Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Dragonflies and Damselflies (Odonata) » Dragonflies (Anisoptera) » Skimmers (Libellulidae) » Saddlebags (Tramea) » Black Saddlebags (Tramea lacerata)

Species Tramea lacerata - Black Saddlebags

Name this dragonfly, please - Tramea lacerata

Tramea lacerata - Black Saddlebags? - Tramea lacerata

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Odonata (Dragonflies and Damselflies)

Suborder Anisoptera (Dragonflies)

Family Libellulidae (Skimmers)

Genus Tramea (Saddlebags)

Species lacerata (Black Saddlebags)

Size

Length 4.7-5.5 cm

Identification

Large dark "saddlebags" on hindwings distinctive. Could be confused with Carolina or Red Saddlebags in poor light. Flies constantly, often gliding, perches infrequently.

Range

Includes most of North America, absent from upper midwest.

Habitat

Near ponds, other bodies of water. Widespread in migration.

Season

Spring into fall in temperate areas, all year in subtropics.

Food

Predatory on flying insects

Life Cycle

Breeds in fish-free temporary or permanent ponds, ditches. (See account for genus Tramea on oviposition.) Partially migratory--some move north to breed and the next generation flies south. May migrate in swarms.

Remarks

Seldom perches.

Print References

Dunkle, p. 217, plate 40 (1)

Dunkle (2)

Nikula (3)

Internet References

Cirrus Imaging

Animal Diversity Web

Odonata Central

Works Cited

1.	Dragonflies Through Binoculars: A Field Guide to Dragonflies of North America Sidney W. Dunkle. 2000. Oxford Press.

2.	Dragonflies of the Florida Peninsula, Bermuda, and the Bahamas Sidney W. Dunkle. 1989. Scientific Publishers.

3.	Stokes Beginner's Guide to Dragonflies Donald and Lillian Stokes. 2002. Little, Brown and Company.

Contributed by Cotinis on 16 May, 2004 - 7:47pm
Additional contributions by Harsi S. Parker
Last updated 29 August, 2017 - 2:06pm

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