NC Odonate Website

Related Species in MACROMIIDAE:

Number of records for 2025 = 0

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Swift River Cruiser (Macromia illinoiensis) by Doug Johnston and John Petranka

Compare with: Allegheny River Cruiser Mountain River Cruiser Royal River Cruiser
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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 Swift River Cruiser

Flight Charts

Distribution

Essentially statewide, but as with nearly all such species, it is absent (or essentially so) from the extreme northeastern counties. No records east of Gates, Chowan, or Beaufort counties (except for Hyde County).

Abundance

Fairly common and widespread in most of the Piedmont and upper Coastal Plain, including the Sandhills. Uncommon to locally fairly common in the mountains and foothills, as well as the lower Coastal Plain. Certainly the most numerous river cruiser in the mountains, Piedmont, and upper Coastal Plain (though it can be outnumbered in the Coastal Plain by the Royal River Cruiser).

Flight

A fairly wide flight period, from late May to mid-October downstate, and at least from late May to mid-September in the mountains. One very late record for 14 November.

Habitat

Rivers and creeks, preferably in smaller rivers as compared with large ones.

See also Habitat Account for General Rivers and Large Streams

Behavior

Very similar to other river cruisers, it can usually be seen when adults are cruising back and forth on long patrols along dirt roads or wide trails through forests, often well away from water. Males patrol along the length of a creek or small river.

Comments

There are two subspecies found in NC and other Southeastern states. The subspecies M. i. georgina ("Georgia River Cruiser") is found across most of the Piedmont and Coastal Plain, whereas the nominate subspecies (often called "Illinois River Cruiser") is more northern and is found in the mountains. Most sightings of river cruisers in NC refer to "Georgia", as this form is not uncommonly seen in mid- and late summer along wide trails and dirt roads through forests in the Piedmont. It has more obvious dorsal yellow spots on most abdominal segments than does the nominate subspecies and the Allegheny River Cruiser (which have a large dorsal spot on abdominal segment 7 but fewer spots otherwise on the abdomen).

State Rank

State Status

Global Rank

Federal Status

Synonym

Other Name

Illinois River Cruiser, Georgia River Cruiser

Species account update: LeGrand on 2023-01-11 10:17:45

The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
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Photo Gallery for Swift River Cruiser 61 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.		Other NC Galleries: Jeff Pippen Will Cook Ted Wilcox
	Photo 1 by: P Dixon Comment: Madison, 2024-12-22, Hot Springs, French Broad, first post Helene sample		Photo 2 by: Amy Padgett Comment: Bladen, 2024-07-23, Lock & Dam #2, Elizabethtown, NC - 9:55A Flying back & forth over river
	Photo 3 by: Amy Padgett Comment: Bladen, 2024-07-15, Lock & Dam #2, Elizabethtown, NC - 9:47AM Along the shoreline		Photo 4 by: Amy Padgett Comment: Bladen, 2024-07-05, Turnbull Creek Educational State Forest - 10:16AM at edge of forest; ssp. georgina
	Photo 5 by: Mark Shields, John Petranka Comment: Chatham, 2024-06-13, White Pines Preserve - subspecies georgina		Photo 6 by: P Dixon Comment: Madison, 2024-03-14, Hot Springs area, French Broad, https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/202599456
	Photo 7 by: P Dixon Comment: Madison, 2021-07-24, Ivy River, under I-26 Bridge		Photo 8 by: Max Ramey, Aaron Reb Comment: Wilkes; P, 2021-07-17, Kerr Scott Dam/ Yadkin River (Dam to 1000 ft downstream)
	Photo 9 by: P Dixon Comment: Madison, 2021-07-05, Near the French Broad, downstream from Murray Branch, - One illinoisensis, one georgina		Photo 10 by: Max Ramey Comment: Watauga, 2021-06-15, Valle Crucis Community Park- Right downstream from property line. - Apparent first county record
	Photo 11 by: p dixon Comment: Madison, 2020-09-16, Hot Springs area - 2 males, one female, female netted and pictured		Photo 12 by: p dixon Comment: Madison, 2020-09-16, Hot Springs area - 2 males sighted, one female ovipositing, female netted and pictured, 72 mm total length.
	Photo 13 by: p dixon Comment: Madison, 2020-09-11, Hot Springs area - 3 netted, a mated pair observed, a female observed ovipositing		Photo 14 by: p dixon Comment: Madison, 2020-09-11, Hot Springs area - 3 netted, a mated pair observed, a female observed ovipositing, the pictured individual was 71 mm total length, mesotibial ratio .35
	Photo 15 by: p dixon Comment: Madison, 2020-08-31, Hot Springs area - road kill, male		Photo 16 by: p dixon Comment: Madison, 2020-08-07, Hot Springs area
	Photo 17 by: p dixon Comment: Madison, 2020-08-07, Hot Springs area		Photo 18 by: p dixon Comment: Madison, 2020-08-07, Hot Springs area
	Photo 19 by: p dixon Comment: Madison, 2020-07-31, Hot Springs area - road killed male		Photo 20 by: John Petranka Comment: Alamance, 2020-07-29, Cedarock Park patrolling Dean Coleman Road. - Male.
	Photo 21 by: p dixon Comment: Madison, 2020-07-28, Hot Springs area - patrolling on Polecat Rd		Photo 22 by: p dixon Comment: Madison, 2020-07-18, Beside the French Broad River, road killed, Hot Springs area
	Photo 23 by: B. Bockhahn, K. Kittelberger, P. Backstrom, N. Williamson Comment: Moore; C, 2020-06-08		Photo 24 by: P Dixon Comment: Madison, 2019-09-08, River Road, Sunny, 80s - Macromia illinoiensis illinoiensis
	Photo 25 by: Mark Shields Comment: Brunswick, 2019-06-21, Waccamaw River, from Pireway Boating Access Area to about 5 km upstream and back, by kayak.		Photo 26 by: P Dixon Comment: Madison, 2019-06-14, Davis Branch watershed - Macromia illinoiensis georgina
	Photo 27 by: Mark Shields Comment: Sampson, 2019-05-24, Black River, from Ivanhoe Boating Access Area to 4.5 km upstream and back, by kayak. Georgina subspecies.		Photo 28 by: Mark Shields Comment: Hoke, 2018-09-03, Lumber River, from Wagram Boating Access Area to Lumber River State Park - Chalk Banks boat ramp and back, by kayak
	Photo 29 by: Mark Shields Comment: Scotland, 2018-09-03, Lumber River, from Wagram Boating Access Area to Lumber River State Park - Chalk Banks boat ramp and back, by kayak		Photo 30 by: Vincent Weber Comment: Yancey, 2018-08-16, West of Burnsville, about 300 meters south of the Cane River and Cane River Park. - Subspecies Illinoiensis, male.