Family: Libellulidae
Length: typically 48-52 mm
Members of the genus Tramea (Saddlebags) are considered among the most highly evolved dragonflies, earning them a place near the end of the list of North American species when the species are ranked in taxonomic order.
The thorax of the male is brown, while the abdomen is bright red with black on the dorsum of segments 8 and 9. Females and immature males have reddish-brown abdomens instead of bright red.
Males patrol a large area. They are most active in the morning hours, but may patrol through the late afternoon. Females oviposit in tandem or alone; they touch their abdomens to the surface of the water while in flight, releasing their eggs there.
Ponds make up the favored habitat. Dunkle (2000) reports that Carolina Saddlebags shun muddy water.
This species is most commonly seen in the eastern and central counties of West Virginia, seldom encountered in the western part of the state. The photos on this page were taken in Lewis and Upshur Counties in June and July 2004.
