NC Odonate Website

Related Species in CORDULIIDAE:

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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Common Baskettail (Epitheca cynosura) by Mark Shields

Compare with: Slender Baskettail Mantled Baskettail Robust Baskettail
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 Common Baskettail

Flight Charts

Distribution

Statewide; occurs in every NC county, including those along the immediate coast.

Abundance

Common to occasionally abundant across the state. Often the most numerous species seen on an outing in the spring season. Dozens can sometimes be seen in a day.

Flight

Spring/early summer season only; mid-March to late June or early July downstate, and to early August in the mountains (where the flight begins in late March). It is infrequent downstate after the end of May.

Habitat

Mainly at still or slow-moving water of ponds, lakes, and pools; less so at slow creeks and rivers.

See also Habitat Account for General Pond Shorelines

Behavior

Males are often seen flying low over pools and ponds, and at times over smaller creeks, perching quite frequently along the margins. Away from water, adults range widely to woodland margins, sunny roads and trails, and so forth, where they perch unwarily on twigs or other low vegetation and thus can be studied closely.

Comments

Identification of most baskettails (except Prince) can be tricky, as some Mantleds, most Slender, and especially Robust baskettails closely resemble the Common Baskettail. In fact, there is probably no single field mark that might identify a dragonfly as a Common; a suite of marks, such as abdomen shape, abdomen width, and wing coloration must be used. Nonetheless, observers will quickly tire of seeing this species in spring, in hopes of finding less numerous baskettails, darners, and skimmers.

State Rank

State Status

Global Rank

Federal Status

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Species account update: LeGrand on 2023-01-11 12:50:57

The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
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Photo Gallery for Common Baskettail 48 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.		Other NC Galleries: Jeff Pippen Will Cook Ted Wilcox
	Photo 1 by: Al Hooks Comment: Johnston; C, 2025-04-05, Bottomlands near Neuse River 2 miles N of Smithfield		Photo 2 by: Amy Padgett Comment: Bladen, 2025-03-20, 2 miles SE of Clarkton - In sunny clearings in the woods
	Photo 3 by: John Petranka Comment: Orange, 2022-04-15, NHCBS, Hollow Rock Nature Park, West of Pickett Road, New Hope Creek		Photo 4 by: John Petranka Comment: Orange, 2022-04-02, NHCBS, Hollow Rock Nature Park, West of Pickett Road, Meadow
	Photo 5 by: Lynn Swafford Comment: Transylvania, 2021-06-12, Dupont State Forest near Hooker Falls		Photo 6 by: John Petranka, Jim Petranka, Becky Elkin Comment: Yancey, 2021-05-24, Along Cane River south of Burnsville.
	Photo 7 by: Max Ramey Comment: Watauga, 2021-05-09, My house (Valle Cay)		Photo 8 by: Dick Thomas Comment: Guilford, 2021-04-15, Piedmont Environmental Center, High Point - flying in back of visitors center
	Photo 9 by: p dixon Comment: Madison, 2020-04-14, Hot Springs area		Photo 10 by: p dixon Comment: Madison, 2020-04-09, Hot Springs area, sunny, 70s, late afternoon
	Photo 11 by: Jan Hansen Comment: Orange, 2020-04-02, Brumley Forest North-Silo Pond		Photo 12 by: Mark Swanson Comment: Avery, 2019-06-01, - Male photographed near Land Harbors Lake.
	Photo 13 by: Mark Shields, Hunter Phillips Comment: Mitchell, 2019-05-16, Living Waters Campground, Glen Ayre. - males patrolling edge of large pond. First record for county.		Photo 14 by: Mark Shields, John Petranka, Hunter Phillips, and party Comment: Jackson, 2019-05-14, Panthertown Valley, Nantahala National Forest
	Photo 15 by: Mark Shields, Hunter Phillips Comment: Bladen, 2019-04-16, South River at Sloan's Bridge Boating Access Area		Photo 16 by: Mark Shields, Hunter Phillips Comment: Wayne, 2019-04-15, Cliffs of the Neuse State Park (CLNE)
	Photo 17 by: Mark Shields and Hunter Phillips Comment: Rockingham, 2018-05-13, Mayo River State Park (MARI) - Mayo Mountain Access - around ponds near park office		Photo 18 by: Mark Shields Comment: Chatham, 2018-05-05, White Pines Nature Preserve - males patrolling along edge of Rocky River
	Photo 19 by: Mark Shields Comment: Lenoir, 2018-05-01, Neuseway Nature Park, Kinston		Photo 20 by: Mike Turner Comment: Montgomery, 2018-04-29, Uwharrie River @ Low Water Bridge - adult female with eggs
	Photo 21 by: Mark Shields Comment: Dare; Mainland, 2018-04-28, Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge - canal at end of Buffalo City Road		Photo 22 by: Mark Shields Comment: Tyrrell, 2018-04-28, Scuppernong River Interpretive Boardwalk, Columbia
	Photo 23 by: Mark Shields Comment: Northampton, 2018-04-14, Northampton Nature Trail, Jackson		Photo 24 by: Mark Shields, Hunter Phillips, and Cathy Songer Comment: Robeson, 2018-04-06, Lumber River State Park (LURI) Princess Ann Access
	Photo 25 by: Mark Shields and Hunter Phillips Comment: Hoke, 2018-04-05, Wagram Boating Access Area, Lumber River - female		Photo 26 by: Mark Shields and Hunter Phillips Comment: Scotland, 2018-04-05, Lumber River State Park (LURI) Chalk Banks
	Photo 27 by: Mark Shields and Hunter Phillips Comment: Moore; C, 2018-04-05, Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve (WEWO)		Photo 28 by: Mark Shields and Hunter Phillips Comment: Brunswick, 2018-04-02, Boiling Spring Lakes Preserve Nature Trail
	Photo 29 by: Mark Shields and Hunter Phillips Comment: Columbus, 2018-04-02, Lake Waccamaw State Park (LAWA)		Photo 30 by: Will Stuart Comment: Anson, 2018-04-01, Along GTR Road, Pee Dee NWR - Nicely marked