NC Odonate Website

Related Species in MACROMIIDAE:

Number of records for 2025 = 15

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e.g., flight data, high counts, and earliest/latest dates can be seen.
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Stream Cruiser (Macromia transversa) by Mark Shields

Compare with: Distinctive
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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 Stream Cruiser

Flight Charts

Distribution

Essentially statewide, but scarce in the extreme eastern coastal areas (where most dragonfly species are also scarce to absent).

Abundance

Fairly common to common, and very widespread, across the Piedmont and at least the western and southern halves of the Coastal Plain. Uncommon in the lower Coastal Plain and in the mountains (where records are increasing, perhaps simply owing to more surveys). There are very few observers in the northern half of the Coastal Plain, and the scarcity of recent records there should not be taken as a decline in that region.

Flight

Mid-March to mid-July, though primarily in the spring (i.e., mainly in April and May). There are a few records well into August and early September, but the flight is generally over in July. The flight in the mountains starts in early April.

Habitat

A wide variety of creeks and rivers (though typically smaller rivers); rarely at lakes.

Behavior

Males patrol back and forth across streams. Adults are more often seen flying and perched well away from water, along dirt roads, sunny trails, and edges. They perch obliquely on twigs and other vegetation low to the ground, as do spiketails and darners (with which they often fly).

Comments

At a casual glance it could be confused with some darners, spiketails, or river cruisers. However, it is easily separated from all but other river cruisers by its single yellow band on the side of the thorax, its yellow facial bar, and single pale yellow spots (not paired) on the top of the abdominal segments. The other river cruisers have green (or brighter green) eyes and are blacker on the abdomen (not so brown), they fly later in summer, and they seldom perch near the ground. The Stream Cruiser is reasonably unwary, often allowing close study while perched obliquely on a twig.

In 2024, the genus Didymops was moved to Macromia, and thus Stream Cruiser is now Macromia transversa.

State Rank

State Status

Global Rank

Federal Status

Synonym

Other Name

Species account update: LeGrand on 2023-01-10 14:20:27

The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
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Photo Gallery for Stream Cruiser 60 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.		Other NC Galleries: Jeff Pippen Will Cook Ted Wilcox
	Photo 1 by: Mark Shields Comment: Anson, 2025-05-01, Pee Dee River at Red Hill Boating Access		Photo 2 by: Guy McGrane Comment: Wilkes; P, 2025-04-27, Camp Harrison - Female
	Photo 3 by: John Petranka Comment: Chatham, 2025-04-04, White Pines Nature Preserve. Found along the White Pines and River Trails. - Female		Photo 4 by: Amy Padgett Comment: Bladen, 2025-03-29, Turnbull Creek at Braxton Edge Road, Ammon - Flying circuits around stream
	Photo 5 by: Matt Spangler Comment: Alamance, 2025-03-29, Haw River--Saxapahaw lake - freshly emerged teneral, next to exuvia		Photo 6 by: John Petranka Comment: Chatham, 2024-04-15, White Pines Natural Area - Mating pair
	Photo 7 by: Owen McConnell Comment: Durham, 2024-04-06, Near pond on south side of Brickhouse Rd. - Near Duck Blind for handicapped veterans		Photo 8 by: Amy Padgett Comment: Bladen, 2024-04-05, Turnbull Creek Educational State Forest - Edge of the creek path
	Photo 9 by: Kevin Metcalf Comment: Mecklenburg, 2024-03-21, Piedmont Pines Nature Preserve - one male, one female		Photo 10 by: K. Metcalf Comment: Mecklenburg, 2024-03-21, Piedmont Pines Nature Preserve - 1 male, 1 female observed
	Photo 11 by: P Dixon Comment: Madison, 2024-02-18, Hot Springs, in the French Broad in sand by tree roots		Photo 12 by: Matt Spangler Comment: Macon, 2023-05-13, Highlands--Ravenel Lake
	Photo 13 by: John Gerwin Comment: Randolph, 2023-05-12, Lassiter Mill; caught in bird mist nets		Photo 14 by: John Petranka Comment: Orange, 2023-04-02, Hollow Rock Nature Park, West of Pickett Road, New Hope Creek Floodplain, Orange County, NHCBP - Female
	Photo 15 by: Tom Howe Comment: Swain, 2022-06-06, among vegetation at edge of wetland - female		Photo 16 by: P Dixon Comment: Madison, 2022-04-17, Polecat Road
	Photo 17 by: Hubert Szczygiel Comment: Clay, 2021-04-21, Chatuge Lake, Lat: 35.004712 Lon: -83.777509 . - Female.		Photo 18 by: p dixon Comment: Madison, 2021-04-20, Hot Springs area
	Photo 19 by: Jan Hansen Comment: Chatham, 2021-04-07, White Pines Preserve - 2 over the Rocky River and another in the power line cut near the parking area		Photo 20 by: p dixon Comment: Madison, 2020-05-10, Hot Springs area, River Road, sunny, 60s
	Photo 21 by: Kevin Metcalf Comment: Mecklenburg, 2020-04-21, - Latta Nature Preserve, in powerline ROW		Photo 22 by: Chuck Smith Comment: Rowan, 2020-04-07, Eagle Point Nature Preserve. - 1 male and 1 female.
	Photo 23 by: Jan Hansen Comment: Orange, 2020-04-03, Brumley Forest North-Silo Pond		Photo 24 by: John Petranka Comment: Burke; M, 2019-05-21, Linville River at Linville Falls Campground, Blue Ridge Parkway. - Male.
	Photo 25 by: Chuck Smith Comment: Jackson, 2019-05-14, Panthertown Valley, along Mac's Gap Trail ca. 50 meters southeast of its junction with Granny Burrell Falls Trail. - Female.		Photo 26 by: Mark Shields, Hunter Phillips Comment: Montgomery, 2019-04-22, Uwharrie River downstream from mouth of Moccasin Creek
	Photo 27 by: John Petranka, Mark Shields Comment: Orange, 2019-04-18, Eno River State Park (ENRI) Cole Mill Section. Along powerline corridor SW of Old Cole Mill Rd. - Both sexes including one mating pair.		Photo 28 by: Mark Shields, Hunter Phillips Comment: Wayne, 2019-04-15, Cliffs of the Neuse State Park (CLNE) - female
	Photo 29 by: Mark Shields Comment: Chatham, 2018-05-05, White Pines Nature Preserve - males foraging over trail along Rocky River		Photo 30 by: Mark Shields Comment: Onslow, 2018-04-13, Stones Creek Game Land