The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
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North Carolina's 189 Odonate species
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Related Species in LIBELLULIDAE: Number of records for 2025 = 0

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[View PDF]		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.
Tramea_lacerata

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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 S5
State Status
Global Rank G5
Federal Status
Synonym
Other Name
Species account update: LeGrand on 2023-01-17 10:35:36
Photo Gallery for Black Saddlebags   25 photos are shown. Other NC Galleries:    Jeff Pippen    Will Cook    Ted Wilcox
Black Saddlebags, Tramea lacerataPhoto 1 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Craven, 2023-09-15, Martin Marietta Park, New Bern		Black Saddlebags, Tramea lacerataPhoto 2 by: Owen McConnell

Comment: Durham, 2021-09-16, Injured hindwing - 2804 Butner St, Durham
Black Saddlebags, Tramea lacerataPhoto 3 by: Mike Turner

Comment: Forsyth, 2018-07-08, Winston Lake		Black Saddlebags, Tramea lacerataPhoto 4 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Pamlico, 2018-06-22, Spring Creek Waterfowl Impoundment, Goose Creek Game Lands. First record for county.
Black Saddlebags, Tramea lacerataPhoto 5 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Currituck, 2018-06-09, pond at Currituck Community Park near Maple		Black Saddlebags, Tramea lacerataPhoto 6 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Edgecombe, 2018-05-25, Etheridge Pond, Tar River Game Land
Black Saddlebags, Tramea lacerataPhoto 7 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Lenoir, 2017-08-01, Neuseway Nature Park, Kinston		Black Saddlebags, Tramea lacerataPhoto 8 by: J. Brown

Comment: Dare; OBU, 2017-07-25, Run Hill State Natural Area
Black Saddlebags, Tramea lacerataPhoto 9 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Onslow, 2017-07-14, New River, from confluence of Blue Creek to 6 km upstream, by kayak		Black Saddlebags, Tramea lacerataPhoto 10 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Alleghany, 2017-06-28, Little Glade Mill Pond, Blue Ridge Parkway
Black Saddlebags, Tramea lacerataPhoto 11 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Pender, 2016-09-11, Holly Shelter Game Land, feeding on gnats over Lodge Road		Black Saddlebags, Tramea lacerataPhoto 12 by: John Petranka

Comment: Carteret, 2016-09-11, Fort Macon State Park. Along Nature Trail Loop. Males.
Black Saddlebags, Tramea lacerataPhoto 13 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Duplin, 2016-09-09, Cabin Lake County Park		Black Saddlebags, Tramea lacerataPhoto 14 by: Mark Shields

Comment: Hyde, 2015-07-08, Mattamuskeet NWR
Black Saddlebags, Tramea lacerataPhoto 15 by: Mike Turner

Comment: Cumberland, 2013-09-05, Rhodes Pond		Black Saddlebags, Tramea lacerataPhoto 16 by: George Andrews

Comment: Mecklenburg, 2013-07-09, Beatty Park fields - 50/50 sun/shade - 90 degrees - light wind
Black Saddlebags, Tramea lacerataPhoto 17 by: Owen McConnell

Comment: Durham, 2013-06-22, Brickhouse Road - male		Black Saddlebags, Tramea lacerataPhoto 18 by: Vin Stanton, Doug Johnston

Comment: Madison, 2012-08-31, Leach Pond, southern Madison County - Male & Female
Black Saddlebags, Tramea lacerataPhoto 19 by: Vin Stanton, Doug Johnston

Comment: Madison, 2012-08-31, Leach Pond, southern Madison County - Male & Female		Black Saddlebags, Tramea lacerataPhoto 20 by: Vin Stanton

Comment: Henderson, 2011-09-04, Fletcher Park - Male & Female
Black Saddlebags, Tramea lacerataPhoto 21 by: Vin Stanton

Comment: Buncombe, 2011-06-14, Beaver Lake, Asheville		Black Saddlebags, Tramea lacerataPhoto 22 by: Curtis Smalling

Comment: Watauga, 2010-08-16, at the newly created Boone Greenway storm water wetlands project - first county record
Black Saddlebags, Tramea lacerataPhoto 23 by: Curtis Smalling

Comment: Watauga, 2010-08-16, at the newly created Boone Greenway storm water wetlands project - first county record		Black Saddlebags, Tramea lacerataPhoto 24 by: Betty Anderson

Comment: Wake, 2001-09-10, W.B. Umstead State Park
Black Saddlebags, Tramea lacerataPhoto 25 by: Ted Wilcox

Comment: Ashe, 2005-06-20, female