Black saddlebags

 


This is one of several dragonflies that were in the yard today.

Very cool/cold overnight and they appeared to be waiting for the temperature to climb before becoming active.

If you look closely you can see the outline of the rear wing that has the blotches.

Rondeau Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada, August 29, 2025.

Tramea lacerata

The black saddlebags  is a species of skimmer dragonfly  found throughout North America. It has distinctive wings with characteristic black blotches at their proximal ends, which make the dragonfly look as though it is wearing saddlebags.

The black saddlebags is a relatively large dragonfly at about 5 centimetres (2 in) in length. The body is thin and black, and the female may have lighter spotting or mottling dorsally. The head is much wider than the rest of the body and is dark brown in color.

The insect can be found at bodies of stagnant water, such as ponds and ditches.

source inaturalist.

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