# 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! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 12 - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Black Saddlebags](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Tramea_lacerata_close.jpg&width=800) Photo: JerryFriedman, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tramea_lacerata_close.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Odonata - **Family:** Libellulidae - **Genus:** Tramea ## 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 - **Eagle Eye Vision:** Black Saddlebags can spot tiny insects from far away because of their large, multifaceted compound eyes. - **Aerial Acrobatics:** Black Saddlebags has two pairs of powerful wings that help them fly forwards, backwards, and hover effortlessly. - **Underwater Breath:** 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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bluegill) (*Lepomis macrochirus*) — Fish, like bluegill, often prey on the aquatic dragonfly nymphs. - **Eaten by:** [Eastern Kingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-kingbird) (*Tyrannus tyrannus*) — Birds like kingbirds snatch adult dragonflies from the air. ## Traits - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Aerial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aerial): Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/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. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Freshwater](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/freshwater): Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Dragonflies are harmless, but it's best to watch them from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Black Saddlebags? Compare wing shape and resting posture, where the eyes sit, body markings and the tail segments. Males and females can look very different in color. Dragonfly Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Black Saddlebags's wingspan? 90-100 mm ### How big is Black Saddlebags? 48-62 mm ### How long does Black Saddlebags live? 20-90 days ### How fast can Black Saddlebags fly? 30 km/h ### What does Black Saddlebags eat? These insect hunters catch and eat small flying bugs. ### Where is Black Saddlebags usually found? Wetlands ### How does Black Saddlebags hunt? Pursuit ## Where to spot - [Chadwick Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chadwick-arboretum) — Ohio, US · Botanical Garden - [Southern Nevada Zoological-Botanical Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/southern-nevada-zoological-botanical-park) — Nevada, US · Zoo - [Goll Woods State Nature Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/goll-woods-state-nature-preserve) — Ohio, US · Nature Reserve - [Kennekuk Cove County Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kennekuk-cove-county-park) — Illinois, US · Nature Reserve - [Lake Ridge Island Mounds](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lake-ridge-island-mounds) — Ohio, US · Historic District - [Las Vegas High School Neighborhood Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/las-vegas-high-school-neighborhood-historic-district) — Nevada, US · Historic District [View all places to see Black Saddlebags](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/black-saddlebags) ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Black Saddlebags: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-saddlebags)