A Gray Petaltail dragonfly (Tachopteryx thoreyi) was spotted during a photowalk with Mike Powell at Occoquan Regional Park, Fairfax County, Virginia USA.
This individual is a male, as indicated by its “indented” hind wings and terminal appendages. The male is perched on the left sleeve of Mike’s gray “Army” logo t-shirt. I nicknamed this Gray “The Gripper” because Mike said he could feel the dragonfly tightening its grip on a small fold in the t-shirt.

01 JUN 2019 | Occoquan Regional Park | Gray Petaltail (male)
“Grays”
If you look into the eyes of a Gray Petaltail dragonfly at close range, then you might agree with me that they look like the space aliens known as “Grays.” Hey, I’m just saying — Mike might have experienced a close encounter of the Gray kind!
Copyright © 2019 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.
Tags: Family Petaluridae (Petaltails), friendly, Gray Petaltail dragonfly, Grays, male, Tachopteryx thoreyi, terminal appendages
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