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Gray Petaltail Dragonfly

Tachopteryx thoreyi

Photo by JC_Forester
Published on Project Noah
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36.8411, -83.2268

Reference Links:

Species Tachopteryx thoreyi - Gray Petaltail - BugGuide.Net

Species ID Suggestions

Gray Petaltail dragonfly

Tachopteryx thoreyi

Reference Link
Geodialist
1

Comments (5)
JC_Forester
Nice. Thanks again Geodialist. Hopefully I can get some more photos of this rare species. I think the location will be protected for a while. If not, I now have another tool to protect it.
Geodialist
Good eye, and very good fortune! Thanks for helping to protect the Gray Petaltail's habitat -- a few unethical collectors could wipe out the population! I encourage you to return to the spot where you saw the dragonfly. Wear light colored clothing and stand very still. Multiple authorities say Gray Petaltails are VERY FRIENDLY and likely to land on you!
JC_Forester
The gray petaltail is the only northeastern dragonfly species whose larvae may not be truly aquatic. The larvae live in the mud and vegetation of mucky, mossy, spring seeps which often contain very little standing water.
JC_Forester
Thank-you so much Geodialist. I edited the location. I had no idea it was a rare species. It blended in with the tree bark so well I barely spotted it.
Geodialist
Do you know how lucky you are to have spotted one of these relatively rare beauties? Their habitat should be protected carefully! I encourage you to edit this spotting so the location is less specific and more generic.

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Global Dragonflies & Damselflies
Photographed
PublishedJune 8, 2013

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