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 GOMPHIDAE: Number of records for 2024 = 0
Added in 2024 from a previous years = 2

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e.g., flight data, high counts, and earliest/latest dates can be seen.
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Eastern Least Clubtail (Stylogomphus albistylus) by Mark Shields
Compare with: Interior Least Clubtail  
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 Least Clubtail
Flight Charts
Distribution Mountains and Piedmont only. Essentially throughout the mountains, but more widely scattered across the Piedmont, eastward to Granville, Wake, and Moore counties.
Abundance Uncommon in the mountains and in the northern Piedmont (to Durham County), but mostly rare to very uncommon in the central and southern portions of the latter province. Despite the moderate number of records, the peak one-day count was just of 5 individuals, until Pete Dixon had local counts of 10 and 20 individuals at one site in Madison County in 2021. However, this quite small species is easily overlooked in its shady habitat.
Flight Early May to early August in the Piedmont, and mainly from mid-May to mid-August in the mountains, though there are a few recent records there as early as 29 April.
Habitat Small, clear, woodland creeks are preferred; sandy or gravel bottoms.
Behavior Males often perch on rocks in the streams, where they are difficult to spot because of their small size and dark coloration. They also perch on vegetation near the water and make small, quick flights over water.
Comments This species might be more overlooked and harder to spot rather than being truly "scarce". Despite its range, including the Triangle and eastern Piedmont where most biologists study odonates, there are very few reports from State Park personnel. This is not a species one would casually stumble into while in the field; rather, one should look carefully along small shaded or semi-shaded creeks from the latter part of May into the first half of July. The State Rank is approaching S4 now, with the addition of a few more counties to the range map in 2020 and 2021.
State Rank S3S4
State Status
Global Rank G5
Federal Status
Synonym
Other Name Least Clubtail
Species account update: LeGrand on 2023-01-10 13:27:23

Photo Gallery for Eastern Least Clubtail   38 photos are available.
Only the most recent 30 are shown.
Other NC Galleries:    Jeff Pippen    Will Cook    Ted Wilcox
Photo 1 by:

Comment: , 0000-00-00, - en copula
Photo 2 by: Robby Deans

Comment: Forsyth, 2023-06-08, Rural Hall, iNaturalist Record #122813496 - Female
Photo 3 by: P Dixon

Comment: Madison, 2022-04-29, Davis Branch Meadows, Hot Springs area
Photo 4 by: P Dixon

Comment: Madison, 2021-06-24, Laurel River
Photo 5 by: P Dixon

Comment: Madison, 2021-06-20, Spring Creek Gorge
Photo 6 by: P Dixon

Comment: Madison, 2021-06-20, Spring Creek Gorge
Photo 7 by: P Dixon

Comment: Madison, 2021-06-06, Hot Springs area - Several teneral individuals leaving the river
Photo 8 by: P Dixon

Comment: Madison, 2021-06-06, Hot Springs area - Several teneral individuals leaving the French Broad
Photo 9 by: Matt Stansberry

Comment: Alamance, 2021-05-27, Tributary to Cane Creek near Snow Camp 35.907245, -79.421888 iNaturalist record #80496704 - Male, teneral.
Photo 10 by: p dixon

Comment: Madison, 2020-06-06, French Broad River, Hot Springs area
Photo 11 by: Matt Guilin

Comment: Cabarrus, 2020-05-19, Between Parks Lafferty Rd. and Rocky River along the Rocky River Biking Trail - Female.
Photo 12 by: Mark Swanson

Comment: Avery, 2019-06-02, - Teneral male photographed near Linville River.
Photo 13 by: Mark Shields, John Petranka, Sally Gewalt

Comment: Jackson, 2018-06-26, Panthertown Valley, Nantahala National Forest - along Panthertown Creek
Photo 14 by: John Petranka

Comment: Wilkes; M, 2018-06-04, Stone Mountain State Park (STMO),East Prong of the Roaring River. Along river near parking area at the end of the paved part of Stone Mountain Rd. - Male perched on rock.
Photo 15 by: Mike Turner

Comment: Surry, 2018-05-26, Riverside Park on the Ararat River, Mt. Airy - teneral male
Photo 16 by: John Petranka, Sally Gewalt

Comment: Burke; M, 2017-06-21, Linville River at Blue Ridge Parkway, Linville River Campground. - Male.
Photo 17 by: John Petranka

Comment: Orange, 2017-06-15, New Hope Creek, Johnston Mill Preserve just downstream from Mt. Sinai Rd. Perched on small rocks at riffles. - Males.
Photo 18 by: John Petranka

Comment: Orange, 2017-06-15, New Hope Creek, Johnston Mill Preserve just downstream from Mt. Sinai Rd. Perched on small rocks at riffles. - Males.
Photo 19 by: Curtis Smalling

Comment: McDowell; M, 2017-06-07, at North Fork Catawba River; 35.839236 -81.98814
Photo 20 by: B. Bockhahn

Comment: Surry, 2017-05-17, teneral - Pilot Mountain State Park, Yadkin River
Photo 21 by: John Petranka

Comment: Caldwell, 2016-05-09, Wilson Creek at Brown Mountain Beach Resort. Teneral female. Photo.
Photo 22 by: Tim Deering

Comment: Buncombe, 2015-06-10, Small creek off Lower Flat Creek. - male and female
Photo 23 by: Tim Deering

Comment: Buncombe, 2015-06-07, Small creek off Lower Flat Creek.
Photo 24 by: Bob Cherry

Comment: Watauga, 2014-06-17, Flannery Fork at base of Trout Lake dam, Cone Park, Blue Ridge Parkway
Photo 25 by: Doug Johnston, Vin Stanton

Comment: Graham, 2013-07-16, Robbinsville - Male
Photo 26 by: Curtis Smalling

Comment: Watauga, 2011-06-30, Meat Camp Creek Environmental Studies Area
Photo 27 by: Vin Stanton, Janie Owen

Comment: Buncombe, 2012-06-03, Owen Park ponds, Warren Wilson College, Swannanoa River - Male
Photo 28 by: Vin Stanton, Janie Owen

Comment: Buncombe, 2012-06-03, Owen Park ponds, Warren Wilson College, Swannanoa River - Male
Photo 29 by: Doug Johnston, Vin Stanton

Comment: Madison, 2012-05-17
Photo 30 by: Curtis Smalling

Comment: Watauga, 2011-06-10, at Meat Camp Creek Environmental Studies Area