Genus Tramea - Saddlebags

Classification · Other Common Names · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Identification · Life Cycle · See Also · Print References · Works Cited

Red Saddlebags - Tramea onusta - Tramea onusta - male

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Odonata (Dragonflies and Damselflies)

Suborder Anisoptera (Dragonflies)

Family Libellulidae (Skimmers)

Genus Tramea (Saddlebags)

Other Common Names

Dancing Gliders (after oviposition technique)

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

Tramea Hagen, 1861

Explanation of Names

The genus name Tramea is from the Latin verb trameo (infinitve trameare), a form of transmeo/transmeare, "to go over or through" (Fliedner and Martens, 2008; Latin Dictionary). Fliedner and Martens state that Hagen's original thought was to name the genus "trapezostigma" (after the trapezium-shaped pterostigma), but that he shortened it to a less unwieldy word in the actual publication describing the genus. Apparently the name Tramea refers both to the wandering ways of these dragonflies (trameo) and to the earlier proposed name, "trapezostigma".

Numbers

7 North American species (1)

Identification

Body teardrop-shaped, hindwing large, resembling the rainpool gliders, Pantala.

Life Cycle

Dunkle, p. 217 (2) describes interesting reproductive behavior in this genus. Mating takes place while perched. Oviposition is unusual: Flying in tandem over water, male releases females head and she dips to oviposit. She flies back up and the male grasps her head again.

See Also

Rainpool gliders--Pantala

Print References

Dunkle, p. 217 (2)

Fliedner, H. and Martens, A. The meaning of the scientific names of Seychelles dragonflies (Odonata). Phelsuma 16 (2008); 49-57 (PDF)

Works Cited

1.	North American Odonata, by Dragonfly Society of the Americas

2.	Dragonflies Through Binoculars: A Field Guide to Dragonflies of North America By Sidney W. Dunkle

Contributed by Cotinis on 16 May, 2004 - 7:41pm
Last updated 27 June, 2011 - 3:13pm

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