NC Odonate Website

Related Species in CORDULIIDAE:		Number of records for 2024 = 27
Added in 2024-00-00 from a previous year = 1 (2018-06-30)

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e.g., flight data, high counts, and earliest/latest dates can be seen.
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Prince Baskettail (Epitheca princeps) by Mark Shields

Compare with: Distinctive
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 to both sexes. Male depicted here.

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Map

Click on county for list of all its records for Prince Baskettail

Flight Charts

Distribution

Statewide; presumably occurs in all 100 counties. A few coastal counties lack a record, and probably absent on the Outer Banks.

Abundance

Fairly common to common essentially statewide. Rare toward the coast, and likely absent on the Outer Banks. Does not occur in swarms like a few other baskettails (Common and Mantled), though there are several counts of 50 individuals in a day near the coast.

Flight

A long flight period compared with other baskettails, and the only baskettail species that extends through the summer into early autumn. In the Coastal Plain, the flight occurs from late April to late September; in the Piedmont, from early May to mid-October (though scarce after August); and in the mountains, from late May to mid-September.

Habitat

Slow-moving waters of lakes and ponds, or still rivers. Usually in open, sunny places.

Behavior

Males are often seen making long back-and-forth flights along canals, pond and lake shores, etc., in sunny areas well away from forests. The flight is often higher than for most other dragonflies, as an observer often sees them at or above head height. Unlike the other baskettails, this species only infrequently perches.

Comments

It is surprising that this species is included with the other four NC baskettails in the same genus (Epitheca), as the Prince Baskettail looks and behaves more like a species of darner or skimmer than a typical baskettail. The wings are boldly blotched in black, and the adults glide and fly in a choppy manner, with wings often held above the horizontal, for long periods of time. As they only infrequently perch, one normally makes the identification (easily) in flight.

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Species account update: LeGrand on 2023-01-11 12:54:00

The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
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Photo Gallery for Prince Baskettail 38 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.		Other NC Galleries: Jeff Pippen Will Cook Ted Wilcox
	Photo 1 by: Kevin Metcalf Comment: Mecklenburg, 2022-06-28, - Latta Nature Preserve, Huntersville		Photo 2 by: Max Ramey Comment: Watauga, 2021-05-06, Lake Dexter (Valle Cay)
	Photo 3 by: p dixon Comment: Madison, 2020-07-11, Hot Springs area		Photo 4 by: P Dixon Comment: Madison, 2019-06-08, River Road, Hot Springs
	Photo 5 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 6 by: Mike Turner Comment: Avery, 2018-07-29, Mill pond on the Elk River; Banner Elk
	Photo 7 by: Mark Shields Comment: Anson, 2018-07-06, Pee Dee River; 2 km stretch upstream from Diggs Tract Access, by kayak		Photo 8 by: Mark Shields Comment: Richmond; C, 2018-07-06, Pee Dee River; 2 km stretch upstream from Diggs Tract Access, by kayak
	Photo 9 by: Mark Shields Comment: Jackson, 2018-06-25, Lake Glenville at Powerhouse Access Area - First record for county.		Photo 10 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 11 by: Mark Shields Comment: Chowan, 2018-06-09, Edenton National Fish Hatchery		Photo 12 by: Mark Shields Comment: Currituck, 2018-06-09, pond at Currituck Community Park near Maple. First record for county.
	Photo 13 by: Mark Shields Comment: New Hanover, 2018-06-01, Airlie Gardens, Wilmington		Photo 14 by: Mark Shields Comment: Edgecombe, 2018-05-25, Etheridge Pond, Tar River Game Land
	Photo 15 by: Mark Shields Comment: Harnett; C, 2017-07-21, Cape Fear River, Erwin. From NC 217 bridge to 2 km upstream, by kayak.		Photo 16 by: Mark Shields Comment: Washington, 2017-06-16, Conaby Creek, from boating access area to 2.25 km upstream by kayak
	Photo 17 by: Mark Shields Comment: Rutherford; P, 2017-06-02, Morse Park, Lake Lure		Photo 18 by: Mark Shields Comment: Polk; P, 2017-06-02, Lake Adger at Marina and Public Boat Launch
	Photo 19 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 20 by: Conrad Wernett Comment: Onslow, 2017-05-27, - Cowhorn Creek Landing. One female perched near where we were and one male patrolling
	Photo 21 by: Mark Shields Comment: Bladen, 2017-05-26, South River at Sloan's Bridge Boating Access Area		Photo 22 by: Mark Shields Comment: Columbus, 2016-07-22, Lake Waccamaw, southern end between dam and pier
	Photo 23 by: Mark Shields Comment: Martin, 2016-06-19, Roanoke River at Astoria Landing Public Fishing Access, Jamesville		Photo 24 by: Mark Shields Comment: Jones, 2016-06-04, White Oak River between Quarry lakes and Dixon Field Landing
	Photo 25 by: Mark Shields Comment: Pender, 2015-08-09, Black River by kayak, between NC 53/11 bridge and Hunts Bluff Wildlife ramp		Photo 26 by: Mark Shields Comment: Robeson, 2015-08-01, Lumber River State Park, Princess Ann Access
	Photo 27 by: George Andrews Comment: Union, 2014-06-29, Cane Creek Park lake		Photo 28 by: Conrad Wernett Comment: Onslow, 2014-06-15, - Several specimens seen flying, on dead specimen found intact in the grill of my car.
	Photo 29 by: Doug Johnston, Vin Stanton Comment: Graham, 2013-07-16, Lake Santeetlah north of Robbinsville - Male		Photo 30 by: Vin Stanton, Doug Johnston, Gail Lankford, Janie Owen Comment: Madison, 2012-06-15, North of Hot Springs on River Road-French Broad River - Male