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 COENAGRIONIDAE: Number of records for 2024 = 0
Added in 2024 from a previous year = 1

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e.g., flight data, high counts, and earliest/latest dates can be seen.
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Powdered Dancer (Argia moesta) by Mark Shields
Compare with: Blue-fronted Dancer  
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 Powdered Dancer
Flight Charts
Distribution Throughout the mountains, Piedmont, and the western two-thirds of the Coastal Plain. Absent from most of the northeastern third of the Coastal Plain (i.e., nearly all counties around Albemarle and Pamlico sounds).
Abundance Common to abundant in the eastern Piedmont; common to very common elsewhere across the mountains, Piedmont, and western 60-65% of the Coastal Plain, though less numerous in the southwestern part of the mountains. May be legitimately absent from nearly all counties in the Tidewater zone (around Albemarle and Pamlico sounds).
Flight The Piedmont flight occurs from mid-April to late October, and the Coastal Plain flight is at least from early May (if not earlier) to late October. The mountain flight occurs from early May to early October.
Habitat Found along rivers and streams, more so along rockier ones and larger ones than all other dancers. Can also be found along roads and other places away from water, when foraging.

See also Habitat Account for General Rivers and Large Streams
Behavior This is the most frequently seen dancer along rockier streams and rivers, often perching on exposed rocks. As with several other dancers, this species can be frequently seen away from water at sunny patches along trails and dirt roads.
Comments The two highest counts in the state are from the eastern Piedmont, though this might be an artifact of observer coverage rather than a true abundance pattern. Adult males are easily identified by their very glaucous (whitish) "bloom", particularly on the thorax.
State Rank S5
State Status
Global Rank G5
Federal Status
Synonym
Other Name
Species account update: LeGrand on 2023-01-18 11:00:05

Photo Gallery for Powdered Dancer   52 photos are available.
Only the most recent 30 are shown.
Other NC Galleries:    Jeff Pippen    Will Cook    Ted Wilcox
Photo 1 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Nash, 2022-06-20, Tar River at Battle Park, Rocky Mount
Photo 2 by: P Dixon

Comment: Madison, 2021-05-31, Hot Springs area
Photo 3 by: Harry LeGrand, Lori Arent

Comment: Wake, 2020-08-28, Wooten Meadows Park - photo by Lori Arent
Photo 4 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Robeson, 2020-08-07, Lumber River State Park - Princess Ann. Photo of female.
Photo 5 by: Ruby Sarkar

Comment: Chatham, 2020-07-19, Near Bynum dam on Haw River - Mature male.
Photo 6 by: p dixon

Comment: Madison, 2020-07-01, Hot Springs area
Photo 7 by: Kyle Kittelberger

Comment: Richmond; C, 2020-06-08, Naked Creek - female, brown form
Photo 8 by: Rob Van Epps, Kevin Metcalf

Comment: Montgomery, 2020-05-16, Low Water Bridge on Uwharrie River
Photo 9 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Pender, 2019-06-28, Black River, from Hunts Bluff Boating Access Area to 5 km upstream and back, by kayak
Photo 10 by: Mike Turner

Comment: Stokes, 2018-10-07, Dan River @ NC 704
Photo 11 by: Mike Turner

Comment: Stanly, 2018-08-31, Rocky River @ NC 138
Photo 12 by: Mike Turner

Comment: Montgomery, 2018-08-25, Uwharrie River @ Low Water Bridge
Photo 13 by: Mike Turner

Comment: Davie, 2018-07-07, Bullhole River Park
Photo 14 by: Mike Turner

Comment: Rowan, 2018-07-07, Bullhole River Park
Photo 15 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Scotland, 2018-07-06, Lumber River State Park (LURI) - Chalk Banks Access
Photo 16 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Anson, 2018-07-06, Pee Dee River; 2 km stretch upstream from Diggs Tract Access, by kayak
Photo 17 by: Mike Turner

Comment: Davie, 2018-07-03, S. Yadkin River @ Cooleemee boating access
Photo 18 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Pitt, 2018-05-25, Tar River at Falkland Boating Access Area. Photo of immature male.
Photo 19 by: Vin Stanton, Janie Owens, Gail Lankford

Comment: Madison, 2017-09-19, River Road, north of Hot Springs 35.92085° -82.87313°; - Male and Female
Photo 20 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Lenoir, 2017-08-01, Neuseway Nature Park, Kinston
Photo 21 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Wayne, 2017-08-01, Neuse River, Seven Springs Boating Access Area
Photo 22 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Harnett; C, 2017-07-21, Cape Fear River, Erwin. From NC 217 bridge to 2 km upstream, by kayak.
Photo 23 by: Rob Van Epps

Comment: Mecklenburg, 2017-07-08, Mallard Creek between Mallard Creek Church Rd and Harris Blvd.
Photo 24 by: Rob Van Epps

Comment: Mecklenburg, 2017-07-08, Mallard Creek between Mallard Creek Church Rd and Harris Blvd.
Photo 25 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Alleghany, 2017-06-28, New River State Park (NERI), King's Creek Access
Photo 26 by: Barbara McRae

Comment: Macon, 2017-06-20, Franklin, Little Tennessee River, Greenway - Young male, on paved surface near Nickajack Bridge
Photo 27 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Caldwell, 2017-06-04, Wilson Creek, US Forest Service access off Brown Mountain Beach Road
Photo 28 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Mitchell, 2017-06-03, Nolichucky River at Poplar Access Area
Photo 29 by: Mark Shields, Hunter Phillips

Comment: Union, 2017-05-15, Rocky River at Randolph Landing, Rocky River Blueway Access and Nature Park
Photo 30 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Bladen, 2017-05-11, South River at Sloan's Bridge