Saddlebag dragonflies comprise several species including the red saddlebags and Carolina saddlebags on this page.
page 7 of 10

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A red saddlebags dragonfly has clear wings except for a patch of color near the body on the lower set of wings.
[Front view of a saddlebags sitting atop a leafless branch. The patch of red is noticeable on the lower set of wings.]

A male red saddlebags (If you look closely you'll see the reddish color at the top of all the wings.)
[A dragonfly has its wings perpendicular to the ground so we see the entire undersides. The body and face are dark red. The saddle is red, but there is also a patch of white both on the body and the saddle at the very center. There is also a reddish tint to the top of the wings as well as red pterostigma.]

A different male red saddlebags (The red pterostigma--tips on the wings--are more visible in this image.)
[This image is similar to the prior one except the body is L-shaped and the tail end is pointed downward so a more

Despite the name, red saddlebags dragonflies have brown as well as red in their coloring.
[Top side view a saddlebags sitting atop a leafless branch. This is a much closer view than the prior photo. Not only are the patches of red is noticeable on the lower set of wings, but the front edges of all four wings have brown outlines while the rest of the wings are clear. Its body is also brown.]

I believe this is a female red saddlebags dragonfly.
[Side view of a dragonfly perched on some berries. The body and face is light brown. The eyes are purplish-blue and the 'saddle' is dark brown while the rest of the wings are clear.]

This is the same dragonfly as the prior photo with different lighting catching the camera making the "eyelashes" and "fur" on the legs visible.
[All color is nearly gone in this image so the dragonfly appears nearly all black thus emphasizing the outline of it.]

The Carolina saddlebags dragonfly also has a patch of color near the body on the lower set of wings. The top wings are clear.
[Side top view of a Carolina Saddlebags in flight above the water. While the wings are slightly blurred, one can see the reddish-brown color only on the back set of wings. The body of this dragonfly is a similar color.]

The Carolina saddlebags dragonfly has very dark eyes and black all the way around the last two sections of the body.
[Side view of a Carolina saddlebags facing to the right perched atop a white stick. The two clear wings are upright while the back wings with the red are parallel to the ground. The eyes are a very deep red and the last two sections of the body only have hints of red visible in the black.]

I believe this may also be a Carolina saddlebags dragonfly.
[Side top view of a Carolina Saddlebags perched at the top of a stick on a plant. Both sets of wings have a brownish tinge at the upper edge. The rest of the top wings are clear while the back wings have the brownish-red saddle marking near the body. The body is brown with black markings on the last two sections near the tail. The legs are also black.]

I believe this is a female red saddlebags dragonfly.
[Side view of a dragonfly perched on some berries. The body and face is light brown. The eyes are purplish-blue and the 'saddle' is dark brown while the rest of the wings are clear.]

This is the same dragonfly as the prior photo with different lighting catching the camera making the "eyelashes" and "fur" on the legs visible.
[All color is nearly gone in this image so the dragonfly appears nearly all black thus emphasizing the outline of it.]

Saddlebag dragonflies mating in flight.
[The mating dragonflies are flying toward the camera and they are connected such that they look like a mini train in the air with eight wings.]

Continue to page 8 of 10 to see Goldenwing dragonflies.

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All photos © S. M. Garver