NC Odonate Website

Related Species in CORDULIIDAE:

Number of records for 2025 = 3

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Selys's Sundragon (Helocordulia selysii) by John Petranka

Compare with: Uhler's Sundragon
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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 Selys's Sundragon

Flight Charts

Distribution

Nearly throughout the Piedmont and the Coastal Plain, though apparently absent from the eastern part of the latter region (no records east of Hertford and Beaufort counties). Of sporadic occurrence in the western Piedmont, possibly absent from a few of these counties. No mountain records.

Abundance

Uncommon to occasionally or locally fairly common in the eastern half of the Piedmont and the southern Coastal Plain. Slightly less numerous (uncommon) in the central and northwestern Coastal Plain; rare to uncommon in the western Piedmont.

Flight

First two-thirds of the spring season only; very late February or early March to late May in the Coastal Plain, and mid-March to late May in the Piedmont.

Habitat

Small creeks and trickles, where sandy, and typically in shaded or semi-shaded places.

See also Habitat Account for Wet-Mesic Forests with Seepages/Headwater Streams

Behavior

Its behavior is similar to that of baskettails, with males patrolling small areas along creeks. However, as with baskettails, adults frequently move well away from water, feeding along dirt roads and wide, sunny trails, perching like those species in an oblique manner on twigs close to the ground. They can be somewhat unwary and studied/photographed at close range.

Comments

As Dunkle (2000) calls the species "uncommon" over its range, and Beaton (2007) calls it "Uncommon to rare" in its GA range, the species must be more numerous in NC than in most other states in its range. Active field biologists can often find one or two each spring, though it seldom occurs in numbers. At first glance the two sundragons (genus Helocordulia) resemble baskettails (genus Epitheca), but their spindle-shaped abdomen (narrowed at the anterior end) and ochre-orange band/ring on abdominal segment 3 separates the two genera.

State Rank

State Status

Global Rank

Federal Status

Synonym

Other Name

Species account update: LeGrand on 2023-01-16 09:04:13

The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
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Photo Gallery for Selys's Sundragon 29 photos are shown.		Other NC Galleries: Jeff Pippen Will Cook Ted Wilcox
	Photo 1 by: Jeffrey Pippen Comment: Craven, 2025-03-27 - Croatan NF		Photo 2 by: Amy Padgett Comment: Bladen, 2024-04-04, Turnbull Creek Educational State Forest - Along creek path, in a sunny spot
	Photo 3 by: Matt Spangler Comment: Richmond; C, 2024-03-31, Sandhills GL Block A near Lake Bagget		Photo 4 by: K. Metcalf, R. Van Epps Comment: Richmond; C, 2024-03-29, Lake Bagget area
	Photo 5 by: Kevin Metcalf Comment: Rockingham, 2023-04-29, male and female seen - 2 males, one female		Photo 6 by: Max Ramey Comment: Moore; C, 2023-03-25, Weymouth Woods
	Photo 7 by: B. Bockhahn Comment: Catawba, 2022-04-16, Wilderness Gateway State Trail - Jacob Fork East		Photo 8 by: Doug Allen Comment: Polk; P, 2021-04-04, Caroland Farms private land and ponds - on trail near stream
	Photo 9 by: Matt Spangler Comment: Moore; C, 2021-03-28, Sandhills CC Horticultural Gardens - wheel		Photo 10 by: Jan Hansen Comment: Moore; C, 2021-03-14, - Sandhills CC Gardens
	Photo 11 by: Mark Shields, Hunter Phillips Comment: Cumberland, 2020-03-19, Carvers Creek State Park (CACR) - Sandhills Access		Photo 12 by: John Petranka Comment: Scotland, 2020-03-02, Lumber River State Park (LURI), Chalk Banks Access. Along gated road near the picnic area. Perched low to ground in sunny patches. - 4 females, 1 male. All appear to be pre-reproductive; male perched near females showed no interest in mating. None observed patrolling the river banks. Female photographed.
	Photo 13 by: Mike Turner Comment: Scotland, 2020-02-23, Lumber River State Park-Chalk Banks Access		Photo 14 by: Mark Shields Comment: Moore; C, 2019-04-18, Drowning Creek at Moore County Line Road bridge
	Photo 15 by: Mark Shields Comment: Brunswick, 2019-03-30, Boiling Spring Lakes Preserve Nature Trail - 1 male, 1 female		Photo 16 by: Mike Turner Comment: Richmond; C, 2018-05-06, Richmond; C, 2018-05-06, Naked Creek @ Derby Rd. (SR 1003)
	Photo 17 by: John Petranka Comment: Jones, 2018-04-20, Along Great Lake Road patrolling tributary to Hunters Creek, Croatan National Forest. - Males.		Photo 18 by: Mark Shields and Hunter Phillips Comment: Hoke, 2018-04-05, Wagram Boating Access Area, Lumber River
	Photo 19 by: Mark Shields and Hunter Phillips Comment: Scotland, 2018-04-05, Lumber River State Park (LURI) Chalk Banks		Photo 20 by: Mark Shields Comment: Sampson, 2017-03-25, South River
	Photo 21 by: Mark Shields Comment: Bladen, 2017-03-25, South River		Photo 22 by: John Petranka Comment: Pender, 2017-03-21, Shaw Highway at the Ashes Creek bridge, 0.4 miles south of Old Maple Hill Road. - Males. Patrolling near the bridge.
	Photo 23 by: John Petranka Comment: Rockingham, 2016-04-13, Mayo River State Park, Fall Creek Trail downstream from Deshazo Road. Male. Photo.		Photo 24 by: Conrad Wernett, Alyssa Wernett, Matt Anderson Comment: Richmond; C, 2015-05-03, - Drainage from Lake McKinney
	Photo 25 by: Conrad Wernett Comment: Scotland, 2014-04-26, - Drainage from Lake McKinney		Photo 26 by: Conrad Wernett Comment: Wake, 2014-04-12, - Several specimens found on small creek.
	Photo 27 by: Beth Brinson Comment: Surry, 2012-03-29, Pilot Mountain State Park - Yadkin River Section		Photo 28 by: Ali Iyoob, Matt Daw, Dan Irizarry Comment: Richmond; C, 2011-05-05, McKinney Lake Fish Hatchery
	Photo 29 by: Dorothy E. Pugh Comment: Durham, 2011-04-04. Penny's Bend Nature Preserve