NC Odonate Website

Related Species in CORDULEGASTRIDAE:

Number of records for 2025 = 0

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Arrowhead Spiketail (Zoraena obliqua) by Floyd Williams, Signa Williams

Compare with: Twin-spotted Spiketail Tiger Spiketail Brown Spiketail
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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 Arrowhead Spiketail

Flight Charts

Distribution

Though reference books show the range of the species to occur statewide (and across most of the Eastern US), NC records fall only in the Piedmont, and a few widely scattered areas in the Coastal Plain. Ranges west to Surry, Catawba, and Mecklenburg counties in the Piedmont; and it ranges east to Gates and Onslow counties in the Coastal Plain, but most records fall in the northeastern portion of the Piedmont (which could be a bias in observer coverage).

Abundance

Uncommon in the eastern third of the Piedmont, rare in the central Piedmont, and very rare in the narrow Coastal Plain portion of the range. Possibly just a stray to the eastern Coastal Plain; this is an easily identified and quite large species, so it is not being overlooked in the Coastal Plain.

Flight

The flight occurs during the two months from late April to late June (and sparingly to mid-July), with the peak in the latter half of May.

Habitat

Very small streams and seeps, in wooded/shaded habitats.

Behavior

As with all spiketails, adults often forage long distances from their forested streams. The species is most often seen along wooded trails or roads, or in powerline clearings, perching low to the ground on a twig. However, unlike other spiketails, it has a habit of flying off high, often over trees, once disturbed.

Comments

This, the largest of our four spiketails in NC, is always a thrill to see. Its dorsal yellow abdominal markings (not paired as in other spiketails) indeed look like arrowheads, rendering it easy to identify. Fortunately, it is not overly scarce in the eastern Piedmont; an active observer there has a reasonable chance to encounter it each year. Conrad Wernett photographed one far to the east of the previously known range in Onslow County, in July 2017. Not only was this far east of the previously known range, but the mid-July date is the latest date known for the species! It is too soon to say if the regular range of this species extends this far to the east, as nearly all records are for the Piedmont and the far western Coastal Plain.

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

State Rank

State Status

Global Rank

Federal Status

Synonym

Cordulegaster obliqua

Other Name

Species account update: LeGrand on 2024-09-29 13:02:26

The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
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Photo Gallery for Arrowhead Spiketail 19 photos are shown.		Other NC Galleries: Jeff Pippen Will Cook Ted Wilcox
	Photo 1 by: Lucas Wilson Comment: Richmond; C, 2024-06-04, - Sandhills Gameland Block A, drainage near Ledbetter Rd west of the Field House - male. First Richmond County record.		Photo 2 by: Paul Hart, Sarah Stevens Comment: Alamance, 2024-05-25, Snow Camp
	Photo 3 by: John Petranka Comment: Orange, 2024-05-17, Johnston Mill Preserve. Feeding in powerline clearing. - Male		Photo 4 by: Jedda Levy Comment: Durham, 2022-06-28, Leigh Farm Park, 35.9225414, -78.9824771, iNaturalist record # 124575212 - Ovipositing female
	Photo 5 by: Meg Henschel Comment: Alamance, 2022-05-24, At residence adjoining Rock Creek, Conners Court, Burlington. iNaturalist record # 80152240 - Male		Photo 6 by: John Gerwin Comment: Randolph, 2021-06-12, iNaturalist Record 251852702
	Photo 7 by: Casey Wofford Comment: Jones, 2021-06-09, Croatan Forest near Haywood Landing. iNaturalist record 142414948 - Female		Photo 8 by: Harry LeGrand, Lori Arent Comment: Granville, 2021-05-20, Butner powerline clearing; photo by Lori Arent
	Photo 9 by: John Petranka Comment: Orange, 2020-06-01, Power line cut in Duke Forest off of NC 751. - Female.		Photo 10 by: John Petranka Comment: Orange, 2020-06-01, Power line cut in Duke Forest off of NC 751. - Female.
	Photo 11 by: Aaron Edmonds Comment: Harnett; C, 2019-06-17, Flat Branch - Found on the vegetation on the margins of a small pond.		Photo 12 by: Claire Dayton Comment: Catawba, 2018-06-08, Riverbend County Park. Near the Catawba River around trail intersection 8. - Male.
	Photo 13 by: F. Williams, S. Williams Comment: Gates, 2018-05-26, Merchants Millpond State Park		Photo 14 by: Conrad Wernett Comment: Onslow, 2017-07-20 - Old female found in front yard!
	Photo 15 by: Steve Hall Comment: Montgomery, 2010-05-21, Black Ankle Bog		Photo 16 by: Scott Hartley Comment: Cumberland, 2007-07-05, Carvers Creek State Park
	Photo 17 by: Signa Williams Comment: Gates, 2005-05-28, Merchants Millpond State Park - Creek bottom northeast of picnic area.		Photo 18 by: Randy Emmitt Comment: Durham, 2002-05-23, Cole Mill, Eno River State Park, male
	Photo 19 by: Randy Emmitt Comment: Orange, 2001-05-15, Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area, male