Dragonflies & Damselflies of Curacao Mars Muusse - the Netherlands

Striped Saddlebags (Tramea calverti) is recognized by its striped thorax, both in males and females. In males, the underside of the abdomen is black as are S8 – S10, with small pale lines at the base of these segments.
The dark spot in the hindwing is not as broad as in T. onusta, more like in T. abdominalis; it looks more circular and more restricted. In females, the spots are smaller, restricted to the basal part of the hindwing.
Note the shorter and rounder hamulus when compared to T. onusta. In females, the thorax is striped too, the abdomen is warm yellow-orange with the same distinctive black S8 - S10 as in males. Note the extending ovipositor. The nose is pale to red, the mandibles are pale and there is a black line over the frons.
On Curacao, Striped Saddlebags are pretty common and often perch at 'Wabi' twigs (Acacia's). Very often, they fly in mixed flocks with T. abdominalis and T. onusta, making exact estimations difficult, but March 2009 several locations held 100's of Tramea's. This species seemed to be somewhat less common in mixed groups than the other two Tramea's. For locations, see T. onusta.

Striped Saddlebag (Tramea calverti). Muizenberg - Curacao, March 2009. Copula.