Black Saddlebags

Photo by: Carl Strang

Good times to observe

Description

This relatively large dragonfly (1 3/4-2 1/4 inch long) is black, except for a few brown or yellow markings on the top of the abdomen. The hind wings have broad black marks at the base, otherwise the wings are clear.

 

 

DuPage County Notes

This common large dragonfly cruises over wetlands, prairies, and meadows, seldom landing, whether it is on the hunt or patrolling for a mate. It is one of the migratory species, second in numbers only to common green darners among southbound autumn dragonflies. Their egg-laying behavior is entertaining, the pairs flying over ponds with the male's abdomen tip clasping the female behind the head. To lay an egg they pause, the male releases the female who drops down to the water, releases an egg by touching her abdomen tip to the surface, then seems to bounce back up to the male who regains his grip. The large black basal wing patches, limited to the rear pair of wings, make this species easy to identify.

Preserves where you might see this species

Blackwell, Danada, East Branch, Fullersburg Woods, Fischer Woods, Herrick Lake, Hawk Hollow, Hidden Lake, Meacham Grove, Mayslake, Pratts Wayne Woods, Springbrook Prairie, Songbird Slough, James "Pate" Philip State Park, Warrenville Grove, West Chicago Prairie, West DuPage Woods, Waterfall Glen, West Branch, Wood Dale Grove
 

Habitats in DuPage County where this species has been recorded

Diverse Marsh, Dry-mesic Savanna, Dry-mesic Woodland, Forb Meadow, Graminoid Fen, Immature Bottomland Forest, Immature Upland Forest, Lake or Pond, Mesic Prairie, Monoculture Marsh, Mowed Areas, Prairie Re-creation, Prairie/Wetland Creation, Residence/Facility Complex, River or Stream, Sedge Meadow, Shrub Marsh, Shrub Meadow, Tall-grass Meadow, Tree Marsh, Upland Reforestation, Wet Bottomland Forest, Wet-mesic Dolomite Prairie, Wet-mesic Savanna