NC Odonate Website

Our only member of the Family: PETALURIDAE

Number of records for 2024 = 5

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e.g., flight data, high counts, and earliest/latest dates can be seen.
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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

State Status

Global Rank

Federal Status

Synonym

Other Name

Species account update: LeGrand on 2023-01-09 11:15:20

The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
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Photo Gallery for Gray Petaltail 47 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.		Other NC Galleries: Jeff Pippen Will Cook Ted Wilcox
	Photo 1 by: B. Bockhahn Comment: Henderson, 2024-06-26, Ochlawaha Bog		Photo 2 by: B. Bockhahn Comment: Henderson, 2024-06-26, Ochlawaha Bog
	Photo 3 by: G. McGrane Comment: Caldwell, 2024-06-11, Forest Road 288, a couple landed on me - Globe Mountain Rd		Photo 4 by: Max Ramey Comment: Watauga, 2023-07-31, Green Branch (36.151653, -81.723496)
	Photo 5 by: Nora Murdock, Robert Emmott Comment: Swain, 2022-06-06,		Photo 6 by: Marilyn Westphal, Nora Murdock Comment: Polk; M, 2022-05-19, Seen perched on large tree trunk, Green River Gamelands
	Photo 7 by: Vin Stanton Comment: McDowell; M, 2021-07-10, Old Fort - Female and Male		Photo 8 by: Tim Lewis Comment: Jackson, 2021-07-02, NW of Dillsboro on Piney Mountain Road, iNat record# 85361980
	Photo 9 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 10 by: L. Arent Comment: Wilkes; M, 2021-06-02, - Buck Mountain Pond near Maple Springs, at least 2 possibly more.
	Photo 11 by: Graydon Nance Comment: Henderson, 2020-07-20, 35.2293, -82.47953. elevation about 2700’		Photo 12 by: p dixon Comment: Madison, 2020-06-02, Hot Springs area, French Broad River
	Photo 13 by: B. Bockhahn, K. Kittelberger Comment: Wilkes; M, 2020-06-02		Photo 14 by: Tim Lewis Comment: Rutherford; P, 2019-06-14, West of Rutherfordton, River Road West of the Broad River, iNat record# 27000395
	Photo 15 by: B. Bockhahn Comment: Transylvania, 2019-05-28		Photo 16 by: A. Rawlings Comment: Gaston, 2019-05-14; Crowders Mountain State Park
	Photo 17 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 18 by: Owen McConnell Comment: Graham, 2018-07-02, Tulula Wetlands
	Photo 19 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 20 by: Mike Turner Comment: Stokes, 2018-06-16, Jessup Mill Public Fishing Area; Dan River
	Photo 21 by: Ken Kneidel Comment: Yancey, 2018-06-16		Photo 22 by: Rob Van Epps Comment: Alleghany, 2018-06-03, Stone Mountain State Park - path off end of campground Loop B
	Photo 23 by: Rob Van Epps Comment: Alleghany, 2018-06-03, Stone Mountain State Park - path off end of campground Loop B		Photo 24 by: Matt Roberts Comment: Forsyth, 2018-06-02, North of Clemmons, just south of Ashburn Circle. https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/13057656
	Photo 25 by: Robert Gilson Comment: Mecklenburg, 2018-05-31		Photo 26 by: John Petranka, Sally Gewalt Comment: Alleghany, 2015-07-14, Stone Mountain State Park (STMO). - Landed at our campsite, Loop B.
	Photo 27 by: Conrad Wernett, Alyssa Wernett Comment: Richmond; C, 2015-06-14, Single female found in Lake McKinney drainage		Photo 28 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 29 by: Curtis Smalling Comment: McDowell; M, 2015-05-29, along US Hwy 221 at Coats Factory; 35.834498; -82.002152		Photo 30 by: Jim Petranka Comment: Madison, 2015-05-29, On tree trunk along the Ivy River.