New to the Thunder Bay District...the Red Saddlebags

'Just a quick note as we pack up for a weekend excursion. A few days ago I caught a glimpse of a fast-flying mostly-red Tramea along the Pic River, just east of Marathon. I was intrigued as this southern genus is scarcely known from northern Ontario. In the Thunder Bay District we have but two records of a single species, the Black Saddlebags (Tramea lacerata).

Today while I was searching for orchids in the lee of the Horseshoe Bay dunes at Pukaskwa N.P. (48.59249, -86.29847), I again encountered mostly-red saddlebags on the wing...awesome! Even better, I had a net at hand and two individuals were low and slow.

I know very little about these exotic skimmers. I have tentatively ID'd them as Red Saddlebags (Tramea onusta), a new species to the Thunder Bay District...but I could be mistaken.

Pukaskwa N.P. June 29, 2012

---

Related: New to the Thunder Bay District...the Spot-wing Glider (with notes on the Wandering Glider).