NC Odonate Website

Related Species in CORDULIIDAE:

Number of records for 2025 = 8

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Mantled Baskettail (Epitheca semiaquea) by Mark Shields

Compare with: Slender Baskettail Common Baskettail Robust Baskettail
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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 Mantled Baskettail

Flight Charts

Distribution

Essentially only the Coastal Plain in NC, though it barely extends above the Fall Line from Wake and Chatham counties southward. Ranges inland only to Wake, Chatham, Moore, and Richmond counties.

Abundance

Fairly common to locally common in the Sandhills and the adjacent southern Coastal Plain; less common farther eastward and northeastward (e.g., no record yet for Brunswick County), but still at least fairly common locally, though probably rare in the extreme northeastern Coastal Plain. Rare in the narrow Piedmont part of the range. Can occur in swarms, with over 20 individuals seen in a day in some sites; a remarkable estimate of 200 individuals was made on the mainland portion of Dare County in 2018.

Flight

Spring season only; late March to mid-May, rarely to early June. The few Piedmont records end in late April, though it certainly flies there for a few more weeks. By far most numerous in April than at other times.

Habitat

Lakes, ponds, and pools. Seems to be more numerous where these waters are acidic, such as in pocosin habitats to include Carolina bay lakes and ponds.

Behavior

Males are less often seen in patrols over water than are Common Baskettails. Adults are typically seen, along with many Common Baskettails, flying along dirt roads and other clearings, frequently stopping to perch obliquely on twigs and other vegetation close to the ground.

Comments

The amount of dark brown or black on the hindwings is somewhat variable, and many Common Baskettails also show some dark pigment on the hindwings. However, Mantleds are the smallest baskettails and can often be identified by their small size while seen on the wing.

State Rank

State Status

Global Rank

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Species account update: LeGrand on 2023-01-11 12:56:52

The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
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Photo Gallery for Mantled Baskettail 22 photos are shown.		Other NC Galleries: Jeff Pippen Will Cook Ted Wilcox
	Photo 1 by: Matt Spangler Comment: Dare; Mainland, 2025-04-04, Alligator River NWR ARNWR--Milltail Rd		Photo 2 by: Amy Padgett Comment: Bladen, 2025-03-22, 2 miles SE of Clarkton - In sunny clearings in the woods
	Photo 3 by: Amy Padgett Comment: Bladen, 2024-04-09, Slades Swamp: mixed hardwoods 2 miles SW of Clarkton		Photo 4 by: K. Metcalf Comment: Moore; C, 2024-03-24, Weymouth Woods
	Photo 5 by: Max Ramey Comment: Moore; C, 2023-03-25, Weymouth Woods		Photo 6 by: Matt Spangler Comment: Richmond; C, 2021-04-12, Sandhills GL Block A (Lake Bagget and nearby ponds and roads)
	Photo 7 by: Mark Shields Comment: Onslow, 2021-03-28, my property, Holly Ridge		Photo 8 by: Jan Hansen Comment: Moore; C, 2021-03-22, Sandhills CC
	Photo 9 by: Joshua Liverman Comment: Currituck, 2020-03-29, Pine Island near the Audubon Trail. iNaturalist Record # 41044912 - Male		Photo 10 by: Mark Shields, Hunter Phillips Comment: Cumberland, 2020-03-19, Carvers Creek State Park (CACR) - Sandhills Access
	Photo 11 by: Aaron Edmonds Comment: Harnett; C, 2019-04-16, Marshbanks Property -Campbell University		Photo 12 by: Mark Shields Comment: Dare; Mainland, 2018-04-28, Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge - common over roads and canals throughout refuge
	Photo 13 by: Mark Shields Comment: Onslow, 2018-04-13, Stones Creek Game Land		Photo 14 by: Mark Shields and Hunter Phillips Comment: Hoke, 2018-04-05, Wagram Boating Access Area, Lumber River
	Photo 15 by: Mark Shields and Hunter Phillips Comment: Moore; C, 2018-04-05, Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve (WEWO)		Photo 16 by: John Petranka Comment: Richmond; C, 2018-04-04, McKinney Lake Fish Hatchery around the dam. - Both sexes. Male netted, photographed and released.
	Photo 17 by: Roger Shaw Comment: Richmond; C, 2017-04-15, McKinney Fish Hatchery		Photo 18 by: Curtis Smalling Comment: Robeson, 2017-04-12, at WRC put-in on river; 34.591680, -78.983892 - very quick flyer and small
	Photo 19 by: Mark Shields Comment: Pender, 2017-04-02, Holly Shelter Game Land; photo of female		Photo 20 by: John Petranka Comment: Bladen, 2016-04-26, Jones Lake State Park; Jones Lake shoreline around the swimming area. Males.
	Photo 21 by: Conrad Wernett, Alyssa Wernett, Matt Anderson Comment: Scotland, 2015-05-03, - Many seen flying in open grasslands and around water		Photo 22 by: Conrad Wernett Comment: Scotland, 2014-04-26, - Located at every stop