Other Common Names
Dancing Gliders (after oviposition technique)
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
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".
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.
Print References
Fliedner, H. and Martens, A. The meaning of the scientific names of Seychelles dragonflies (Odonata). Phelsuma 16 (2008); 49-57 (
PDF)
