There is 1 genus (Tramea) and 2 species in Africa.

General information:
  • Both species are large (hindwing 38-43 mm) brown to red dragonflies
  • Often swarming together with the P. flavescens, Pantala (Wondering Glider, Globe Skimmer) 
  • Tramea and P. flavescens follows rains and breeding in seasonal pools and marshes
  • Tend to glide and hover, resting pendulantly in sheltered places. However, Tramea also often perch in the ‘pennant’ position at the end of high or exposed stakes, with wings raised and abdomen either also slightly up or pressed down
  • Potentially found anywhere in Africa

 Synopsis

  • Click on all images to enlarge.
  • A click on the species name will link to the main species description article and image gallery.
  • Available images used and files be updated as more images comes available
 Comparison Table
Keyhole Glider
Tramea basilaris

 

Ferruginous glider
Tramea limbata.
 
Male
 
Female
 
100 1666 Tramea basilaris Keyhole Glider Male Loskopdam MP RSA Nov 2017r 1
101 528 Tramea basilaris Keyhole Glider Female Snt Lucia KZN RSA December 2012
100 502 Tramea limbata Ferruginous Glider Male Farm Alicedale Dec 2015r 4
117 573 Tramea limbata Ferruginous Glider
100 3836 Tramea basilaris Keyhole Glider Male Kozi Bay KZN RSA Mch 2019r 2
100 3847 Tramea basilaris Keyhole Glider Female close up Roodeplaat GP RSA Oct 2020r 5
100 1834 Tramea limbata Ferruginous Glider Male Bang Neck KZN RSA Mch 2019r 1
Silhouette 1 2
100 3837 Tramea basilaris Keyhole Glider Male Kozi Bay KZN RSA Mch 2019r 5
100 3848 Tramea basilaris Keyhole Glider Female close up Roodeplaat GP RSA Oct 2020r 6
100 1835 Tramea limbata Ferruginous Glider Male Bang Neck KZN RSA Mch 2019r 3
Silhouette 1 2

 


100 3838 Tramea basilaris Keyhole Glider Male Kozi Bay KZN RSA Mch 2019r 7
100 3849 Tramea basilaris Keyhole Glider Female close up Roodeplaat GP RSA Oct 2020r 10
100 2608 Tramea limbata Ferruginous Glider Male Bang Neck KZN RSA Mch 2019r 6
Silhouette 1 2
100 3839 Tramea basilaris Keyhole Glider Male Kozi Bay KZN RSA Mch 2019r 9
100 3850 Tramea basilaris Keyhole Glider Female close up Roodeplaat GP RSA Oct 2020r 11
100 2609 Tramea limbata Ferruginous Glider Male Bang Neck KZN RSA Mch 2019r 8
Silhouette 1 2
100 3841 Tramea basilaris Keyhole Glider Male Kozi Bay KZN RSA Mch 2019r 14
100 3851 Tramea basilaris Keyhole Glider Female close up Roodeplaat GP RSA Oct 2020r 13
100 1835 Tramea limbata Ferruginous Glider Male Bang Neck KZN RSA Mch 2019r 3
Silhouette 1 2
100 3838 Tramea basilaris Keyhole Glider Male Kozi Bay KZN RSA Mch 2019r 7
100 3855 Tramea basilaris Keyhole Glider Female close up Roodeplaat GP RSA Oct 2020r 19
100 2611 Tramea limbata Ferruginous Glider Male Bang Neck KZN RSA Mch 2019r 15
Silhouette 1 2
100 3843 Tramea basilaris Keyhole Glider Male Kozi Bay KZN RSA Mch 2019r 18
100 3856 Tramea basilaris Keyhole Glider Female close up Roodeplaat GP RSA Oct 2020r 26
100 2614 Tramea limbata Ferruginous Glider Male Bang Neck KZN RSA Mch 2019r 20
Silhouette 1 2
100 3844 Tramea basilaris Keyhole Glider Male Kozi Bay KZN RSA Mch 2019r 21
100 3857 Tramea basilaris Keyhole Glider Female close up Roodeplaat GP RSA Oct 2020r 30
100 2613 Tramea limbata Ferruginous Glider Male Bang Neck KZN RSA Mch 2019r 22
Silhouette 1 2
100 3845 Tramea basilaris Keyhole Glider Male Kozi Bay KZN RSA Mch 2019r 27
100 3859 Tramea basilaris Keyhole Glider Female close up Roodeplaat GP RSA Oct 2020r 34
100 2616 Tramea limbata Ferruginous Glider Male Bang Neck KZN RSA Mch 2019r 26
Silhouette 1 2
100 3846 Tramea basilaris Keyhole Glider Male Kozi Bay KZN RSA Mch 2019r 28
100 3859 Tramea basilaris Keyhole Glider Female close up Roodeplaat GP RSA Oct 2020r 34
100 2612 Tramea limbata Ferruginous Glider Male Bang Neck KZN RSA Mch 2019r 16
Silhouette 1 2