# Saddlebag Gliders (*Tramea*) Saddlebag Gliders are colorful dragonflies that love to fly over water. They have big, beautiful wings and can be seen darting around in sunny areas, making them fun to watch! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Saddlebag Gliders](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 Saddlebag Gliders has a slender body, often reddish-brown, with striking dark patches resembling saddlebags at the base of its hindwings. These broad wings and the dark markings make them easily distinguishable from other dragonflies. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Odonata - **Family:** Libellulidae - **Genus:** Tramea ## Interesting facts - A single Saddlebag Glider can devour hundreds of pesky mosquitoes daily! - Baby Saddlebag Gliders live underwater for years, breathing with gills! - Some Saddlebag Gliders embark on epic journeys, crossing vast oceans! - These amazing insects can instantly stop and hover perfectly in mid-air! ## Special abilities - **Saddlebag Wings:** Saddlebag Gliders has large, dark patches on hindwings that help them glide effortlessly and identify each other. - **Eagle Eyes:** Saddlebag Gliders can spot tiny insects in mid-air because their huge compound eyes provide almost 360-degree vision. - **Aerial Acrobat:** Saddlebag Gliders can catch flying insects with incredible agility because their powerful wings allow instant direction changes. - **Migration Master:** Saddlebag Gliders can travel thousands of kilometers because their strong, gliding wings allow migration to warmer climates. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 70-100 mm - **Size:** 40-60 mm - **Lifespan:** 30-90 days - **Flight Speed:** 45 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding They are expert hunters, catching and eating other flying insects like mosquitoes and flies. - **Age differences:** Larvae eat aquatic insects; adults hunt flying insects. - **Primary Foods:** Mosquitoes, Flies, Midges, Small butterflies - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** Mosquito (*Culex pipiens*) — A key food source for adult dragonflies. - **Hunts:** House Fly (*Musca domestica*) — Adults skillfully catch these common flying insects. - **Eats:** [Largemouth Bass](https://www.snappit.app/explore/largemouth-bass) (*Micropterus salmoides*) — Fish prey on young Saddlebag Gliders living underwater. - **Eaten by:** [Eastern Kingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-kingbird) (*Tyrannus tyrannus*) — Birds often snatch adult dragonflies in mid-flight. ## 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 It's safe to watch dragonflies, but don't try to catch them. They are best enjoyed flying free! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Saddlebag Gliders? 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 Saddlebag Gliders's wingspan? 70-100 mm ### How big is Saddlebag Gliders? 40-60 mm ### How long does Saddlebag Gliders live? 30-90 days ### How fast can Saddlebag Gliders fly? 45 km/h ### What does Saddlebag Gliders eat? They are expert hunters, catching and eating other flying insects like mosquitoes and flies. ### Where is Saddlebag Gliders usually found? Wetlands ### How does Saddlebag Gliders hunt? Pursuit ## 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: [Saddlebag Gliders: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/saddlebag-gliders)