Tramea Hagen, 1861 (Libellulidae) - Saddlebags


Notes - Michigan Species List - Key - References
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Page last updated: 06 August 1998 (EB)
Notes on the Michigan Species of Tramea

Adults of these dragonflies are powerful fliers and migrate considerable distances, and are world-wide in distribution. Two species have been recorded in Michigan. Like other migratory dragonfly species, larvae can develop in short periods of time and can thrive in temporory bodies of water.

T. lacerata is found in open marshy lagoons and bays, probably does not overwinter in the larval stage in the morthernmost localities where adults have been recorded. Nymphs taken in s. Utah from a spring pond containing watercress and other aquatic plants with trees and bushes surrounding the pond; but elsewhere nymphs may occupy ponds without surrounding trees (Musser 1962). T. carolina is found in clear waters of ponds and small lakes, especially those with rooted, submerged vegetation, and occasionally in quiet streams. Bick (1950) found larvae from standing water in mud-bottomed ponds.

WWW-links on the ecology and biology of larval Tramea:
no links found as of 04 April 1998

Michigan Species List

Map 1 Map 2
Maps 1-2: County distribution of the Michigan species of Tramea
Click on map for larger image

Tramea carolina (Linnaeus, 1763) - Carolina Saddlebags
Tramea lacerata Hagen, 1861 - Black Saddlebags

Key to the Mature Larvae of Michigan Tramea
(Adapted from Walker and Corbet 1975 and Huggins and Brigham 1982)

1a. Paraprocts longer than the epiproct (picture); lateral spines on Ab8 directed approximately straight posteriorly (picture); antennal segment 4 more than 0.67x the length of antennal segment 3 (picture) - T. carolina

1b. Paraprocts shorter than the epiproct (picture); lateral spines on Ab8 curved inwards (picture); antennal segment 4 less than 0.67x the length of antennal segment 3 (picture) - T. lacerta

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References

Bick, G. H. 1950. The dragonflies of Mississippi (Odonata: Anisoptera). American Midland Naturalist 43:66-78.

Hagen, H. A. 1861. Synopsis of the Neuroptera of North America, with a list of the South American species. Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections 4:1-347.

Huggins, D. G., and W. U. Brigham. 1982. Odonata. pp. 4.1-4.100, in Aquatic Insects and Oligochaetes of North and South Carolina. A. R. Brigham, W. U. Brigham, and A. Gnilka (eds.). Midwest Aquatic Enterprises: Mahomet, Illinois, USA.

Linne, C. 1763. Amoenitates academicae seu dissert, variae, etc. Vol. sextum. Homiae 1763. CXXI. Centuria Insectorum, etc. 32 pp. Johansson, Upsaliae.

Musser, R. J. 1962. Dragonfly nymphs of Utah (Odonata: Anisoptera). University of Utah Biological Series 12(6):1-66.

Walker, E. M., and J. S. Corbet. 1975. The Odonata of Canada and Alaska, Vol. 3. University of Toronto Press: Toronto. xvi + 308 pp.

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