NC Odonate Website

Related Species in COENAGRIONIDAE:		Number of records for 2024 = 1
Added in 2024 from a previous years = 3 (2023-05-27) (2023-08-24) (2023-11-08)

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

Familiar Bluet (Enallagma civile) by Mark Shields

Compare with: Atlantic Bluet Big Bluet Hagen's Bluet Little Bluet
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.

[Google images] [Global Biodiversity Information Facility] iNaturalist

Map

Click on county for list of all its records for Familiar Bluet

Flight Charts

Distribution

Statewide. Though no records for four counties in the southwestern tip of the state and one eastern county, it is assumed to occur in all 100 counties.

Abundance

Common, at least locally, and widespread across the Coastal Plain and Piedmont; common in the northern and central mountains, but less numerous in the southwestern mountains.

Flight

A very long flight period for a damselfly -- in the Coastal Plain from mid-March to late December, though scarce after mid-November. In the Piedmont and mountains, the flight starts around mid-April and extends to mid-November in both provinces.

Habitat

A wide array of ponds and other still water habitats, even slow-moving rivers -- especially where emergent vegetation is present.

Behavior

As with many other bluets, it typically is found in full sun at ponds, perching on emergent vegetation just above the water. And, like most, it can be quite local and not found in some ponds or lakes that may seem to appear to be perfect for them.

Comments

This is one of the state's most widespread and often seen pond damselflies, and one of the few that is numerous in truly coastal counties. It is quite similar in appearance to Atlantic Bluet, and thus sight reports of these two in the Coastal Plain and eastern Piedmont must be made with care and might be suspect. This is especially true as the Atlantic Bluet can often greatly outnumber the Familiar Bluet at some/many Coastal Plain ponds and lakeshores.

State Rank

State Status

Global Rank

Federal Status

Synonym

Other Name

Species account update: Howard on 2023-01-24 15:12:56

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

Photo Gallery for Familiar Bluet 35 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: Yadkin, 2021-08-10, Yadkin River at Jonesville Greenway		Photo 2 by: Bob Oberfelder Comment: Wake, 2021-07-30, Seen near the Mill at Yates Mill Park
	Photo 3 by: Matt Spangler Comment: Richmond; C, 2021-05-06, Lake McKinney (lake & hatcheries)		Photo 4 by: p dixon Comment: Madison, 2020-11-06, Hot Springs area
	Photo 5 by: Mark Shields Comment: Carteret, 2020-08-11, Cedar Island		Photo 6 by: Rob Van Epps, Kevin Metcalf Comment: Richmond; C, 2020-04-26, Lake McKinney fish hatchery
	Photo 7 by: Mark Shields Comment: Duplin, 2019-06-02, Northeast Cape Fear River, from Wayne's Landing to 3.5 km upstream and back, by kayak		Photo 8 by: Mike Turner Comment: Wilkes; P, 2018-07-21, Lowe's River Edge Park; retention pond
	Photo 9 by: Mark Shields Comment: Bladen, 2018-07-13, Cape Fear River at William O. Huske Lock and Dam		Photo 10 by: Mark Shields Comment: Chowan, 2018-06-09, Edenton National Fish Hatchery
	Photo 11 by: Mark Shields and Hunter Phillips Comment: Rockingham, 2018-05-13, Mayo River State Park (MARI) - Mayo Mountain Access - males at pond near park office		Photo 12 by: Mark Shields Comment: Lenoir, 2018-05-01, Neuseway Nature Park, Kinston
	Photo 13 by: Mark Shields Comment: Jones, 2017-10-03, Trent River at Pollocksville Boating Access Area		Photo 14 by: Mark Shields Comment: Onslow, 2017-09-03, Everett Creek Nature Preserve
	Photo 15 by: Mark Shields Comment: New Hanover, 2017-08-27, Sutton Lake Boating Access Area		Photo 16 by: Mark Shields Comment: New Hanover, 2017-08-27, Sutton Lake Boating Access Area
	Photo 17 by: Mark Shields Comment: Brunswick, 2017-04-12, North Lake and Spring Lake parks, Boiling Spring Lakes		Photo 18 by: Mark Shields Comment: Onslow, 2016-10-18, retention pond, Coastal Carolina Community College, Jacksonville
	Photo 19 by: Mike Turner Comment: Dare; OBL, 2015-09-09, Cape Hatteras Lighthouse area - 9 adult males; 1 pair ovipositing in tandem		Photo 20 by: Mike Turner Comment: Dare; OBL, 2015-09-09, Cape Hatteras Lighthouse area - 9 adult males; 1 pair ovipositing in tandem
	Photo 21 by: Conrad Wernett Comment: Columbus, 2014-05-24 - In front of Lake Waccamaw park center		Photo 22 by: George Andrews Comment: Mecklenburg, 2013-05-15
	Photo 23 by: George Andrews Comment: Mecklenburg, 2013-05-15, Colonel Beatty Park (Mecklenburg/Union county line) - temp. near 90° F, gusty wind.		Photo 24 by: Mike Turner Comment: Wake, 2012-09-13, Lake Raleigh - including 1 blue adult female (photo is of the blue adult female)
	Photo 25 by: Curtis Smalling; Harry LeGrand Comment: Watauga, 2012-06-19, at private pond - numerous over water and perched		Photo 26 by: Vin Stanton, Doug Johnston Comment: Transylvania, 2011-08-19, Brevard - Female
	Photo 27 by: Vin Stanton, Doug Johnston Comment: Haywood, 2011-06-08, Lake Junaluska and Haywood Community College - Male & Female seen		Photo 28 by: Doug Johnston Comment: Buncombe, 2011-06-04, French Broad River, northern Buncombe County
	Photo 29 by: Ali Iyoob, Matt Daw, Dan Irizarry Comment: Richmond; C, 2011-05-05, McKinney Lake Fish Hatchery		Photo 30 by: Vin Stanton Comment: Henderson, 2009-09-28, Fletcher Park Pond