NC Odonate Website

Related Species in LIBELLULIDAE:

Number of records for 2025 = 10

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e.g., flight data, high counts, and earliest/latest dates can be seen.
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Carolina Saddlebags (Tramea carolina) by Mark Shields

Compare with: Red Saddlebags Striped Saddlebags
Identification Tips: Move the cursor over the image, or tap the image if using a mobile device, to reveal ID Tips.
Note: these identification tips apply specifically to mature males; features may differ in immature males and in females.

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Map

Click on county for list of all its records for Carolina Saddlebags

Flight Charts

Distribution

Statewide; obviously occurs in all 100 counties, though lacking a record just for Mitchell County.

Abundance

Common and widespread in the Coastal Plain and Piedmont, and can be very common at times in the Coastal Plain, especially close to the coast. Fairly common in the mountains.

Flight

In the Coastal Plain, it flies almost throughout the odonate flight season -- very late March to late November; however, not numerous in the spring. In the Piedmont, it also begins in late March, but the latest date is just mid-October. In the mountains, it has also been seen as early as late March, but the last date is in late September.

Habitat

Breeds at ponds, lakes, marshes, and other open, still waters.

Behavior

Males are often seen flying over ponds and lake margins, usually higher above water than other species, and perching on twigs farther from shore than most species. Adults are most frequently seen in gliding flight well above head height, typically 8-15 feet off the ground, usually over open country. They seemingly can stay airborne for an hour or longer, and observers often get impatient waiting for such an individual to come to a perch.

Comments

This and the Black Saddlebags are frequently seen gliding over one's head when an observer is walking near the beach, or in a field, or in an open garden, or near a large pond. The two can be difficult to distinguish until they appear in front of a dark background and the observer can see the abdomen color (or the large pale abdomen spot of the Black Saddlebags). This species is partially migratory, as large numbers can at times be seen along the coast in fall.

State Rank

State Status

Global Rank

Federal Status

Synonym

Other Name

Species account update: LeGrand on 2023-01-17 10:27:49

The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
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Photo Gallery for Carolina Saddlebags 51 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.		Other NC Galleries: Jeff Pippen Will Cook Ted Wilcox
	Photo 1 by: Al Hooks Comment: Wayne, 2025-05-25, Cliffs of the Neuse SP		Photo 2 by: Matt Spangler Comment: New Hanover, 2024-10-13, Carolina Beach State Park CABE
	Photo 3 by: Amy Padgett Comment: Bladen, 2024-09-28, 2 miles SE of Clarkton - 11:20A Foraging over fields adjacent to swamp		Photo 4 by: Mark Shields Comment: Onslow, 2024-09-11, my property, Holly Ridge
	Photo 5 by: Amy Padgett Comment: Carteret, 2024-07-28, Salters Creek Gamelands Ponds, Sealevel - 2:02P Cruising gravel road		Photo 6 by: Mark Shields Comment: Alexander, 2023-05-11, Rocky Face Mountain Recreational Area
	Photo 7 by: Mike Turner Comment: Cumberland, 2022-07-04, Jessup's Mill Pond		Photo 8 by: John Noble Comment: Forsyth, 2021-08-28,
	Photo 9 by: Jan Hansen Comment: Orange, 2021-04-08, Brumley Forest North-Silo Pond		Photo 10 by: Jan Hansen Comment: Orange, 2021-04-08, Brumley Forest North-Silo Pond
	Photo 11 by: p dixon Comment: Madison, 2020-06-20		Photo 12 by: Jan Hansen Comment: Orange, 2020-04-03, Brumley Forest North-Silo Pond
	Photo 13 by: Mark Shields Comment: Currituck, 2019-06-24, pond at Currituck Community Park, Maple		Photo 14 by: Salman Abdulali Comment: Pitt, 2019-06-17, VOA [Voice of America] site C
	Photo 15 by: B. Bockhahn Comment: Bladen, 2019-04-15, Bay Tree State Natural Area		Photo 16 by: Mike Turner Comment: Craven, 2018-09-01, Croatan National Forest, powerline ROW at intersection of Catfish Lake Rd. and Little Rd.
	Photo 17 by: Mark Shields Comment: Transylvania, 2018-06-27, Gorges State Park (GORG) - males patrolling over Raymond Fisher Pond		Photo 18 by: Mark Shields Comment: Jackson, 2018-06-25, Pond beside Breedlove Road, 5 km northeast of Cashiers
	Photo 19 by: Mark Shields Comment: Beaufort, 2018-05-25, Voice of America Game Land - female		Photo 20 by: Vin Stanton Comment: Clay, 2018-05-12, Beaver pond on Buck Creek Road - Male and Female
	Photo 21 by: Barbara McRae Comment: Macon, 2018-04-13 - Cruising in wetland near Little Tennessee River		Photo 22 by: Vin Stanton Comment: Buncombe, 2018-04-03, Sandy Mush Game Land, Bear Creek area & Redmond pond - Female
	Photo 23 by: Mark Shields Comment: Jones, 2017-10-03, Brock Mill Pond, Trenton		Photo 24 by: Mark Shields Comment: New Hanover, 2017-09-30, Carolina Beach State Park (CABE) bioblitz
	Photo 25 by: Mark Shields Comment: Duplin, 2017-09-22, Pond and ditch beside Quiet Water Drive, Chinquapin		Photo 26 by: Mark Shields Comment: Brunswick, 2017-09-16, Ev-Henwood Nature Preserve, Winnabow
	Photo 27 by: Mark Shields Comment: Lenoir, 2017-08-01, Neuseway Nature Park, Kinston		Photo 28 by: Mark Shields Comment: Alleghany, 2017-06-28, Little Glade Mill Pond, Blue Ridge Parkway
	Photo 29 by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin Comment: Yancey, 2017-05-16, Breeding in permanent pond near the Blue Ridge Parkway.		Photo 30 by: Mark Shields Comment: Bladen, 2017-05-07, Horseshoe Lake, Suggs Mill Pond Game Land