The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
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North Carolina's 189 Odonate species

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Related Species in GOMPHIDAE: Number of records for 2024 = 0

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Riverine Clubtail (Stylurus amnicola) by Steve Hall, Harry LeGrand
Compare with: Black-shouldered Spinyleg   Dragonhunter  
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 Riverine Clubtail
Flight Charts
Distribution Mainly in the upper half of the Coastal Plain, and very widely scattered across the entire Piedmont and southern half of the mountains. Absent from the eastern part of the Coastal Plain, and seemingly absent from the northern half of the mountains.
Abundance Rare to locally uncommon in the Coastal Plain portion of the range, very rare (now) to rare and quite local in the Piedmont, and very rare in the mountains.
Flight In the Coastal Plain, early June to early September. Upstate, records fall between late June and mid- to late September.
Habitat Rivers with a moderate to rapid current and various substrates, for breeding. Recent records have been along fairly slow-moving brownwater rivers (i.e., Yadkin, Roanoke, Tar, and Cape Fear), except for the rapidly flowing French Broad River in Madison County (in 2021).

See also Habitat Account for General Rivers and Large Streams
Behavior Perches on leaves or other vegetation close to the streams and rivers. Males can be seen patrolling up and down rivers. Males, at least, are rather unwary (compared to other Stylurus species).
Comments Though there are records from about 65-70% of the geographic area of NC, there are only 22 county records, implying a scarce species that is not well known. Steve Hall and Harry LeGrand found the species on several occasions in summer 2012 along the Roanoke River, where photos from Bertie and Northampton counties established new county records and thus first records for the Roanoke River floodplain. Mark Shields saw two males patrolling up and down the Cape Fear River in Harnett County in 2017; and Mike Turner found one along the Tar River in Edgecombe County, also in 2017. A major "colony" was located by Richard Stickney in 2018 along a stretch of the Yadkin River in Surry and Yadkin counties, where he counted a remarkable 13 individuals in a single day. Mike Turner found the species along this same river farther downstream in Forsyth County in 2018. Pete Dixon added a new mountain county (Madison) in 2021. The species seems to be in decline in the Piedmont and mountains, where these Yadkin River sightings and photos are almost our only recent records. However, the species could be overlooked as a Black-shouldered Spinyleg unless carefully photographed or observed. The species has a State Rank of S3 (and is on the Watch List), though the State Rank might be closer to S2S3 (rather than the current S3), despite some recent records, as most are along the same few rivers.
State Rank S3 [S2S3]
State Status W
Global Rank G4
Federal Status
Synonym
Other Name
Species account update: LeGrand on 2023-01-10 13:33:15

Photo Gallery for Riverine Clubtail   24 photos are shown. Other NC Galleries:    Jeff Pippen    Will Cook    Ted Wilcox
Photo 1 by: Kevin Metcalf

Comment: Surry, 2022-07-24, Elkin, Crater Lake Park area on north side of Yadkin River, mowed corridor east of the park, with a lot of kudzu. The photographed individual was perched in low vegetation when found.
Photo 2 by: P Dixon

Comment: Madison, 2021-08-05, Hot Springs area
Photo 3 by: Richard Stickney

Comment: Forsyth, 2021-06-21, Park at Yadkin River and Old 421 - Teneral female
Photo 4 by: Mike Turner

Comment: Yadkin, 2019-08-03, Jonesville Greenway, Yadkin River
Photo 5 by: Richard Stickney

Comment: Surry, 2019-07-22, Elkin, Crater Park and nearby utility ROW - One each sex; photo is female
Photo 6 by: Mike Turner

Comment: Forsyth, 2018-08-17, Yadkin River @ SR 1605 (Old US 421)
Photo 7 by: Mike Turner

Comment: Yadkin, 2018-07-22, Jonesville Greenway, Yadkin River
Photo 8 by: Mike Turner

Comment: Surry, 2018-07-22, Crater Park, Yadkin River, Elkin
Photo 9 by: Richard Stickney

Comment: Yadkin, 2018-07-15, Jonesville Greenway - All males except 1 female and 1 mating pair
Photo 10 by: Mike Turner

Comment: Surry, 2018-07-13, Crater Park, Yadkin River, Elkin
Photo 11 by: Richard Stickney

Comment: Yadkin, 2018-07-08, Jonesville Greenway - Along greenway path; one mating pair
Photo 12 by: Richard Stickney

Comment: Surry, 2018-07-08, - Crater Park in Elkin, along shaded path just east of main park
Photo 13 by: Richard Stickney

Comment: Surry, 2018-07-08, - Crater Park in Elkin, along shaded path just east of main park
Photo 14 by: Mike Turner

Comment: Edgecombe, 2017-07-29, Tar River @ NC 42; 35.7904, -77.5488 - netted, photographed, and released
Photo 15 by: Mike Turner

Comment: Edgecombe, 2017-07-29, Tar River @ NC 42; 35.7904, -77.5488 - netted, photographed, and released
Photo 16 by: Mike Turner

Comment: Edgecombe, 2017-07-29, Tar River @ NC 42; 35.7904, -77.5488 - netted, photographed, and released
Photo 17 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Harnett; C, 2017-07-21, Cape Fear River, Erwin. From NC 217 bridge to 2 km upstream, by kayak. - Males patrolling up and down middle of river, 11 am
Photo 18 by: Steve Hall and Harry LeGrand

Comment: Northampton, 2012-07-13, North shore of the Roanoke River at the US 258 bridge crossing - worn male and female
Photo 19 by: Steve Hall, Harry LeGrand

Comment: Bertie, 2012-06-27, WRC -- Woods Island tract near Roanoke River - adult males
Photo 20 by: Steve Hall and Harry LeGrand

Comment: Bertie, 2012-06-06, Roanoke River Wetlands Game Lands, Woods Island Tract - teneral, all seen close to the ground
Photo 21 by: Steve Hall and Harry LeGrand

Comment: Bertie, 2012-06-06, Roanoke River Wetlands Game Land, Woods Island Tract - teneral, all seen close to the ground
Photo 22 by: Steve Hall and Harry LeGrand

Comment: Bertie, 2012-06-06, Roanoke River Wetlands Game Land, Woods Island Tract - teneral, all seen close to the ground
Photo 23 by: Steve Hall and Harry LeGrand

Comment: Bertie, 2012-06-06, Roanoke River Wetlands Game Land, Woods Island Tract - teneral, all seen close to the ground
Photo 24 by: P Dixon

Comment: Madison, 2024-03-20, Hot Springs area, French Broad, https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/203296578