North Carolina's 189 Odonate species

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Related Species in LIBELLULIDAE: Number of records for 2024 = 0

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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.

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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 G5
Federal Status
Synonym
Other Name
Species account update: LeGrand on 2023-01-16 14:22:07

Photo Gallery for Double-ringed Pennant   16 photos are shown. Other NC Galleries:    Jeff Pippen    Will Cook    Ted Wilcox
Photo 1 by: Matt Spangler

Comment: Chatham, 2023-06-09, Jordan Lake Educational State Forest
Photo 2 by: Mike Turner

Comment: Cumberland, 2023-05-13, Carver's Creek State Park - Sandhills Section - female
Photo 3 by: Harry LeGrand. Lori Arent

Comment: Richmond; C, 2022-04-28, many Sandhills locales - Indian Camp Lake; females/tenerals; photo by Lori Arent
Photo 4 by: John Petranka

Comment: Granville, 2021-06-28, Turtle Pond. Ledge Creek Forest Conservation Area near Stem, NC. - Male
Photo 5 by: Harry LeGrand, Lori Arent

Comment: Richmond; C, 2021-06-14, - Indian Camp Lake
Photo 6 by: Matt Spangler

Comment: Chatham, 2021-06-11, Jordan Lake Educational State Forest - all males
Photo 7 by: Jennifer Tredway

Comment: Johnston, 2020-06-03
Photo 8 by: M. Turner, B. Bockhahn, and DSA participants

Comment: Moore; C, 2018-05-13, Weymouth Woods-Sandhills Nature Preserve - adult males
Photo 9 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Bladen, 2017-05-26, Horseshoe Lake, Suggs Mill Pond Game Land
Photo 10 by: Mike Turner

Comment: Orange, 2017-05-06, Occoneechee Mt. State Natural area - tenerals
Photo 11 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 12 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 13 by: Mike Turner

Comment: Orange, 2013-06-22, Occoneechee Mt. State Natural Area - males; lower pond
Photo 14 by: Ed Corey

Comment: Onslow, 2007-05-28, adult male
Photo 15 by: R Emmitt

Comment: Orange, 2003-06-21, Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area, at back side of lower pond
Photo 16 by: R Emmitt, R Rittmaster

Comment: Caswell, 2002-06-16; Mated pair along one of the wildlife ponds in the Caswell Game Land