Carolina Saddlebags...

I spotted a few of these beauties in the backyard this morning. The Carolina Saddlebags,Tramea carolina, have been hanging out around the pond, no doubt on the hunt for flying insects. On closer inspection; in females the abdomen and face are brownish red and her forehead is violet. Males have a bright red abdomen and face and their entire foreheads are violet. Like other dragonflies, a large part of the Carolina Saddlebags' diet consists of mosquitoes, both the larval and adult stages. So, I'm always happy to see them! m