dragonfly like thing.
Location:  Greenpoint, Brooklyn
August 26, 2010 2:10 pm
August 26th, 9-10AM
Sunny day after a previously rainy one.
From a distance it looked like a squished flower but as I got closer I noticed the wings and the vivid colors which did not photographed as bright.
It was very still on the pavement for awhile and did not fly away when I touched it.
doe

Black Saddlebags

Hi doe,
The reason you think the Black Saddlebags is like a Dragonfly is because it is a Dragonfly.  You may read more about the Black Saddlebags, Tramea lacerata, by going to BugGuide.

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Drangonfly/Butterfly
Location:  Lake Wilderness, Maple Valley, WA
August 17, 2010 8:00 pm
What kind of bug is this? It looks like it is half dragonfly, half butterfly with blue and black markings.
Lake Lover

Eight Spotted Skimmer

Dear Lake Lover,
Many Dragonflies have beautiful coloration and markings, including this Eight Spotted Skimmer, Libellula forensis.  BugGuide notes this bit of trivia:  “Years ago many children refered to this as the ‘Six-spot’, and counted the basal spots as two crossing the thorax, instead of four separate spots. The same went for the then ‘Ten-spot’, which most recent books have switched to calling the ‘Twelve-spotted Skimmer’. The “Six-spot” name doesn’t seem to appear in any books, but was likely rationalized from comparison with the ‘Ten-spot’ that was to be found in many books. Back then, Libellula forensis didn’t seem to have an established published common name yet.”

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Possibly Ophiogomphus bison?
Location:  Living Prairie Museum, Winnipeg, Canada
August 13, 2010 12:51 am
Took this pic while visiting Winnipeg’s Living Prairie Museum in June 2008. Just now getting around (tsk tsk) to finishing labeling and filing the pics. I think I located this dragonfly on BugGuide as the Bison Snaketail (Ophiogomphus bison) but would like your take on it to make sure. Also that name did not come up when I did a search on your site so if it is, perhaps you’d like a picture of one.
Cheers, Dee

Dragonfly may be Pale Snaketail

Hi Dee,
BugGuide lists the range of the Bison Snaketail as California and Oregon only, so we don’t believe that is your species.  Exact Dragonfly identification is difficult for us.  We believe you have the genus correct.  BugGuide lists the range of the Pale Snaketail, Ophiogomphus severus, as including nearby Saskatchewan, so we believe that is a better candidate.

Hello again, Daniel.  Okay, this time I think we are much closer on a proper ID of the photo I submitted on 12 Aug (I reattached the same pic).  Looking at pics of the Pale Snaketail, it just didn’t have the right coloration.  I have seen several Gomphus which are in that geographic range and look very similar.  Wondering if there is ever so much variation to account for the difference I see in my pic and those online of Midland Clubtail (Gomphus fraternus manitobanus) because I believe they are not supposed to have the yellow spot on the last large segment of tail, like the Plains Clubtail (Gomphus externus).  The Plains seem really yellow compared to mine, but perhaps there is variation by age/location?  Someone posted a pic of what looks like an identical insect to BugGuide Hoping someone with knowledge of these Manitoban insects can enlighten us all.  At any rate, I don’t believe my pic is of either Pale or a Bison Snaketail, now. Thanks, Dee

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Saddle Bag Dragonfly
Location:  North Middle Tennessee
August 2, 2010 10:04 am
Good Morning Daniel,
This fellow was trapped between the screen and window this morning. (hole in screen) I did a double take when I saw it, the transparent part of the wings didn’t show. I ran for the camera to get a shot of the very unusual bug. With a closer look I knew it was a dragonfly, never noticed one like this before but I have seen photos of it. It was so tired from trying to escape its entrapment it just sat on a piece of cardbord for photos. After a bit of a rest he flew into a nearby tree. Thank you for everything and have a wonderful day.
Richard

Black Saddlebags

Hi Richard,
We were going through mail from earlier in the week to see if we had missed any interesting requests, and we found your email.  We believe this is a Black Saddlebags, Tramea lacerata.

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