NC Odonate Website

Related Species in LIBELLULIDAE:

Number of records for 2023 = 20

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Black Saddlebags (Tramea lacerata) by John Petranka

Compare with: Marl Pennant
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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 Black Saddlebags

Flight Charts

Distribution

Essentially statewide, with only two widely scattered counties lacking records. Certainly present in all 100 counties.

Abundance

Reasonably common across the state, with abundance seemingly quite similar in each province. Statewide abundance is slightly less than that of the Carolina Saddlebags, but there are many more records of the Black Saddlebags for the mountains than there are for the Carolina Saddlebags. (The Carolina outnumbers the Black in the Coastal Plain.)

Flight

In the Coastal Plain, it ranges from early April (scarce before mid-May) to mid-November. The Piedmont flight is from late April to early November; the mountain flight is from mid-April to mid-October, but it is scarce in the spring.

Habitat

Ponds, lakes, marshes, and other still water in open places.

Behavior

Essentially the same as for Carolina Saddlebags. Usually seen in flight -- gliding or slowly flapping -- about 8-15 feet above ground, seldom coming to a perch.

Comments

If one were not aware that Black Saddlebags and Carolina Saddlebags were different species, an observer might think that Blacks are females of Carolinas, as the two species tend to be the same size, often fly together, and are similar in abundance. Exactly what micro-habitat, food items, etc., differentiate these two is not obvious. As with the Carolina, some individuals along the coast are probably migrants, but it is not nearly as numerous a fall migrant along the coast as is the Carolina.

State Rank

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Species account update: LeGrand on 2023-01-17 10:35:36

The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
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Photo Gallery for Black Saddlebags 25 photos are shown.		Other NC Galleries: Jeff Pippen Will Cook Ted Wilcox
	Photo 1 by: Mark Shields Comment: Craven, 2023-09-15, Martin Marietta Park, New Bern		Photo 2 by: Owen McConnell Comment: Durham, 2021-09-16, Injured hindwing - 2804 Butner St, Durham
	Photo 3 by: Mike Turner Comment: Forsyth, 2018-07-08, Winston Lake		Photo 4 by: Mark Shields Comment: Pamlico, 2018-06-22, Spring Creek Waterfowl Impoundment, Goose Creek Game Lands. First record for county.
	Photo 5 by: Mark Shields Comment: Currituck, 2018-06-09, pond at Currituck Community Park near Maple		Photo 6 by: Mark Shields Comment: Edgecombe, 2018-05-25, Etheridge Pond, Tar River Game Land
	Photo 7 by: Mark Shields Comment: Lenoir, 2017-08-01, Neuseway Nature Park, Kinston		Photo 8 by: J. Brown Comment: Dare; OBU, 2017-07-25, Run Hill State Natural Area
	Photo 9 by: Mark Shields Comment: Onslow, 2017-07-14, New River, from confluence of Blue Creek to 6 km upstream, by kayak		Photo 10 by: Mark Shields Comment: Alleghany, 2017-06-28, Little Glade Mill Pond, Blue Ridge Parkway
	Photo 11 by: Mark Shields Comment: Pender, 2016-09-11, Holly Shelter Game Land, feeding on gnats over Lodge Road		Photo 12 by: John Petranka Comment: Carteret, 2016-09-11, Fort Macon State Park. Along Nature Trail Loop. Males.
	Photo 13 by: Mark Shields Comment: Duplin, 2016-09-09, Cabin Lake County Park		Photo 14 by: Mark Shields Comment: Hyde, 2015-07-08, Mattamuskeet NWR
	Photo 15 by: Mike Turner Comment: Cumberland, 2013-09-05, Rhodes Pond		Photo 16 by: George Andrews Comment: Mecklenburg, 2013-07-09, Beatty Park fields - 50/50 sun/shade - 90 degrees - light wind
	Photo 17 by: Owen McConnell Comment: Durham, 2013-06-22, Brickhouse Road - male		Photo 18 by: Vin Stanton, Doug Johnston Comment: Madison, 2012-08-31, Leach Pond, southern Madison County - Male & Female
	Photo 19 by: Vin Stanton, Doug Johnston Comment: Madison, 2012-08-31, Leach Pond, southern Madison County - Male & Female		Photo 20 by: Vin Stanton Comment: Henderson, 2011-09-04, Fletcher Park - Male & Female
	Photo 21 by: Vin Stanton Comment: Buncombe, 2011-06-14, Beaver Lake, Asheville		Photo 22 by: Curtis Smalling Comment: Watauga, 2010-08-16, at the newly created Boone Greenway storm water wetlands project - first county record
	Photo 23 by: Curtis Smalling Comment: Watauga, 2010-08-16, at the newly created Boone Greenway storm water wetlands project - first county record		Photo 24 by: Betty Anderson Comment: Wake, 2001-09-10, W.B. Umstead State Park
	Photo 25 by: Ted Wilcox Comment: Ashe, 2005-06-20, female