Have you ever watched sprinters prepare for the start of a race? They get into their starting blocks and lean forward, ready to push off at the sound of the gun. Well, that’s what some scientist had in his mind when he first saw today’s dragonfly, the Swift Setwing (Dythemis velox). The forward tilting of the wings is very distinctive and makes this dragonfly easy to identify.
This is mostly a southern dragonfly and I was thrilled when I spotted one two years ago, the first time that a Swift Setwing had been documented in my county. Since then I have looked forward to finding them each year at Jackson Miles Abbott Wetland Refuge, where they appear to have established themselves.
Last weekend I spotted my first Swift Setwing of the season and I was able to capture these images.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Benjamin and I have to do some catching up on posts, starting tomorrow morning. He will love today’s dragonfly! Thank-you, Mr. Mike!
Beautiful images, Mike! i like the comparison with sprinters 🙂
Nice Mike! It is fun to be photographing dragonflies again!
Funny, makes me think of an umbrella blown inside-out!
My wife made the first recorded (photo) of thisdragonfly in central Ohio about a week ago.
Wow. That is really cool. When I spotted my first one two years ago I did a lot of searching n the internet and learned that this species has been moving northward.
Benjamin listened carefully as I read the post to him and then inspected each enlarged photo. “Wow, I thought his wings were broken!” We talked about how this is the position for take-off and then Benjamin said : “He’s saying, ready or not, here I come! Ask Mr. Mike if the wings go up when he is flying?” Thank-you, Mr. Mike!!
Yes, the wings definitely go up when a Swift Setwing is flying. This is only a relaxation position for the dragonfly. It is definitely unusual, but it makes it pretty easy to identify this species, since I have never seen another dragonfly species with wing positions like that.