NC Odonate Website

Related Species in LIBELLULIDAE:

Number of records for 2025 = 3

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Calico Pennant (Celithemis elisa) by Mark Shields

Compare with: Ornate Pennant Amanda's Pennant
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 Calico Pennant

Flight Charts

Distribution

Statewide, undoubtedly occurring in all counties, but definitely scarce toward the coast (with still no record yet from fairly well-worked Dare County).

Abundance

Fairly common to occasionally common, and widespread, essentially throughout, but less numerous in the middle and higher elevations in the mountains, and in the far eastern counties.

Flight

Most of the flight season for dragonflies (except for early spring); downstate, generally from mid-April to early October, sparingly into early November. The flight in the mountains begins in early May and extends to late September.

Habitat

As with other Celithemis, it breeds at ponds and smaller lakes, typically with much vegetation along the shoreline. It occasionally breeds at slow creeks and rivers.

See also Habitat Account for General Pond Shorelines

Behavior

Adults fly at ponds and perch on twigs and vegetation around pond margins. They also forage well away from water, preferring open habitats such as fields (rather than open woods and wooded margins). They are unwary when perching, as are most other pennants.

Comments

This is one of the more colorful of the dragonflies, and adult males are quite stunning with their red and black abdomens and numerous burgundy/blood-red wing patches. Females and immatures, though highly patterned, could be confused with Halloween Pennants. Thankfully, because it occurs statewide and in open habitats, and it flies for many months of the year, it is one of the dragonflies that beginners should be able to observe and learn.

State Rank

State Status

Global Rank

Federal Status

Synonym

Other Name

Species account update: LeGrand on 2023-01-16 14:08:51

The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
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Photo Gallery for Calico Pennant 46 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.		Other NC Galleries: Jeff Pippen Will Cook Ted Wilcox
	Photo 1 by: Amy Padgett Comment: Bladen, 2024-10-06, Suggs Mill Pond Gamelands, Horseshoe Lake - 4PM at ephemeral pond near campgrounds		Photo 2 by: Tom Howe Comment: Swain, 2024-07-14, 1 male collected for Great Smoky Mtn Nat Pk, Twin Creeks Science Center - atop submerged veg at shore
	Photo 3 by: Carol Clemens Comment: Dare; Mainland, 2024-05-10, - Roanoke Marshes Conservancy in Manteo		Photo 4 by: Owen McConnell Comment: Orange, 2023-07-04, On cattails at edge of upper pond in Occoneechee Mt. State N.A. - Mating pair
	Photo 5 by: John Petranka Comment: Orange, 2022-06-04, NHCBS, Hollow Rock Nature Park, West of Pickett Road, Meadow		Photo 6 by: Harry LeGrand Comment: Sampson, 2021-07-22, Pondberry Bay Preserve; photo by Scott Pohlman
	Photo 7 by: Nora Murdock, Keith Langdon, Robert Emmott Comment: Swain, 2021-07-06,		Photo 8 by: Harry LeGrand, Lori Arent Comment: Johnston; C, 2021-06-17, Howell Woods Preserve
	Photo 9 by: Bill Dunson Comment: Watauga, 2021-05-28, Bass Lake - Nice red male; new photo record		Photo 10 by: John Petranka, Jim Petranka, Becky Elkin Comment: Yancey, 2021-05-24, Along Cane River south of Burnsville. - 2 males, 1 female. 2 were tenerals. At pond near the river.
	Photo 11 by: Doug Allen Comment: Polk; P, 2020-06-14, Caroland Farms; private ~10 acre pond and small pond - stayed near water		Photo 12 by: Pete Dixon Comment: Madison, 2019-05-13, River Road, Murray Branch Meadows
	Photo 13 by: Chuck Smith Comment: Davidson, 2018-07-02, Lexington. Pond at Finch Park.		Photo 14 by: Mark Shields Comment: Jackson, 2018-06-25, Lake Glenville at Powerhouse Access Area - First record for county.
	Photo 15 by: Mike Turner Comment: Alleghany, 2018-06-17, Little Glade Mill Pond at mile marker 230 on the Blue Ridge Parkway - adult males		Photo 16 by: Mark Shields Comment: Currituck, 2018-06-09, pond at Currituck Community Park near Maple
	Photo 17 by: Mark Shields Comment: New Hanover, 2018-06-01, Carolina Beach State Park (CABE), limesink ponds		Photo 18 by: Owen McConnell Comment: Orange Co., 2017-06-06 - male
	Photo 19 by: Conrad Wernett Comment: Wayne, 2017-05-29, - Cliffs of the Neuse State Park, along dike of swimming lake		Photo 20 by: Mark Shields, Hunter Phillips Comment: Scotland, 2017-05-15, 17 Frog Pond, Sandhills Game Land
	Photo 21 by: Mark Shields Comment: Pender, 2015-10-15, Holly Shelter Game Land		Photo 22 by: Mark Shields Comment: Carteret, 2015-09-15, ponds along Patsy Pond Nature Trail, Croatan National Forest
	Photo 23 by: Mark Shields and Zoology lab class Comment: Onslow, 2015-07-27, Coastal Carolina Community College, Jacksonville - at retention pond		Photo 24 by: Alicia Jackson Comment: Hoke, 2015-05-27, along existing gas line west of NC Hwy 211, N of Ashemont Rd. - probably more; many in field adjacent to pond
	Photo 25 by: Owen McConnell Comment: Orange, 2015-05-06, Occoneechee Mountain		Photo 26 by: Jeff Beane Comment: Watauga, 2014-06-07, ca. 3.6 airmi. WNW Todd (Long Hope Valley, in a cranberry bog)
	Photo 27 by: George Andrews Comment: Mecklenburg, 2013-07-20, Beatty Park fields - 50/50 sun/shade - 90 degrees - light wind		Photo 28 by: Doug Johnston, Vin Stanton Comment: Graham, 2013-07-16, Lake Santeetlah north of Robbinsville - Male
	Photo 29 by: George Andrews Comment: Mecklenburg, 2013-05-15, Colonel Beatty Park - temp near 90° F, clear, gusty wind - Lifer		Photo 30 by: Doug Johnston Comment: Brunswick, 2013-04-26, Green Swamp