NC Odonate Website

Related Species in LIBELLULIDAE:

Number of records for 2024 = 2

PDF has more details,
e.g., flight data, high counts, and earliest/latest dates can be seen.
[View PDF]

Double-ringed Pennant (Celithemis verna) by John Petranka

Compare with: Marl Pennant Seaside Dragonlet Slaty Skimmer
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.

[Google images] [Global Biodiversity Information Facility] iNaturalist

Map

Click on county for list of all its records for Double-ringed Pennant

Flight Charts

Distribution

Primarily the western half of the Coastal Plain and the eastern Piedmont. A few records for the southern mountains and western Piedmont, but primarily from Caswell, Chatham, and Union counties eastward. However, in the Coastal Plain it is of spotty occurrence in the eastern counties and is likely absent in a few counties near the coast.

Abundance

Generally uncommon (and often local) in the inner half of the Coastal Plain and lower Piedmont, being most numerous in the Sandhills. Rare in the southeastern Coastal Plain, but very rare in most of the northern parts of the Coastal Plain, especially scarce in the northeastern counties. Very rare in the central and western Piedmont and southern mountains. Apparently absent in most of the mountain region and western part of the Piedmont.

Flight

Flight period is shorter and earlier than for other pennants (except Ornate) -- mainly from late April or early May to late July, rarely to early August. There are a few records as early as 27 March, but not normally seen until around the first of May.

Habitat

As with other pennants, it breeds at ponds and small lakes with much vegetation along the shore.

See also Habitat Account for General Pond Shorelines

Behavior

Males are usually seen along the shore of a pond, making short patrols over the water or perching on twigs. Adults may forage short distances from water.

Comments

This and the Red-veined are our only two "scarce" Celithemis pennants, and one may have to walk around several ponds or much lake shore (in the heart of the range) to find this species. Not helping is the fact that immatures and females are not overly easy to identify, and adult males look like small versions of Slaty Skimmers. By far our largest single-day counts have been at small ponds at Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area in the eastern Piedmont; these ponds, however, are in sunny fields and not within the natural area. Oddly, this site in Orange County is not far from the western (inner) edge of the range in the state, and the species is seldom seen elsewhere in the Triangle area (Wake, Durham, and Orange counties) despite dozens of similar-looking ponds in this region.

State Rank

S4 [S3S4]

State Status

Global Rank

Federal Status

Synonym

Other Name

Species account update: LeGrand on 2023-01-16 14:22:07

The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
Home Page	Search	Odonate Resources	Login	NC Biodiversity Project	Comments

Photo Gallery for Double-ringed Pennant 19 photos are shown.		Other NC Galleries: Jeff Pippen Will Cook Ted Wilcox
	Photo 1 by: Matt Spangler Comment: Chatham, 2024-05-22, Jordan Lake Educational State Forest		Photo 2 by: Matt Spangler Comment: Chatham, 2024-05-22, Jordan Lake Educational State Forest
	Photo 3 by: Amy Padgett Comment: Bladen, 2024-05-12, Suggs Mill Pond Gamelands, Horseshow Lake - 2:22PM Near boat ramp		Photo 4 by: Matt Spangler Comment: Chatham, 2023-06-09, Jordan Lake Educational State Forest
	Photo 5 by: Mike Turner Comment: Cumberland, 2023-05-13, Carver's Creek State Park - Sandhills Section - female		Photo 6 by: Harry LeGrand. Lori Arent Comment: Richmond; C, 2022-04-28, many Sandhills locales - Indian Camp Lake; females/tenerals; photo by Lori Arent
	Photo 7 by: John Petranka Comment: Granville, 2021-06-28, Turtle Pond. Ledge Creek Forest Conservation Area near Stem, NC. - Male		Photo 8 by: Harry LeGrand, Lori Arent Comment: Richmond; C, 2021-06-14, - Indian Camp Lake
	Photo 9 by: Matt Spangler Comment: Chatham, 2021-06-11, Jordan Lake Educational State Forest - all males		Photo 10 by: Jennifer Tredway Comment: Johnston, 2020-06-03
	Photo 11 by: M. Turner, B. Bockhahn, and DSA participants Comment: Moore; C, 2018-05-13, Weymouth Woods-Sandhills Nature Preserve - adult males		Photo 12 by: Mark Shields Comment: Bladen, 2017-05-26, Horseshoe Lake, Suggs Mill Pond Game Land
	Photo 13 by: Mike Turner Comment: Orange, 2017-05-06, Occoneechee Mt. State Natural area - tenerals		Photo 14 by: John Petranka Comment: Orange, 2015-05-23, Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area (OCMO). Upper and lower ponds. Mating wheels and tandem oviposition observed. - Mostly mature males, but 4 females observed as well. Males typically perched on ground or on low vegetation at periphery of pond. Photo is of teneral female.
	Photo 15 by: John Petranka Comment: Orange, 2015-05-23, Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area (OCMO). Upper and lower ponds. Mating wheels and tandem oviposition observed. - Mostly mature males, but 4 females observed as well. Males typically perched on ground or on low vegetation at periphery of pond.		Photo 16 by: Mike Turner Comment: Orange, 2013-06-22, Occoneechee Mt. State Natural Area - males; lower pond
	Photo 17 by: Ed Corey Comment: Onslow, 2007-05-28, adult male		Photo 18 by: R Emmitt Comment: Orange, 2003-06-21, Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area, at back side of lower pond
	Photo 19 by: R Emmitt, R Rittmaster Comment: Caswell, 2002-06-16; Mated pair along one of the wildlife ponds in the Caswell Game Land