The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
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North Carolina's 189 Odonate species

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Related Species in LIBELLULIDAE: Number of records for 2025 = 5

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Little Blue Dragonlet (Erythrodiplax minuscula) by John Petranka
Compare with: Blue Dasher   Elfin 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.
Erythrodiplax_minuscula

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Map
Click on county for list of all its records for Little Blue Dragonlet
Flight Charts
Distribution Statewide, and probably occurring in all 100 counties. However, distribution is somewhat spotty in the western half of the Piedmont, probably owing to its inconspicuous behavior and tiny size, making it hard to encounter where not numerous.
Abundance Easily overlooked because of its tiny size and inconspicuous behavior, and thus is much more numerous in reality than observations may suggest. Numerous (common) in the southern half of the Coastal Plain (Sandhills east to Croatan National Forest in Craven/Carteret counties); only fairly common in the northern Coastal Plain. Uncommon in the eastern half of the Piedmont, but rare to uncommon in the western Piedmont and mountains.
Flight A very long flight season. In the Coastal Plain from mid-March to late December, though not numerous until mid-May and after the end of November. The Piedmont flight is somewhat shortened -- from early May (rarely in April) to mid-November, but rare after late September. In the mountains, it is mainly from mid-May to late September.
Habitat Ponds, lakes, marshes, and slower portions of rivers, typically places in full or partial sun.
Behavior Next to the Elfin Skimmer, which is even smaller, this species is the most inconspicuous dragonfly that frequents open fields, powerline clearings, savannas, and other sunny places. Adults perch low in vegetation, often down in grasses and forbs, and make short flights, often barely above one's ankles.
Comments Males can be confused with the larger Eastern Pondhawk or slightly larger Blue Dasher, or with the slightly smaller Elfin Skimmer, and females can also be confusing to beginners. People who spend much time looking at wildflowers in savannas and powerline clearings become familiar with this species, as its favored foraging areas tend to be such diverse, moist herbaceous areas.
State Rank S5
State Status
Global Rank G5
Federal Status
Synonym
Other Name
Species account update: LeGrand on 2023-01-16 14:39:14

Photo Gallery for Little Blue Dragonlet   40 photos are available.
Only the most recent 30 are shown.
Other NC Galleries:    Jeff Pippen    Will Cook    Ted Wilcox
Little Blue Dragonlet, Erythrodiplax minusculaPhoto 1 by: Amy Padgett

Comment: Bladen, 2024-10-06, Suggs Mill Pond Gamelands, Horseshoe Lake - 2PM on banks of Horseshoe Lake
Little Blue Dragonlet, Erythrodiplax minusculaPhoto 2 by: Amy Padgett

Comment: Bladen, 2024-10-06, Suggs Mill Pond Gamelands, Horseshoe Lake - 2PM on banks of Horseshoe Lake
Little Blue Dragonlet, Erythrodiplax minusculaPhoto 3 by: Amy Padgett

Comment: Carteret, 2024-07-27, Salters Creek Gamelands Ponds, Sealevel - 1:14P in ditches along road
Little Blue Dragonlet, Erythrodiplax minusculaPhoto 4 by: Amy Padgett

Comment: Carteret, 2024-07-27, Salters Creek Gamelands Ponds, Sealevel - 1:14P in ditches along road
Little Blue Dragonlet, Erythrodiplax minusculaPhoto 5 by: B. Bockhahn

Comment: Macon, 2024-07-24, Wilson Lakes, Nantahala National Forest
Little Blue Dragonlet, Erythrodiplax minusculaPhoto 6 by: Max Ramey

Comment: Watauga, 2021-10-16, Brookshire Park Wetlands
Little Blue Dragonlet, Erythrodiplax minusculaPhoto 7 by: Erich P. Hofmann

Comment: Columbus, 2021-09-24, Lake Waccamaw State Park along the Lakeshore Trail, ca. lat. 34.257, long. -78.488. iNat record #96007749 - Male. Caught in spider web
Little Blue Dragonlet, Erythrodiplax minusculaPhoto 8 by: P Dixon

Comment: Madison, 2021-09-14, Wolf Laurel Exit
Little Blue Dragonlet, Erythrodiplax minusculaPhoto 9 by: Tom Howe

