Red Saddlebags (Tramea onusta)

Red Saddlebags
Tramea onusta

The Red Saddlebags (Tramea onusta) 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 image on the right was shot in July, 2002, in Austin, Travis Co., Texas with a Canon EOS 1V and EF 300mm F4L IS lens with a 2X extender on Fuji Provia F.
The image on the right of a Red Saddlebags was a digital capture in Austin, Travis Co., Texas in May, 2003, with a Canon EOS 10D and EF 300 mm F4 L IS lens with a 1.4X extender and 550 EX flash.
The young male Red Saddlebags here was shot in June, 2006, in Austin, Travis Co., Texas, with a Canon EOS 1D Mark II and EF 300mm F/4 L IS lens with a 2X extender and 580 flash.
The immature Red Saddlebags shown in the next two shots, were at Millwood Lake, Howard Co., Arkansas, in September, 2007. These two images were taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark III and EF300mm F/4 L IS lens and 2X extender and 580 flash.

The female Red Saddlebags shown here was in Austin, Travis Co., Texas, in June, 2008. This image was taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark III and EF 300mm F/4 L IS lens and 2X extender and flash.
Another female Red Saddlebags. This one was in Austin, Travis Co., Texas in March, 2009. This image was taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark III and EF 300mm F/4 L IS lens and 2X extender and flash. This individual is eating another insect.
Yet another female Red Saddlebags. This one was also in Austin, Travis Co., Texas in March, 2009. This image was taken with the same gear as above.
The next 3 shots of Red Saddlebags (two shots of a male, and one shot from below of a female) were taken in Austin, Travis Co., Texas, in April, 2009 with a Canon 50D and EF 70-200mm F/2.8 L IS lens and 2X extender with a 580 flash.


The male Red Saddlebags shown here was in Austin, Travis Co., Texas, in August, 2009. This shot was taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark III and an EF 300mm F/4 L IS lens and 2X extender and 580 flash.
The male Red Saddlebags shown here was in Austin, Texas, in November, 2009 and was shot with a Canon EOS 50D and a Sigma 150mm F/2.8 Macro.
The Red Saddlebags shown here was in Austin, Travis Co., Texas, in July, 2010. This shot was taken with a Canon EOS 1D Mark IV and a Sigma 50-500mm lens and Canon 580 flash.
The shot of 2 Red Saddlebags shown here as well as the next shot were taken in Austin, Texas, in August, 2010.

The pair of Red Saddlebags in copula was taken in Austin, Travis Co., Texas, in September, 2010, with a Canon EOS 1D Mark IV and a Sigma 50-500mm lens and Canon 580 flash.
The male shown here was in Austin in October, 2010.
The female Red Saddlebags on the right was at Indianola, Calhoun 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 Red Saddlebags on the right was in Austin, Travis 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 Red Saddlebags on the right was in Austin, Travis Co., Texas, in July, 2012.
The next three shots of Red Saddlebags were taken in Dripping Springs, Hays Co., Texas, in July, 2012, with a Canon EOS 1D Mark IV and an EF 300mm F/4 L IS lens and 1.4X extender and 580 flash. The first two shots show a female, while the 3rd shot shows a male.


Red Saddlebags Tramea onusta female Hornsby Bend, Austin, Travis Co., Texas 30 May 2013