Interactive Butterfly CD
Butterflies of the
Carolinas & Virginias

Gray Petaltail,
Tachopteryx thoreyi

Size: Very large to 3 1/2 inches.

Habitat: Along woodland edges, openings and seepages.

Flight Period: Late March to July.

Comments: This large dragonfly was perched in a dogwood tree right above a wet ditch or perhaps some seepage. Seepage is where they hang out waiting for females. Females have a very long petal like terminal abdominal appendages which makes for easy IDs in the field.

This photo was taken in Buncombe County on June 23, 2000 along Bent Creek. After I took this photo it gently eased up and grabbed a small red wasp and landed on a tree and quickly ate it. I took a stick and removed him and attempted to place him on a lower perch, but just before I did it flew off.

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Dragonflies of NC