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 2024 = 0

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Eastern Amberwing (Perithemis tenera) by Rob Van Epps
Compare with:   Distinctive
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 Eastern Amberwing
Flight Charts
Distribution Statewide, but as with so many other "statewide" species, it has not been recorded from all mountain counties, though certainly occurring in all.
Abundance Common to locally abundant essentially statewide, but slightly less numerous (but still common) in the mountains. There are several one-day counts of 200 or more individuals.
Flight Downstate, the flight occurs from early May to late October; in the mountains, from mid- or late May to early October.
Habitat Ponds, small lakes, marshes, and pools are used for breeding. Slow-moving portions of rivers or creeks may be used on occasions.

See also Habitat Account for General Pond Shorelines
Behavior This is an active and conspicuous dragonfly, despite being one of the smallest species. Adults often perch conspicuously on the tips of twigs and grasses, close to water. Adults will forage long distances from water, and they are among the most "urban" of dragonflies, often found in gardens, arboretums, and other places in cities where suitable prey items might occur.
Comments This species is a wasp mimic, with its highly colored wing patches and veins. Adults often obelisk. Females are somewhat similar in coloration to the Halloween Pennant, but the latter species is much larger in size. One would think that a dragonfly whose average length is less than 1 inch would be difficult to observe and easy to overlook (such as with the Elfin Skimmer), but the Eastern Amberwing is a "unique" species in NC -- there are other amberwings elsewhere -- that seems to want to draw attention to itself, often looking like a butterfly or wasp rather than a dragonfly (at a quick glance).
State Rank S5
State Status
Global Rank G5
Federal Status
Synonym
Other Name
Species account update: LeGrand on 2023-01-17 09:44:42

Photo Gallery for Eastern Amberwing   54 photos are available.
Only the most recent 30 are shown.
Other NC Galleries:    Jeff Pippen    Will Cook    Ted Wilcox
Photo 1 by: Mike Turner

Comment: Cumberland, 2022-07-04, Jessup's Mill Pond
Photo 2 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Robeson, 2022-06-24, Lumber River, from LURI-Princess Ann Access to Lumber River Campground and back, by kayak
Photo 3 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Greene, 2022-06-20, Contentnea Creek at Caswell's Landing Nature Park, Hookerton
Photo 4 by: John Petranka

Comment: Durham, 2021-08-04, NHCBS, New Hope Creek Bottomlands, Old Chapel Hill Road Park along Paved Trail
Photo 5 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Ashe, 2021-06-23, Ashe Park Pond, Jefferson - tenerals
Photo 6 by: Lynn Swafford

Comment: Pitt, 2021-05-24, Female: Pond in Farmville, NC near disk golf course
Photo 7 by: Matt Spangler

Comment: Carteret, 2021-05-21, North River Wetlands Preserve
Photo 8 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Richmond; C, 2021-04-30, Naked Creek at Derby Road bridge - female
Photo 9 by: Doug Allen

Comment: Polk; P, 2020-06-14, Caroland Farms, private ~10 acre pond and small pond - 74 counted on 1/4 perimeter of pond
Photo 10 by: Kyle Kittelberger, Brian Bockhahn

Comment: Hoke, 2020-05-14, Nicholson Creek Game Land
Photo 11 by: Guy McGrane

Comment: Watauga, 2019-08-04, Birdseye View Pond - Very active
Photo 12 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Camden, 2019-06-24, Indiantown Creek, from S. Indiantown Rd. bridge to confluence with North River and back, by kayak.
Photo 13 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Tyrrell, 2019-06-14, Scuppernong River Interpretive Boardwalk, Columbia. Photo of ovipositing female shows many eggs deposited on branch in water.
Photo 14 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Brunswick, 2018-08-26, Boiling Spring Lakes - North Lake and Spring Lake parks
Photo 15 by: Mike Turner

Comment: Davie, 2018-07-03, S. Yadkin River @ Cooleemee boating access
Photo 16 by: Aaron Edmonds

Comment: Harnett; C, 2018-07-02, Flat Branch
Photo 17 by: Mike Turner

Comment: Forsyth, 2018-07-01, Winston Lake
Photo 18 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Craven, 2018-06-16, Swift Creek; 7 km section between Cool Springs Boating Access Area and NC 43 bridge, by kayak
Photo 19 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Chowan, 2018-06-09, Edenton National Fish Hatchery
Photo 20 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Currituck, 2018-06-09, pond at Currituck Community Park near Maple
Photo 21 by: Barbara McRae

Comment: Macon, 2018-06-01, Wetland area near Little Tennessee River in Franklin - Immature male
Photo 22 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Edgecombe, 2018-05-25, Etheridge Pond, Tar River Game Land
Photo 23 by: Mark Shields and Hunter Phillips

Comment: Hyde, 2017-08-04, Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge
Photo 24 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Lenoir, 2017-08-01, Neuseway Nature Park, Kinston
Photo 25 by: Owen McConnell

Comment: Granville, 2017-07-17, Holt Lake near boat launch ramp - male
Photo 26 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Washington, 2017-06-16, Conaby Creek, from boating access area to 2.25 km upstream by kayak
Photo 27 by: Rob Van Epps

Comment: Mecklenburg, 2017-06-13 - Roosevelt Wilson Park, Davidson
Photo 28 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Rutherford; P, 2017-06-02, Morse Park, Lake Lure
Photo 29 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Duplin, 2016-09-09, Cabin Lake County Park
Photo 30 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Jones, 2016-08-26, Trent River, Pollocksville