NC Odonate Website

Related Species in LIBELLULIDAE:		Number of records for 2024 = 7
Added in 2024-00-00 from a previous years = 2 (2023-07-11) (2023-08-18)

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e.g., flight data, high counts, and earliest/latest dates can be seen.
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Swift Setwing (Dythemis velox) by John Petranka

Compare with: Blue Dasher
Identification Tips: Move the cursor over the image, or tap the image if using a mobile device, to reveal ID Tips.
Note: these identification tips apply specifically to mature males; features may differ in immature males and in females.

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Map

Click on county for list of all its records for Swift Setwing

Flight Charts

Distribution

Primarily the Piedmont, but also widely scattered in the mountains (mostly at low elevations) and in the western Coastal Plain; quite disjunct records for Jones and Onslow counties in the lower Coastal Plain. Present in the western portion of the Sandhills region.

Abundance

Fairly common (and apparently increasing) in the Piedmont, except scarce to locally absent in parts of the northwestern portion of the province. Very rare in the central and southern (low) mountains and Coastal Plain portion of the range. The species has slowly been expanding its range northeastward in recent decades.

Flight

Much of the warmer months, from early May to early October; however, most records fall between mid-June and mid-September. There are not enough data to define the flight periods in the mountains or Coastal Plain, as the above refers to the Piedmont province flight data.

Habitat

Ponds and small lakes, but might breed also at slow rivers or wide creeks. These waters are typically in open or partly open situations.

See also Habitat Account for General Pond Shorelines

Behavior

Males are almost always seen close to the margin of a pond or lake, perching usually several to many feet above water on twigs of small trees along the margin. Females may forage farther from water but are much less often seen.

Comments

This is our only Dythemis (setwing), and thus it looks and acts like no other dragonfly in NC. The narrow black abdomen has a conspicuous white dorsal spot on segment 7. Most notable is that adults typically perch in a "sprinter's stance", with abdomen raised, seemingly ready to bolt at any moment. Sometimes they perch with wings drooped and held forward, as do Blue Dashers, but they can just as often perch with wings held above horizontal, angled over their thorax. They are somewhat wary and people typically need binoculars (or a net) to see them well. A recent (2017) photographic record for Onslow County may suggest that the species is expanding its range into the eastern Coastal Plain.

State Rank

S4S5

State Status

Global Rank

Federal Status

Synonym

Other Name

Species account update: LeGrand on 2023-01-16 14:25:41

The Dragonflies and Damselflies of North Carolina
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Photo Gallery for Swift Setwing 33 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.		Other NC Galleries: Jeff Pippen Will Cook Ted Wilcox
	Photo 1 by: L. Arent Comment: Surry, 2024-08-14, Elkin Municipal Park		Photo 2 by: Lori Arent, Harry LeGrand Comment: Wilkes; P, 2024-08-12, Buck Mountain pond. Photo by Lori Arent.
	Photo 3 by: Tom Howe Comment: Swain, 2024-08-01, on eastern shore of Hazel Creek just upstream from Shehan Branch - perched on dead branch above shoreline		Photo 4 by: Lucas Wilson Comment: Richmond; P, 2024-07-12, - Diggs Tract boat ramp. Perching on low tree limbs overhanging water.
	Photo 5 by: Mike Turner Comment: Cumberland, 2023-07-29, Cape Fear Botanical Garden		Photo 6 by: L. Arent Comment: Yadkin, 2022-08-01, Yadkin County Park
	Photo 7 by: Ken Kneidel Comment: Mecklenburg, 2022-07-21,		Photo 8 by: Harry LeGrand. Lori Arent Comment: Durham, 2022-07-11, Flat River impoundments; photo by Lori Arent
	Photo 9 by: Bob Oberfelder Comment: Wake, 2021-08-06, - Seen at the second bridge at Yates Mill Park		Photo 10 by: Matt Spangler Comment: Chatham, 2021-08-01, Haw River--Bynum Dam
	Photo 11 by: Max Ramey Comment: Watauga, 2020-07-28, Lake Dexter (Valle Cay) - First county record.		Photo 12 by: R. Emmitt Comment: Durham, 2019-06-13, Eno River State Park downstream of Cole Mill Rd - perched at the edge of the Eno River.
	Photo 13 by: Owen McConneli and Simpson Eason Comment: Graham, 2018-08-03, First county record, 4:52 PM at Cheoah Pt. swimming area		Photo 14 by: Mike Turner Comment: Forsyth, 2018-07-08, Winston Lake
	Photo 15 by: Mike Turner Comment: Guilford, 2018-06-30, Lake Higgins		Photo 16 by: Owen McConnell Comment: Granville, 2017-07-17, Holt Lake near boat launch ramp - female
	Photo 17 by: John Petranka Comment: Onslow, 2017-07-09, Cow Horn Creek at Cow Horn Road east of Richlands. Access point for New River Paddle Trail. - Male. First record for Onslow County, and an unusual occurrence for the lower Coastal Plain.		Photo 18 by: Jim Petranka Comment: Madison, 2016-07-22, On the bank of the Ivy River along the Forks-of-Ivy Road.
	Photo 19 by: John Petranka Comment: Orange, 2015-06-22, Along New Hope Creek in Falls of New Hope neighborhood park. - Female.		Photo 20 by: Carl Ganser Comment: Mecklenburg, 2014-06-28, Reedy Creek Nature Preserve, beside dragonfly pond
	Photo 21 by: John Petranka Comment: Orange, 2013-08-18, Eno River State Park (ENRI). Pleasant Green Access. - Male.		Photo 22 by: Nancy Cowal Comment: McDowell; M, 2012-08-31, Old Fort / submitted by Vin Stanton
	Photo 23 by: Vin Stanton, Doug Johnston, Simon Thompson Comment: Polk; P, 2012-08-04, Foothills Equestrian Nature Center (FENCE) - Male		Photo 24 by: Conrad Wernett, Ali Iyoob Comment: Wake, 2012-07-29, - Perched in vegetation along the Neuse River
	Photo 25 by: Mike Turner Comment: Wake, 2012-07-15, Tailrace below the Falls Lake dam		Photo 26 by: Mike Turner Comment: Wake, 2012-07-15, Tailrace below the Falls Lake dam
	Photo 27 by: Steve Hall and Harry LeGrand Comment: Northampton, 2012-07-13, North shore of the Roanoke River at the US 258 bridge crossing - perched next to a pond		Photo 28 by: Doug Johnston Comment: Buncombe, 2012-06-05, Azalea Park, Asheville
	Photo 29 by: Steve Hall Comment: Montgomery, 2010-08-30, Dutchmans Creek		Photo 30 by: Bob Oberfelder Comment: Wake, 2010-07-24, Observed in Cary at Lochmere Golf Course, male