NC Odonate Website

Related Species in AESHNIDAE:

Number of records for 2024 = 8

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e.g., flight data, high counts, and earliest/latest dates can be seen.
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Cyrano Darner (Nasiaeschna pentacantha) by John Petranka

Compare with: Swamp Darner Regal 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 Cyrano Darner

Flight Charts

Distribution

Essentially the eastern two-thirds of the state only. Throughout the Coastal Plain, and the eastern 60% of the Piedmont, west to Rockingham, Forsyth, Iredell, and Gaston counties; range extended nearly to the base of the Blue Ridge Escarpment with a sight record from Wilkes County in 2019.

Abundance

Uncommon to fairly common (but never in swarms) in the Coastal Plain, generally uncommon in the eastern Piedmont, but rare in the central/western Piedmont. Can be fairly numerous in the lower Coastal Plain, where there was a one-day count of 14 individuals in 2019, made from a kayak along the Camden-Currituck county line.

Flight

Mainly in late spring and summer. In the Coastal Plain, the flight occurs from mid-April to mid-September, rarely to late September. The Piedmont flight occurs from late April to mid-August. The peak tends to occur in the latter half of June, and into July.

Habitat

Mostly standing water in forested areas, such as swampy pools or openings in swamps; forested ponds; canals. They favor blackwater, as opposed to brownwater, bodies of water.

See also Habitat Account for General Wet-Hydric Forests

Behavior

Males have a distinctive flight behavior. They fly monotonous routes back and forth, often about 3-4 feet off the water, over canals and pools/ponds. Adults are only infrequently seen away from such pools and ponds; normally, one must look for the species over water.

Comments

It can be frustrating to find one perched. However, the species can be identified in flight, through binoculars, and the "nose" can be seen under such circumstances. As the species is quite territorial, normally an observer will only see a single Cyrano Darner at a given body of water, and thus it is difficult to see more than a few of them in a given day.

State Rank

S4S5

State Status

Global Rank

Federal Status

Synonym

Other Name

Species account update: LeGrand on 2023-01-09 15:06:11

The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
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Photo Gallery for Cyrano Darner 34 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: Chatham, 2024-05-22, Jordan Lake Educational State Forest - classic patrol		Photo 2 by: Amy Padgett Comment: Bladen, 2024-04-14, Ephemeral pond in cutover, 2 miles SE of Clarkton, NC - 12:09PM Patrolling a shallow pond
	Photo 3 by: Kevin Metcalf Comment: Mecklenburg, 2022-07-07, Rural Hill Nature Preserve, along McDowell Creek, Huntersville		Photo 4 by: Max Ramey Comment: Dare; Mainland, 2022-05-27, Buffalo City Road - Alligator NWR
	Photo 5 by: John Petranka Comment: Alamance, 2020-07-29, Cedarock Park along Rock Creek. - Male.		Photo 6 by: Scott Bolick Comment: Guilford, 2020-06-02, Deep River Trail north of East Fork Rd. near power line cut. iNaturalist Record 48282176 - Male.
	Photo 7 by: Mark Shields Comment: Camden, 2019-06-24, Indiantown Creek, from S. Indiantown Rd. bridge to confluence with North River and back, by kayak. - males patrolling along edge of creek		Photo 8 by: Mark Shields Comment: Currituck, 2019-06-24, Indiantown Creek, from S. Indiantown Rd. bridge to confluence with North River and back, by kayak. - males patrolling along edge of creek
	Photo 9 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 10 by: Mike Turner Comment: Craven, 2018-09-02, West Prong Brice Creek - dead, floating in the creek
	Photo 11 by: John Petranka and party. Comment: Davidson, 2018-07-14, Lexington. Pond at Finch Park and along Abbotts Creek where noted. - Males. One of them at Abbotts Creek.		Photo 12 by: Robert Gilson Comment: Mecklenburg, 2018-07-12, Reedy Creek Nature Preserve - Albert Stevens collected
	Photo 13 by: Mike Turner Comment: Forsyth, 2018-07-08, Winston Lake		Photo 14 by: Mark Shields, Hunter Phillips Comment: Dare; OBU, 2018-06-29, Nags Head Woods Preserve - males patrolling over small, swampy ponds
	Photo 15 by: Mark Shields Comment: Craven, 2018-06-16, Swift Creek; 7 km section between Cool Springs Boating Access Area and NC 43 bridge, by kayak		Photo 16 by: Mark Shields Comment: Chowan, 2018-06-09, Edenton National Fish Hatchery - seen from boardwalk along Pembroke Creek. First record for county.
	Photo 17 by: Mark Shields Comment: New Hanover, 2018-06-01, Airlie Gardens, Wilmington		Photo 18 by: Mark Shields and Hunter Phillips Comment: Tyrrell, 2017-08-04, Scuppernong River Interpretive Boardwalk, Columbia
	Photo 19 by: Mark Shields Comment: Washington, 2017-06-16, Conaby Creek, from boating access area to 2.25 km upstream by kayak		Photo 20 by: Conrad Wernett, Alyssa Wernett Comment: Columbus, 2017-06-04, - Males patrolling below spillway from Lake Waccamaw.
	Photo 21 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 22 by: Mark Shields Comment: Robeson, 2017-05-17, Lumber River; Lumber River State Park - Princess Ann Access to Fair Bluff Boating Access Area by kayak
	Photo 23 by: Mark Shields Comment: Columbus, 2017-04-12, Waccamaw River from Pireway Boating Access Area to 6 km upstream		Photo 24 by: Mark Shields Comment: Onslow, 2016-07-23, Southwest Creek, from boat ramp off Verona Loop Rd. upstream to Highway 17 bridge
	Photo 25 by: Mark Shields Comment: Jones, 2016-06-04, White Oak River between Quarry lakes and Dixon Field Landing		Photo 26 by: Mark Shields Comment: Brunswick, 2015-09-05, Waccamaw River - male patrolling in cove 0.25 km upstream of NC 904 bridge
	Photo 27 by: Mark Shields Comment: Sampson, 2015-08-23, Black River by kayak from Ivanhoe Boating Access to 0.5 km upstream of Dr Kerr Rd bridge		Photo 28 by: Mark Shields Comment: Bladen, 2015-08-09, Black River by kayak, between NC 53/11 bridge and Hunts Bluff Wildlife ramp
	Photo 29 by: John Petranka Comment: Chatham, 2015-05-29, Rocky River at Triangle Land Conservancy preserve		Photo 30 by: John Petranka Comment: Durham, 2014-07-20, Sandy Creek Park, and Greenway north to Pickett Rd.. - Male. Short, repetitive patrol flights over Sandy Creek near south end of greenway. Clear flight photos.