NC Odonate Website

Related Species in LIBELLULIDAE:

Number of records for 2025 = 1

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

Golden-winged Skimmer (Libellula auripennis) by Mark Shields

Compare with: Needham's 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 females.

[Google images] [Global Biodiversity Information Facility] iNaturalist

Map

Click on county for list of all its records for Golden-winged Skimmer

Flight Charts

Distribution

Nearly statewide, though seemingly absent in the higher elevations in the mountains, and of spotty occurrence in the mountains and the western two-thirds of the Piedmont.

Abundance

Common in the Coastal Plain; uncommon to locally fairly common along the eastern edge of the Piedmont, but mostly uncommon in the Piedmont. Rare in the lower mountains.

Flight

The flight is from late April into November in the Coastal Plain, and from mid-May to late September (and certainly into October) in the Piedmont. The mountain records are too few to be certain of a flight period, though records extend from early May to late August.

Habitat

Ponds, lakes, marshes, ditches -- typically in open/sunny places.

See also Habitat Account for General Pond Shorelines

Behavior

Males perch conspicuously on places such as twigs around a pond or lake shore and make patrols over the water. They are quite wary at the water. Adults frequently forage in fields, powerline clearings, savannas, and other open or semi-open areas well away from water.

Comments

Males are one of more beautiful dragonflies, with their scarlet-orange abdomen and wing veins. However, in the eastern parts of the Coastal Plain, care must be taken to differentiate adult males, and especially females and immatures, from the closely related Needham's Skimmer, which is limited to brackish waters, though both species can occur in the same areas (up to a few miles from tidal water).

State Rank

State Status

Global Rank

Federal Status

Synonym

Other Name

Species account update: LeGrand on 2023-01-16 17:45:41

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

Photo Gallery for Golden-winged Skimmer 38 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: Amy Padgett Comment: Bladen, 2024-08-12, Suggs Mill Pond Gamelands, Horseshoe Lake - 2:30P along shoreline
	Photo 3 by: Amy Padgett Comment: Carteret, 2024-07-27, Salters Creek Gamelands Ponds, Sealevel - 1:33P along gravel road		Photo 4 by: Matt Spangler Comment: Carteret, 2023-06-11, Croatan NF--Patsy Pond area
	Photo 5 by: Mark Shields Comment: Dare; Mainland, 2022-06-10, Sandy Ridge Trail, Alligator River NWR		Photo 6 by: Mark Shields Comment: Brunswick, 2021-07-23, Juniper Creek Game Land
	Photo 7 by: Harry LeGrand, Lori Arent Comment: Johnston; C, 2021-06-17, Howell Woods Preserve		Photo 8 by: Harry LeGrand, Lori Arent Comment: Granville, 2021-06-13, powerline near Butner - Lori Arent has photo
	Photo 9 by: Bob Oberfelder Comment: Wake, 2021-05-27, - Seen in my backyard at 2735 flume Gate Drive Raleigh		Photo 10 by: Bob Oberfelder Comment: Wake, 2021-05-27, - Seen in my backyard at 2735 flume Gate Drive Raleigh
	Photo 11 by: Ken Kneidel Comment: Mecklenburg, 2020-06-04, in my back yard, flying with 2 Common Whitetails, ground level birdbath only water nearby		Photo 12 by: Ken Kneidel Comment: Mecklenburg, 2020-06-04, in my back yard, flying with 2 Common Whitetails, ground level birdbath only water nearby
	Photo 13 by: Mike Turner Comment: Bladen, 2020-05-08, South River at Sloan's Bridge Boating Access Area		Photo 14 by: Mike Turner Comment: Craven, 2018-09-01, Croatan National Forest, powerline ROW at intersection of Catfish Lake Rd. and Little Rd.
	Photo 15 by: Mark Shields Comment: Currituck, 2018-06-09, Currituck Community Park, near Maple - First record for county		Photo 16 by: John Petranka, Sally Gewalt. Comment: Rockingham, 2018-05-22, Pond at Dan River Campground. End of Webster Road, east of Mayodan. - 2 males, 1 teneral female.
	Photo 17 by: Mark Shields Comment: Lenoir, 2017-08-01, Neuseway Nature Park, Kinston		Photo 18 by: R Emmitt Comment: Orange, 2017-07-16, Duke Forest near gate 23 - male
	Photo 19 by: F. Williams, S. Williams Comment: Gates, 2017-06-21, Merchants Millpond State Park. Yellow vein at leading edge of wings indicative of female.		Photo 20 by: John Petranka Comment: Richmond; C, 2017-05-27, Gum Swamp Lake around the outfall, Sandhills Game Land. - Pair in wheel.
	Photo 21 by: Mark Shields, Hunter Phillips Comment: Scotland, 2017-05-15, 17 Frog Pond, Sandhills Game Land		Photo 22 by: Mark Shields Comment: New Hanover, 2017-05-02, limesink ponds at Carolina Beach State Park (CABE)
	Photo 23 by: Mark Shields Comment: Onslow, 2016-05-14, Stones Creek Game Land		Photo 24 by: Mark Shields Comment: Pender, 2015-09-01, Holly Shelter Game Land
	Photo 25 by: Mark Shields Comment: Columbus, 2015-08-01, Lake Waccamaw State Park		Photo 26 by: Mark Shields Comment: Brunswick, 2015-08-01, Boiling Spring Lakes - 1 at Spring Lake Park, 3 at North Lake Park
	Photo 27 by: Mark Shields Comment: Bladen, 2015-07-18, Suggs Millpond (aka Horseshoe Lake)		Photo 28 by: Mark Shields Comment: Carteret, 2015-07-01, Patsy Pond Nature Trail, Croatan National Forest
	Photo 29 by: Kristy Baker Comment: Tyrrell, 2015-06-06, Scuppernong Interpretive Boardwalk		Photo 30 by: Tim Deering Comment: Watauga, 2015-05-28, Bass Lake