Kingdom Animalia Class Insecta Family Libellulidae Scientific name Tramea basilaris | Phylum Arthropoda Order Odonata Genus Tramea Rank Species | |
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Similar Tramea limbata, Tramea, Tholymis tillarga, Bradinopyga, Brachydiplax sobrina | ||
Tramea basilaris, also known as the keyhole glider, red marsh trotter, or wheeling glider, is a species of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae.
Tramea basilaris is found throughout most of Africa, Arabia and in Asia. Similarly, this species is able to use the trade winds to reach the Caribbean and South Americas, where it was caught in suriname, "guadeloupe" and "martinique" (Meurgey and Picard 2011).
This species is found at pools, ponds, marshes, lakes and water tanks. Typical reproducing habitats are grassy marshes and ponds, but this species may be found anywhere during migrations. They are seen in tireless soaring flight in sunny days, sometimes in conspecific groups or in mixed groups of other soaring dragonflies like Pantala flavescens or Hydrobasileus croceus. It perches on exposed twigs; sometimes with the abdomen held downwards to balance in wind.