Gray Petaltail

Excellent photos, Ashley. It's hard enough to get clear photos of dragonflies at the best of times, but to see one with prey?!! Wow!!

Here's one on BugGuide with a striped thorax: http://bugguide.net/node/view/128834 Interesting fun facts, gatorfellows!!

Ok here are some digital images for male and female grey petaltails that you should be able to conclude your ID. http://agrilife.org/dragonfly/dragonfly-catalog/petaluridae/ I met the gentleman that is doing this collection. He catches them live and immobilizes them long enough to put them on the scanner. That way it preserves a perfect image and eye color. Interesting person. :)

The face of this dragonfly appears to fit the descriptions for a grey petaltail, but have not been able to confirm the contradiction about the striped thorax. I keep finding the descriptions of a grey petaltail has a solid grey thorax. Will keep researching.

Awesome video and photos documenting feeding habits!

Fun Facts: Odonata is derived from the Greek "odonto-", meaning tooth. The jaws, which work from side to side, are made up of one pair of upper mandibles and two pairs of lower maxillae. That make them eating machines in the air. Hard to photograph and catch because of their great eyesight; some dragonflies may have up to 28,000 facets on their compound eyes. :)