Bug FAQKeyhole Glider
Tramea basilaris · Order: Odonata · Family: Libellulidae
Also called: Keyhold Glider, Wheeling Glider
The Keyhole Glider is a medium-sized red dragonfly with very long anal appendages. It is recognized by two brown-black patches on the hind wings surrounded by a golden-yellow area at the wing base. It lives around ponds, lakes, marshes and other standing water throughout most of Africa, Arabia and Asia.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Two brownish-black patches on the hind wings, each edged by a golden-yellow areola at the wing base, identify this species.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
It is a medium-sized dragonfly with a bright red body and exceptionally long anal appendages.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It is found near pools, ponds, marshes, lakes and water tanks, especially in grassy marshes and ponds during breeding.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Adults soar in sunny weather, often in groups with other large dragonflies such as Pantala flavescens or Hydrobasileus croceus.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
The species is a medium-sized red dragonfly with very long anal appendages throughout its life stages.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
They are observed flying tirelessly on sunny days.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its range includes most of Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and large parts of Asia.
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
It can be confused with other Tramea species, but the distinctive brown-black hind-wing patches with golden-yellow borders set it apart.
Source: Wikipedia
More photos
Questions people ask
How can I tell a Keyhole Glider apart from similar dragonflies?
Look for the two brown-black patches on the hind wings that are surrounded by a golden-yellow area at the wing base.
Source: Wikipedia
Where am I likely to see a Keyhole Glider?
They are common around ponds, lakes, marshes and other standing water, especially in grassy marshes during breeding season.
Source: Wikipedia
What region does the Keyhole Glider inhabit?
It occurs throughout most of Africa, the Arabian region and much of Asia.
Source: Wikipedia
Do Keyhole Gliders fly alone or in groups?
They are often seen soaring in groups, sometimes mixed with other large dragonflies like Pantala flavescens or Hydrobasileus croceus.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Libellulidae)
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Sources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tramea_basilaris
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-23 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-23.