NC Odonate Website

Related Species in LIBELLULIDAE:

Number of records for 2025 = 0

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Halloween Pennant (Celithemis eponina) by Mark Shields

Compare with: Painted Skimmer Banded Pennant
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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 Halloween Pennant

Flight Charts

Distribution

Statewide. This is one of the very few species with records for all 100 counties.

Abundance

Common over the Piedmont and Coastal Plain, but only uncommon to fairly common in the mountains. Though it is not normally seen in swarms, we have several one-day counts of 50 or more individuals. The abundance across the state is relatively low until July or August, and it is often missed on late spring and early summer field trips.

Flight

An extended flight season, covering most of the warmer months -- very late April or early May to mid-October downstate, and from mid-June (if not earlier) to late September in the mountains.

Habitat

Breeds at ponds and lakes, and sometimes at marshes.

Behavior

This Celithemis pennant forages farther away from water than all others, and is actually not often seen at breeding waters. They are characteristically seen perching on the tips of blades of grasses or tall herbs in a field or powerline clearing, usually well removed from forested areas.

Comments

In many respects, this is the most atypical of the Celithemis pennants. It often resembles a butterfly or moth in flight because the wings are heavily suffused with amber or ochre coloration so as to appear almost opaque. The many dark bands on the wings also might fool an observer into thinking the odonate is a butterfly or moth. It seems to "enjoy" flying in windy weather, with choppy wing beats. As with the Calico Pennant, this species should be easily seen and learned by beginners.

State Rank

State Status

Global Rank

Federal Status

Synonym

Other Name

Species account update: LeGrand on 2023-01-16 14:10:52

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Photo Gallery for Halloween Pennant 43 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, 2024-08-21, 2 miles SE of Clarkton - 1:13P at edge of pond		Photo 2 by: Amy Padgett Comment: Bladen, 2024-08-12, Suggs Mill Pond Gamelands, Horseshoe Lake - 2:18P along lake edge
	Photo 3 by: Amy Padgett Comment: Bladen, 2024-07-13, 2 miles SE of Clarkton, along a dirt road - 1:41PM in an old field		Photo 4 by: Amy Padgett Comment: Bladen, 2024-05-21, Pond 2 miles SE of Clarkton, NC - 11:52AM at edge of pond
	Photo 5 by: Mark Shields Comment: Craven, 2023-09-15, Martin Marietta Park, New Bern		Photo 6 by: P Dixon Comment: Madison, 2019-11-01
	Photo 7 by: Alicia Jackson Comment: Moore; C, 2019-08-02, Adjacent to Ray's Mill Pond/Powell's Pond - Adult		Photo 8 by: Alicia Jackson Comment: Moore; C, 2019-08-02, Adjacent to Ray's Mill Pond/Powell's Pond - Adult
	Photo 9 by: Aaron Edmonds Comment: Harnett; C, 2018-08-24, Flat Branch		Photo 10 by: Mike Turner Comment: Wilkes; P, 2018-07-21, W. Kerr Scott Dam and Reservoir; from dam to ~1000' downstream
	Photo 11 by: Mike Turner Comment: Forsyth, 2018-07-08, Winston Lake		Photo 12 by: Chuck Smith Comment: Davidson, 2018-07-02, Lexington. Pond at Finch Park.
	Photo 13 by: Mark Shields Comment: Currituck, 2018-06-09, pond at Currituck Community Park near Maple		Photo 14 by: Mark Shields Comment: Lenoir, 2017-08-01, Neuseway Nature Park, Kinston
	Photo 15 by: Owen McConnell Comment: Granville, 2017-07-06, Holt Lake - in wheel		Photo 16 by: Mark Shields Comment: Washington, 2017-06-16, Conaby Creek, from boating access area to 2.25 km upstream by kayak
	Photo 17 by: Owen McConnell Comment: Orange, 2017-06-14, Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area, upper pond - males		Photo 18 by: Conrad Wernett Comment: Carteret, 2017-05-21, - Patsy and Lily Ponds.
	Photo 19 by: Mark Shields Comment: Duplin, 2015-08-15, Northeast Cape Fear River by kayak, between Wayne		Photo 20 by: Mark Shields Comment: New Hanover, 2015-08-06, Carolina Beach State Park - 2 at Grass Pond, 1 along Cape Fear River near marina
	Photo 21 by: Mark Shields Comment: Columbus, 2015-08-01, Lake Waccamaw State Park		Photo 22 by: Mark Shields Comment: Brunswick, 2015-08-01, Boiling Spring Lakes - at Spring Lake Park
	Photo 23 by: Mark Shields Comment: Bladen, 2015-07-18, Suggs Millpond (aka Horseshoe Lake) - many pairs flying in tandem; females ovipositing		Photo 24 by: Mark Shields Comment: Hyde, 2015-07-08, Mattamuskeet NWR
	Photo 25 by: Mark Shields Comment: Carteret, 2015-07-01, Patsy Pond Nature Trail, Croatan National Forest		Photo 26 by: Kristy Baker Comment: Dare; OBL, 2015-06-10, Cape Point Campground - Multiple individuals seen but not counted.
	Photo 27 by: Vin Stanton, Doug Johnston Comment: Yancey, 2014-08-26, Mount Mitchell State Park, Commissary Trail		Photo 28 by: Conrad Wernett Comment: Onslow, 2014-06-29, - Retention pond
	Photo 29 by: Owen McConnell Comment: Graham, 2014-06-19, Grass bald on Oak Knob - male		Photo 30 by: Jon Boerger Comment: Buncombe, 2013-07-29