Black Saddlebags

Tramea lacerata

The Black Saddlebags is a dragonfly with striking black wings and a unique saddle-like shape on its body. They are often seen flying over ponds and wetlands, making them fun to watch!

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The Black Saddlebags has a dark body with large, reddish-brown eyes. Its most striking feature is the broad, dark brown to black patches at the base of its hindwings, which look like saddlebags. These distinct markings make it visually different from many other dragonflies.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderOdonataFamilyLibellulidaeGenusTramea

Black Saddlebags

Interesting facts

An adult Black Saddlebags can devour hundreds of mosquitoes and flies in a single day!

Some Black Saddlebags migrate thousands of kilometers, like tiny winged adventurers!

Their young, called nymphs, are fierce underwater hunters that can even catch small fish!

They can hover completely still in mid-air, making them masters of flight control.

Special abilities

Black Saddlebags can spot tiny insects from far away because of their large, multifaceted compound eyes.

Black Saddlebags has two pairs of powerful wings that help them fly forwards, backwards, and hover effortlessly.

Young Black Saddlebags (nymphs) can breathe underwater using special gills that help them hunt aquatic prey.

Measurements & details

Wingspan: 90-100 mm
Size: 48-62 mm
Lifespan: 20-90 days
Flight Speed: 30 km/h
Leg Count: 6

Diet & Feeding

These insect hunters catch and eat small flying bugs.

Age differences: Nymphs hunt aquatic invertebrates, while adults hunt flying insects in the air.

Primary Foods

mosquitoes
midges
flies
butterflies
moths

Foraging Method

Pursuit

Ecological connections

eats

Common House Mosquito

Culex pipiens

Adult dragonflies prey on these disease-carrying insects.

eats

Non-biting Midge

Chironomus plumosus

Adults help control populations of these abundant flying insects.

eaten by

Bluegill

Lepomis macrochirus

Fish, like bluegill, often prey on the aquatic dragonfly nymphs.

eaten by

Eastern Kingbird

Tyrannus tyrannus

Birds like kingbirds snatch adult dragonflies from the air.

Traits

Solitary

Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.

Aerial

Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting.

Colorful

Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.

Insectivorous

This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates.

Wetland

This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.