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Black Saddlebags
Tramea lacerata
The Black Saddlebags (Tramea lacerata) is a member of the group of dragonflies known as Saddlebag Gliders. They get this name from the dark band at the base of each hind wing which might look somewhat like saddlebags. The first two images on this page, digital captures, were shot in June, 2003, in Austin, Travis Co., Texas. The first image was shot with a Canon EOS 10D and EF 70-200mm F2.8L IS lens with a 2X extender and 550 EX flash. I thought the wing vein pattern at the base was particularly interesting, so I tried a few different macro shots with a Canon 180 mm Macro and Canon D60. The second image was shot with this equipment. The third image was shot in June, 2004, in Travis Co., Texas of a young male Black Saddlebags. This was also a digital shot, but with a Canon EOS 1D Mark II and an EF 300mm F/4 L IS lens, 2X extender and 550 EX flash.
The shot here was taken with the same equipment as previously described, In Travis Co., Texas in May, 2005.
The next 4 shots of Black Saddlebags were taken near Millwood Lake in Howard Co., Arkansas in September, 2007, with a Canon EOS 1D Mark III and EF 300mm F/4 L IS lens and 2X extender and 580 flash. The individual shown here is a teneral, the next two shots show females and the 4th shot down is a male.
The male Black Saddlebags shown here was in Austin, Travis Co., Texas, in September, 2010. This shot was taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark IV and a Sigma 50-500mm lens and Canon 580 flash.
The female shown here was in Gonzales, Gonzales Co., Texas, in October, 2010. This image was taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark IV and a Sigma 50-500mm lens and Canon 580 flash.
The female Black Saddlebags on the right was at Boardman Creek, Cherry Co., Nebraska, in July, 2011.
The male Black Saddlebags on the right was at the Lometa Reservoir, Lampasas Co., Texas, in September, 2011. This shot was taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark IV and a Sigma 50-500mm lens and Canon 580 flash.
The male Black Saddlebags on the right was in Austin, Travis Co., Texas, in September, 2012.