Comment: Swain, 2021-09-03, Fairview Cemetery, 0.3 mi west of campsite #81 in GSMNP - perching on debris on open ground
Little Blue Dragonlet, Erythrodiplax minusculaPhoto 10 by: Harry LeGrand, Lori Arent

Comment: Richmond; C, 2021-07-15, Sandhills Game Land
Little Blue Dragonlet, Erythrodiplax minusculaPhoto 11 by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn

Comment: Hoke, 2020-05-14, Nicholson Creek Game Land
Little Blue Dragonlet, Erythrodiplax minusculaPhoto 12 by: John Petranka, Mark Shields

Comment: Durham, 2019-04-18, Eno River State Park (ENRI) Cole Mill Section. Along powerline corridor SW of Old Cole Mill Rd. - Male.
Little Blue Dragonlet, Erythrodiplax minusculaPhoto 13 by: Mike Turner

Comment: Scotland, 2018-11-10, Sandhill Game Land; Cameron Lake - adult male
Little Blue Dragonlet, Erythrodiplax minusculaPhoto 14 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Jackson, 2018-06-25, Pond beside Breedlove Road, 5 km northeast of Cashiers
Little Blue Dragonlet, Erythrodiplax minusculaPhoto 15 by: Mike Turner

Comment: Alleghany, 2018-06-17, Little Glade Mill Pond at mile marker 230 on the Blue Ridge Parkway - adult male
Little Blue Dragonlet, Erythrodiplax minusculaPhoto 16 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Onslow, 2017-07-23, my property, Holly Ridge
Little Blue Dragonlet, Erythrodiplax minusculaPhoto 17 by: Conrad Wernett

Comment: Bladen, 2017-05-20, - Jones Lake. Many seen early in the day and several more later with Mike Turner
Little Blue Dragonlet, Erythrodiplax minusculaPhoto 18 by: Mark Shields, Hunter Phillips

Comment: Scotland, 2017-05-15, Small streamhead pond about 150 m west of 17 Frog Pond, Sandhills Game Land
Little Blue Dragonlet, Erythrodiplax minusculaPhoto 19 by: Conrad Wernett

Comment: Carteret, 2017-04-30, - Males and Females in high numbers around Patsy Pond and eastern Croatan National Forest.
Little Blue Dragonlet, Erythrodiplax minusculaPhoto 20 by: Owen McConnell

Comment: Graham, 2016-06-09, McDowell
Little Blue Dragonlet, Erythrodiplax minusculaPhoto 21 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Pender, 2015-09-01, Holly Shelter Game Land
Little Blue Dragonlet, Erythrodiplax minusculaPhoto 22 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Carteret, 2015-07-01, Patsy Pond Nature Trail, Croatan National Forest
Little Blue Dragonlet, Erythrodiplax minusculaPhoto 23 by: Kristy Baker

Comment: Currituck, 2015-06-09, Pine Island Audubon Sanctuary
Little Blue Dragonlet, Erythrodiplax minusculaPhoto 24 by: John Petranka

Comment: Alleghany, 2014-07-04, Little Glade Millpond, along Blue Ridge Parkway about 0.5 mi. south of US 21 at Mile Marker 230 - Male
Little Blue Dragonlet, Erythrodiplax minusculaPhoto 25 by: John Petranka

Comment: Bladen, 2014-06-01, Horseshoe Lake, Bladen County Game Land. Around the dam. - 2 males, 2 females. Photograph of female.
Little Blue Dragonlet, Erythrodiplax minusculaPhoto 26 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Onslow, 2014-05-24, Small pond in Holly Ridge
Little Blue Dragonlet, Erythrodiplax minusculaPhoto 27 by: Mike Turner

Comment: Wake, 2014-05-06, Lake Raleigh
Little Blue Dragonlet, Erythrodiplax minusculaPhoto 28 by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Edith Tatum

Comment: Orange, 2013-07-16, odeing at Occoneechee Mountain - awesome comparison with Blue Dasher
Little Blue Dragonlet, Erythrodiplax minusculaPhoto 29 by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Edith Tatum

Comment: Orange, 2013-07-16, odeing at Occoneechee Mountain
Little Blue Dragonlet, Erythrodiplax minusculaPhoto 30 by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn, Edith Tatum

Comment: Orange, 2013-07-16, odeing at Occoneechee Mountain - awesome comparison with Blue Dasher