna heros) by Mark Shields

Compare with: Regal Darner Cyrano Darner Phantom Darner
Identification Tips: Move the cursor over the image, or tap the image if using a mobile device, to reveal ID Tips.
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 Swamp Darner

Flight Charts

Distribution

Statewide, and certainly occurs in all 100 counties of NC, though no record yet for one of them.

Abundance

Common to often very common in the Coastal Plain, and fairly common to common in the Piedmont; rare to uncommon in the mountains.

Flight

The flight is from the end of March or early April into early November in the Coastal Plain. In the Piedmont the flight also begins around late March or early April, and likely ends around mid-October, but oddly we have no records after September! The mountain flight occurs from early or mid-April to mid-October.

Habitat

Swamps, bottomlands, rivers, and large streams; not numerous around forested lakes or ponds.

See also Habitat Account for General Wet-Hydric Forests

Behavior

Often seen cruising along forested roads and other clearings near woodlands and swamps, such as along roads through bottomlands and swamps. Flight is often head-height to treetop level. Frequently perches, usually at head-height or above, hanging downward from a twig.

Comments

If a large dragonfly is seen flying over a road through a forested wetland, it is most likely this species. Several can often be seen in the same general area, though it normally doesn't form swarms. It can often be the most commonly seen species on a summer or early fall day, especially in the Coastal Plain, if you are walking along a forest road or wide trail through a swamp or bottomland.

State Rank

State Status

Global Rank

Federal Status

Synonym

Other Name

Species account update: LeGrand on 2023-01-09 14:15:19

The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
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Photo Gallery for Swamp Darner 51 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.		Other NC Galleries: Jeff Pippen Will Cook Ted Wilcox
	Photo 1 by: Amy Padgett Comment: Bladen, 2024-07-13, 2 miles SE of Clarkton, along a dirt road - 1:55PM one was a female ovipositing		Photo 2 by: Amy Padgett Comment: Bladen, 2024-04-20, Tory Hole Park Boat Ramp, Elizabethtown, NC - 2:55PM Flying along river band
	Photo 3 by: Mark Shields, Brian Bockhahn, et al. Comment: Gates, 2023-04-17, Merchants Millpond State Park		Photo 4 by: L. Arent Comment: Harnett; P, 2023-04-15, Raven Rock State Park - Many patrolling River Rd.
	Photo 5 by: P Dixon Comment: Haywood, 2022-07-08, Davis Branch, Hot Springs area, ovipositing into mud through leaf litter in a dry season pond.		Photo 6 by: Charles H Williams, Laura Williams Comment: Guilford, 2022-06-24, 3:27 PM at creek near wooded trail 36.128383, -79.834889
	Photo 7 by: John Petranka Comment: Orange, 2022-05-10, NHCBS, Hollow Rock Nature Park, West of Pickett Road, Meadow		Photo 8 by: Matt Spangler Comment: Chatham, 2021-07-24, The Glades - F (attemping?) ovipositing on shady bricks and rocks
	Photo 9 by: Dick Thomas Comment: Guilford, 2021-05-25, High Point Lindale Farm - perched over small shallow retention pond		Photo 10 by: p dixon Comment: Madison, 2020-05-03, French Broad River, Hot Springs area - Many flying along the railroad tracks beside the river
	Photo 11 by: C. Blackwell Comment: Yancey, 2020-04-11, Mount Mitchell State Park - specimen had already expired, but was still intact @ -82.265435, 35.765679		Photo 12 by: Audrey Kelly Comment: Orange, 2020-04-10, Chapel Hill
	Photo 13 by: Jan Hansen Comment: Orange, 2020-03-28, Mason Farm Biological Preserve - Chapel Hill		Photo 14 by: Owen and Pat McConnell Comment: Graham, 2019-08-10, Found dead by Robin Mason at her house at 4989 West Buffalo Rd. Her cat might have killed it. Robin brought it to me, and I photographed it. - Dead when photographed
	Photo 15 by: Pete Dixon Comment: Madison, 2019-05-19, 9:30am-5pm, sunny and hot, River Road, meadows around Murray Branch		Photo 16 by: Karsh Agbayani Comment: Johnston, 2019-05-08, Found caught in a cobweb but still alive and later released
	Photo 17 by: Karsh Agbayani Comment: Johnston, 2019-05-08, Found caught in a cobweb but still alive and later released		Photo 18 by: Karsh Agbayani Comment: Johnston, 2019-05-08, Found caught in a cobweb but still alive and later released
	Photo 19 by: Aaron Edmonds Comment: Harnett; C, 2019-05-06, Flat Branch- Many individuals spotted along with a Black Saddlebags		Photo 20 by: Doug Allen Comment: Polk; P, 2019-04-16, FENCE - First record for county
	Photo 21 by: Mark Shields, Hunter Phillips Comment: Wayne, 2019-04-15, Cliffs of the Neuse State Park (CLNE)		Photo 22 by: Owen McConnell and Simpson Eason Comment: Durham, 2018-06-23, Beaver Marsh Preserve on Ellerbe Creek - female ovipositing in mud
	Photo 23 by: M. Turner, J. Daigle, T. Schoch, S. Daniel, K. Larsen Comment: Harnett; P, 2018-05-10, Cape Fear River Trail, Erwin		Photo 24 by: Mark Shields Comment: Onslow, 2018-04-13, Stones Creek Game Land
	Photo 25 by: John Petranka Comment: Davidson, 2017-06-03, Boone's Cave Park. Near the picnic shelter. - Female.		Photo 26 by: John Petranka Comment: Caswell, 2017-05-29, Caswell Game Lands. Along Country Line Creek at Caswell Impoundment off of High Rock School Road.
	Photo 27 by: Conrad Wernett, Alyssa Wernett Comment: Columbus, 2017-05-28, - Lake Waccamaw. Seen on main lake and all adjoining creeks/rivers.		Photo 28 by: Mark Shields Comment: Duplin, 2017-05-27, Northeast Cape Fear River between Chinquapin Boat Access and Wayne's Landing Boat Access, by kayak
	Photo 29 by: Conrad Wernett Comment: Columbus, 2017-05-20, - Lake Waccamaw State Park. Small feeding swarm near first dock along lake trail.		Photo 30 by: Conrad Wernett Comment: Bladen, 2017-05-20, - Several seen perched away from water, later several seen with Mike Turner at the lake itself.