Let’s play a quick game of word association. What’s the first color you think of when I say “Carolina?” If you’re like me, then you’re thinking “Carolina blue.” And so I was puzzled by the origin of “Carolina Saddlebags,” the common name for Tramea carolina — a remarkably red dragonfly. I consulted the experts of the Southeastern Odes Facebook group.
It was probably first known from [the work of English naturalist Mark Catesby in] Charleston, the source of many specimens that made their way across the Atlantic to European taxonomists, so I suppose we should have named it South Carolina Saddlebags. Source Credit: Dennis Paulson, author of Dragonflies and Damselflies of the East (Princeton Field Guides).
Hidden Pond, Meadowood Recreation Area
I spotted a single Carolina Saddlebags dragonfly perching near the edge of Hidden Pond at Meadowood Recreation Area.
02 JUL 2016 | MRA | Carolina Saddlebags (male)
This individual is a male, as indicated by his coloration, hamules, and terminal appendages.
02 JUL 2016 | MRA | Carolina Saddlebags (male)
Carolina Saddlebags dragonfly looks similar to Red Saddlebags dragonfly (Tramea onusta). One way to differentiate the two species is to look closely at the red “saddlebags” on their hind wings.
02 JUL 2016 | MRA | Carolina Saddlebags (male)
Mason Neck West Park
The next photo — showing a male Carolina Saddlebags in flight over a small water retention pond at Mason Neck West Park (MNWP) — features a better view of the red saddlebags.
02 JUL 2016 | MNWP | Carolina Saddlebags (male, in flight)
The following composite image — created by Ed Lam, author and illustrator of Damselflies of the Northeast — clearly shows the difference in the shape of the saddlebags for Carolina- versus Red Saddlebags. Look closely at the saddlebags in the full-size version of the preceding photo and you can see the pattern perfectly matches the Carolina Saddlebags in Ed’s image, shown below.
Composite image used with permission from Ed Lam.
Dragonflies are classified as either “fliers” or “perchers,” based upon their feeding habits. Carolina Saddlebags dragonflies are fliers; it is more common to see them flying than perching. I saw several Carolina Saddlebags at Mason Neck West Park, including both males and females, but I never saw one land during several hours of observation. Based upon this experience, the male I spotted perching at Hidden Pond (shown above) was an unexpected surprise!
02 JUL 2016 | MNWP | Carolina Saddlebags (male, in flight)
Copyright © 2016 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.
Tags: Carolina Saddlebags dragonfly, hamules, Hidden Pond, in flight, male, Mason Neck West Park, Meadowood Recreation Area, terminal appendages, Tramea carolina
walter sanford's photoblog 
July 8, 2016 at 11:05 pm |
He’s absolutely gorgeous Walter!
July 9, 2016 at 4:02 pm |
On behalf of the species, thanks Laura! Where have you been? It’s like you disappeared for a while.
July 10, 2016 at 8:11 pm |
I was back in Australia for a two week visit. Its been two years since I’ve seen family and friends, so it was a very exhausting vacation, but so great to see everyone after so long.
December 30, 2016 at 4:05 am |
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January 22, 2017 at 4:14 am |
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September 19, 2022 at 8:51 am |
Thanks so much for this post. I never really understood the difference between the Red and the Carolina until I saw the composite photo you have here. I linked to this from my own blog as a resource.
September 19, 2022 at 12:35 pm |
You’re welcome! Depending upon where you live, it’s more likely you’ll one species or the other but not both. Take a look at the range maps for the two species available from DSA “Odonata Central.” https://www.odonatacentral.org/app/#/maps/?filterqs=%7Cexcludedotmap%7Cexcludeinat