{"id":8632,"date":"2021-09-23T10:08:37","date_gmt":"2021-09-23T14:08:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/?p=8632"},"modified":"2021-09-22T20:08:55","modified_gmt":"2021-09-23T00:08:55","slug":"black-and-carolina-saddlebags-in-mississauga","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/black-and-carolina-saddlebags-in-mississauga\/","title":{"rendered":"Dragonfly Day Brings Sun-loving Saddlebags"},"content":{"rendered":"

In mid-month while walking the weedy trail nearby, I had the pleasure of encountering not just one but two types of Saddlebag dragonflies enjoying the September sunshine.<\/p>\n

Black Saddlebags Are Every Summer Dragonflies in South-western Ontario<\/h2>\n

Each year I have dragonflies patrolling my backyard despite the lack of nearby water. One of my favourite kinds is called Black Saddlebags. It has broad black patches near the body on the otherwise fairly clear wings. These marks are quite noticeable when they hover and circle overhead hunting for insects.<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>
\nYou can probably see why the strange black patch caught my eye.<\/em><\/p>\n

Black Saddlebags also are usually up in the air along my nearby trail. So when my eye caught a strange looking dark patch in the goldenrod, I was not surprised to realize it was actually a perched dragonfly. Of course I took its picture. It was much easier than trying to take a photo of one in flight overhead!<\/p>\n

Carolina Saddlebags Are Less Common Summer Visitors in Ontario<\/h2>\n

Further down the trail, I saw another large dragonfly zoom past and perch. Again, of course, I stopped to take a photo. As I focused, I realized the colours were quite unusual for my “regulars.” I hoped I was looking at a Carolina Saddlebags, but I wasn’t quite sure what the teneral (like teenager) and female Black Saddlebags look like.<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>Carolina Saddlebags have rusty red “saddlebags” on their wings.<\/em><\/p>\n

At home, I was able to check my dragonfly books and confirm that this was a visiting Carolina Saddlebags.<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a><\/p>\n

Like Monarchs, Dragonflies Migrate Too! Some Also Wander Widely<\/h2>\n

Several types of dragonflies actually migrate south for the winter. Common Green Darners,<\/strong><\/a> for example, gather in large numbers in September before departing.<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>
\nCommon Green Darners prefer to hang down so their bodies are vertical, which makes them hard for me to see before they fly away.<\/em><\/p>\n

Other dragonflies and butterflies, though, are not actually migrating. Instead, they are exploring for new places to lay eggs and start new colonies.<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>
\nThis Giant Swallowtail photo is from a few years ago.<\/em><\/p>\n

A few years ago, for example, some Giant Swallowtails wandered north as far as Ottawa<\/strong><\/a>. They found Prickly Ash trees and laid eggs. Now these big butterflies which are more common in Florida are over-wintering and successfully living in our nation’s capital!<\/p>\n

The Carolina Saddlebags I saw was probably also just a wanderer. I doubt that we will have a colony here any time soon but if the weather, food supply and habitat permitted, we could have.<\/p>\n

Watching for Wanderers<\/h2>\n

I’ll keep watching for new and different creatures on my walks. This year I found European Common Blues setting up a colony. Maybe next year, it will be a new type of dragonfly!<\/p>\n

Related Reading<\/strong><\/p>\n