The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
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North Carolina's 189 Odonate species
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Related Species in CORDULIIDAE: Number of records for 2023 = 12

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e.g., flight data, high counts, and earliest/latest dates can be seen.
[View PDF]		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 S5
State Status
Global Rank G5
Federal Status
Synonym
Other Name
Species account update: LeGrand on 2023-01-11 12:56:52
Photo Gallery for Mantled Baskettail   18 photos are shown. Other NC Galleries:    Jeff Pippen    Will Cook    Ted Wilcox
Photo 1 by: Max Ramey

Comment: Moore; C, 2023-03-25, Weymouth Woods		Photo 2 by: Matt Spangler

Comment: Richmond; C, 2021-04-12, Sandhills GL Block A (Lake Bagget and nearby ponds and roads)
Photo 3 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Onslow, 2021-03-28, my property, Holly Ridge		Photo 4 by: Jan Hansen

Comment: Moore; C, 2021-03-22, Sandhills CC
Photo 5 by: Joshua Liverman

Comment: Currituck, 2020-03-29, Pine Island near the Audubon Trail. iNaturalist Record # 41044912 - Male		Photo 6 by: Mark Shields, Hunter Phillips

Comment: Cumberland, 2020-03-19, Carvers Creek State Park (CACR) - Sandhills Access
Photo 7 by: Aaron Edmonds

Comment: Harnett; C, 2019-04-16, Marshbanks Property -Campbell University		Photo 8 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Dare; Mainland, 2018-04-28, Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge - common over roads and canals throughout refuge
Photo 9 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Onslow, 2018-04-13, Stones Creek Game Land		Photo 10 by: Mark Shields and Hunter Phillips

Comment: Hoke, 2018-04-05, Wagram Boating Access Area, Lumber River
Photo 11 by: Mark Shields and Hunter Phillips

Comment: Moore; C, 2018-04-05, Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve (WEWO)		Photo 12 by: John Petranka

Comment: Richmond; C, 2018-04-04, McKinney Lake Fish Hatchery around the dam. - Both sexes. Male netted, photographed and released.
Photo 13 by: Roger Shaw

Comment: Richmond; C, 2017-04-15, McKinney Fish Hatchery		Photo 14 by: Curtis Smalling

Comment: Robeson, 2017-04-12, at WRC put-in on river; 34.591680, -78.983892 - very quick flyer and small
Photo 15 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Pender, 2017-04-02, Holly Shelter Game Land; photo of female		Photo 16 by: John Petranka

Comment: Bladen, 2016-04-26, Jones Lake State Park; Jones Lake shoreline around the swimming area. Males.
Photo 17 by: Conrad Wernett, Alyssa Wernett, Matt Anderson

Comment: Scotland, 2015-05-03, - Many seen flying in open grasslands and around water		Photo 18 by: Conrad Wernett

Comment: Scotland, 2014-04-26, - Located at every stop