The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
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North Carolina's 189 Odonate species
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Sort Species by: Family   Scientific Name       [ Undocumented ]
Related Species in LIBELLULIDAE: Number of records for 2023 = 33

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.

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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 S5
State Status
Global Rank G5
Federal Status
Synonym
Other Name
Species account update: LeGrand on 2023-01-16 17:45:41
Photo Gallery for Golden-winged Skimmer   35 photos are available.
Only the most recent 30 are shown.
Other NC Galleries:    Jeff Pippen    Will Cook    Ted Wilcox
Photo 1 by: Matt Spangler

Comment: Carteret, 2023-06-11, Croatan NF--Patsy Pond area		Photo 2 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Dare; Mainland, 2022-06-10, Sandy Ridge Trail, Alligator River NWR
Photo 3 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Brunswick, 2021-07-23, Juniper Creek Game Land		Photo 4 by: Harry LeGrand, Lori Arent

Comment: Johnston; C, 2021-06-17, Howell Woods Preserve
Photo 5 by: Harry LeGrand, Lori Arent

Comment: Granville, 2021-06-13, powerline near Butner - Lori Arent has photo		Photo 6 by: Bob Oberfelder

Comment: Wake, 2021-05-27, - Seen in my backyard at 2735 flume Gate Drive Raleigh
Photo 7 by: Bob Oberfelder

Comment: Wake, 2021-05-27, - Seen in my backyard at 2735 flume Gate Drive Raleigh		Photo 8 by: Ken Kneidel

Comment: Mecklenburg, 2020-06-04, in my back yard, flying with 2 Common Whitetails, ground level birdbath only water nearby
Photo 9 by: Ken Kneidel

Comment: Mecklenburg, 2020-06-04, in my back yard, flying with 2 Common Whitetails, ground level birdbath only water nearby		Photo 10 by: Mike Turner

Comment: Bladen, 2020-05-08, South River at Sloan's Bridge Boating Access Area
Photo 11 by: Mike Turner

Comment: Craven, 2018-09-01, Croatan National Forest, powerline ROW at intersection of Catfish Lake Rd. and Little Rd.		Photo 12 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Currituck, 2018-06-09, Currituck Community Park, near Maple - First record for county
Photo 13 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 14 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Lenoir, 2017-08-01, Neuseway Nature Park, Kinston
Photo 15 by: R Emmitt

Comment: Orange, 2017-07-16, Duke Forest near gate 23 - male		Photo 16 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 17 by: John Petranka

Comment: Richmond; C, 2017-05-27, Gum Swamp Lake around the outfall, Sandhills Game Land. - Pair in wheel.		Photo 18 by: Mark Shields, Hunter Phillips

Comment: Scotland, 2017-05-15, 17 Frog Pond, Sandhills Game Land
Photo 19 by: Mark Shields

Comment: New Hanover, 2017-05-02, limesink ponds at Carolina Beach State Park (CABE)		Photo 20 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Onslow, 2016-05-14, Stones Creek Game Land
Photo 21 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Pender, 2015-09-01, Holly Shelter Game Land		Photo 22 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Columbus, 2015-08-01, Lake Waccamaw State Park
Photo 23 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Brunswick, 2015-08-01, Boiling Spring Lakes - 1 at Spring Lake Park, 3 at North Lake Park		Photo 24 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Bladen, 2015-07-18, Suggs Millpond (aka Horseshoe Lake)
Photo 25 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Carteret, 2015-07-01, Patsy Pond Nature Trail, Croatan National Forest		Photo 26 by: Kristy Baker

Comment: Tyrrell, 2015-06-06, Scuppernong Interpretive Boardwalk
Photo 27 by: Tim Deering

Comment: Watauga, 2015-05-28, Bass Lake		Photo 28 by: Owen McConnell

Comment: Orange, 2014-06-07, Occoneechee Mountain
Photo 29 by: George Andrews

Comment: Mecklenburg, 2013-07-08, Beatty Park from 05:30 - 07:30 PM. Skies 60/40 clear/cloud, temp. 85. 		Photo 30 by: Vin Stanton, Virginia Senechal

Comment: Henderson, 2013-06-20, Westfeldt Park, northern Henderson County - Male