Black saddlebags
This dragonfly rarely lands, gliding almost constantly over open water, then joins large southbound migrations along the coast every autumn.
| Where | Ponds, lakes and slow streams |
|---|---|
| Size | 38 to 57 mm body length |
| When | May to October |
The black saddlebags is a large dragonfly, 38 to 57 mm in body length, named for the dark brown to black blotches at the base of its broad hindwings. Males have a blackish thorax and abdomen, while females are duller with pale markings along the sides of the abdomen.
It hunts over ponds, lakes and slow streams and rarely settles, gliding almost continuously as it snatches small insects from the air. In autumn it joins large southbound migrations along the coasts, and its range spans nearly all of North America.
Traits
Habitat
Wetland
Colour
Black, Brown
Active
Day
To people
Harmless to people; only females dip their abdomen into water to lay eggs.
Activity through the year
Often confused with
Shows red to dark red saddlebag patches at the base of the hindwings, instead of the black patches of the Black saddlebags.
Questions
Is the Black saddlebags dangerous to people?
Harmless to people; only females dip their abdomen into water to lay eggs.
When can you see the Black saddlebags?
The Black saddlebags can be seen from May to October, by day.
Plate retouched from a photo by bradyreed, CC0, iNaturalist Licence
Report a mistake in this entry
Dragonflies and damselflies›Skimmers›Tramea
Last updated 2026-09-27. Every entry is checked against published sources.