Black Saddlebags

Black saddlebags dragonfly perched on an upright twig
Scientific Name
Tramea lacerata
Family
Libellulidae (skimmers) in the order Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies)
Description

The black saddlebags is a dragonfly with memorable markings. Two dark blotches on each hindwing, positioned close to the body, look like saddlebags. This skimmer species typically stays in flight and rarely perches for long.

Learn more about this and other dragonflies on their group page.

Other Common Names
Saddlebags Skimmer
Size

Length: 1½–2¼ inches.

Media Gallery
Black saddlebags dragonfly perched on an upright twig
The black saddlebags (Tramea lacerata) is a skimmer dragonfly with distinctive, and memorable, dark markings on the hindwings.
Jim Rathert
Photo by Jim Rathert, courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation
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A black saddlebags dragonfly perching amid dried yellow grass stalks
Black saddlebags skimmers tend to always be in flight. They rarely spend much time perching.
Jim Rathert
Photo by Jim Rathert, courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation
2/4
Newly emerged adult black saddlebags dragonfly perched on a smartweed flowerhead
Dragonflies typically are quite pale when they first emerge from their nymphal skin. This black saddlebags will soon become much darker.
Jim Rathert
Photo by Jim Rathert, courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation
3/4
A closeup of a dragonfly with transparent lacy wings. The black markings on the hindwings are prominent.
Submitted by Chadrick Parson
Use of this image is restricted to MDC only on this page
4/4
Black saddlebags dragonfly perched on an upright twig
A black saddlebags dragonfly perching amid dried yellow grass stalks
Newly emerged adult black saddlebags dragonfly perched on a smartweed flowerhead
A closeup of a dragonfly with transparent lacy wings. The black markings on the hindwings are prominent.
Similar Species
About Land Invertebrates in Missouri
Invertebrates are animals without backbones, including earthworms, slugs, snails, and arthropods. Arthropods—invertebrates with “jointed legs” — are a group of invertebrates that includes crayfish, shrimp, millipedes, centipedes, mites, spiders, and insects. There may be as many as 10 million species of insects alive on earth today, and they probably constitute more than 90 percent all animal species.
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