The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
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North Carolina's 189 Odonate species
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Our only member of the Family: PETALURIDAE Number of records for 2023 = 1

PDF has more details,
e.g., flight data, high counts, and earliest/latest dates can be seen.
[View PDF]		Gray Petaltail (Tachopteryx thoreyi) by John Petranka
Compare with:   Distinctive
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Note: these identification tips apply to both sexes.

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Map
Click on county for list of all its records for Gray Petaltail
Flight Charts
Distribution Present throughout the mountains and Piedmont; very rare in the Sandhills (only three records), but seemingly absent from nearly all of the remainder of the Coastal Plain.
Abundance Generally uncommon, but may be fairly common, at least locally.
Flight In the Piedmont, late April to mid-July, and sparingly to late July; a later flight in the mountains by a month, from mid-May to mid-August. A recent report for 12 September in the Piedmont is extremely late and probably requires confirmation.
Habitat Breeds in wooded seepages, one of the few dragonflies to breed in seeps. Adults seen in upland forests and edges.

See also Habitat Account for Wet-Mesic Forests with Seepages/Headwater Streams
Behavior Tame. Typically perches vertically on tree trunks, but also perches on humans!
Comments This is a "primitive" species. It is easily identified, as it is the only gray-colored species on the abdomen and as it often gives the observer an excellent view while it perches on tree trunks and other conspicuous places. It was formerly (30+ years ago) thought be be rare (or very poorly known) in the state, but with many more observers afield, the species has been seen frequently, probably not representing a population increase. Though numbers are not overly great for a large dragonfly, its habit of flying to wooded openings in uplands, such as along jeep roads and sunny trails, and perching on tree trunks and humans, makes it readily conspicuous and an "odonate favorite".
State Rank S4
State Status
Global Rank G4
Federal Status
Synonym
Other Name
Species account update: LeGrand on 2023-01-09 11:15:20
Photo Gallery for Gray Petaltail   41 photos are available.
Only the most recent 30 are shown.
Other NC Galleries:    Jeff Pippen    Will Cook    Ted Wilcox
Photo 1 by: Nora Murdock, Robert Emmott

Comment: Swain, 2022-06-06, 		Photo 2 by: Marilyn Westphal, Nora Murdock

Comment: Polk; M, 2022-05-19, Seen perched on large tree trunk, Green River Gamelands
Photo 3 by: Vin Stanton

Comment: McDowell; M, 2021-07-10, Old Fort - Female and Male		Photo 4 by: Denise Williams

Comment: Caldwell, 2021-06-06, Along Craig Creek Road NW of Wilson Creek at Lat: 35.957104 Lon: -81.774248. iNaturalist record # 82046236. - Male
Photo 5 by: L. Arent

Comment: Wilkes; M, 2021-06-02, - Buck Mountain Pond near Maple Springs, at least 2 possibly more.		Photo 6 by: Graydon Nance

Comment: Henderson, 2020-07-20, 35.2293, -82.47953. elevation about 2700’
Photo 7 by: p dixon

Comment: Madison, 2020-06-02, Hot Springs area, French Broad River		Photo 8 by: B. Bockhahn, K. Kittelberger

Comment: Wilkes; M, 2020-06-02
Photo 9 by: B. Bockhahn

Comment: Transylvania, 2019-05-28 		Photo 10 by: A. Rawlings

Comment: Gaston, 2019-05-14; Crowders Mountain State Park
Photo 11 by: Mark Shields, Hunter Phillips

Comment: Polk; M, 2019-05-13, along Green River near Big Rock take-out, Green River Game Land. First record for county. 		Photo 12 by: Owen McConnell

Comment: Graham, 2018-07-02, Tulula Wetlands
Photo 13 by: John Petranka, Sally Gewalt.

Comment: Macon, 2018-06-27, Chattooga River about 150 meters upstream from the Iron Bridge on Bull Pen Road - Female. Landed on Sally. First record for county.		Photo 14 by: Mike Turner

Comment: Stokes, 2018-06-16, Jessup Mill Public Fishing Area; Dan River
Photo 15 by: Ken Kneidel

Comment: Yancey, 2018-06-16 		Photo 16 by: Rob Van Epps

Comment: Alleghany, 2018-06-03, Stone Mountain State Park - path off end of campground Loop B
Photo 17 by: Rob Van Epps

Comment: Alleghany, 2018-06-03, Stone Mountain State Park - path off end of campground Loop B		Photo 18 by: Matt Roberts

Comment: Forsyth, 2018-06-02, North of Clemmons, just south of Ashburn Circle. https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/13057656
Photo 19 by: Robert Gilson

Comment: Mecklenburg, 2018-05-31 		Photo 20 by: John Petranka, Sally Gewalt

Comment: Alleghany, 2015-07-14, Stone Mountain State Park (STMO). - Landed at our campsite, Loop B.
Photo 21 by: Conrad Wernett, Alyssa Wernett

Comment: Richmond; C, 2015-06-14, Single female found in Lake McKinney drainage		Photo 22 by: John Petranka

Comment: Durham, 2015-06-05, Hill Demonstration Forest. Flat River at State Forest Rd. bridge. - Male. Perched on concrete bridge approach. Very tame.
Photo 23 by: Curtis Smalling

Comment: McDowell; M, 2015-05-29, along US Hwy 221 at Coats Factory; 35.834498; -82.002152		Photo 24 by: Jim Petranka

Comment: Madison, 2015-05-29, On tree trunk along the Ivy River.
Photo 25 by: Vin Stanton

Comment: Buncombe, 2014-07-03, Biltmore Estate, Asheville		Photo 26 by: Harry LeGrand

Comment: Haywood, 2013-07-21, along Harmon Den Rd - perched on gravel road
Photo 27 by: R Emmitt

Comment: Orange, 2013-05-27, Emmitt Estate; Perched on the new chicken coop eaves.		Photo 28 by: Vin Stanton, Doug Johnston, Gail Lankford, Janie Owen

Comment: Madison, 2012-05-17, French Broad River, Pisgah National Forest
Photo 29 by: Steve Hall

Comment: Randolph, 2011-06-07, Birkhead Wilderness, Uwharrie National Forest		Photo 30 by: Bob Oberfelder

Comment: Wake, 2010-05-16, Observed in Cary at Lochmere Golf course, female