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stevevalley.bsky.social
Steve Valley
@stevevalley.bsky.social
380 followers 150 following 260 posts
All the photographs are copyrighted except my reposts
No AI used
Entomologist, Insect Imaging Specialist, Oregon Department of Agriculture (retired), Focus Stacker, Dragonflies/Damselflies, Dragonfly Embryology, Dragonfly Society of the Americas Co-Founder
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stevevalley.bsky.social
A female #RiverJewelwing #damselfly #Calopteryx-aequabilis #CoxCreekAlbany,Oregon #Odonata #Insects #Zygoptera #Calopterygidae #Invertebrate #Entomology #FocusStacking #NikonD850 #ZereneStacker #BugPics #art #DamselflyPortraits #DragonflyPhotography #Structural/MetallicColors #SteveValleyPhotography
An immature female River Jewelwing, Calopteryx aequabilis displaying the bright metallic green and red on his face that is caused by the surface micro-structure rather than by pigments. As this species ages the facial colors may dull or darken. The eyes will also darken. Many species of damselflies and dragonflies display bright structural coloration on their heads. A focus stacked image shot with a Mitutoyo M Plan APO 5x infinity objective and Nikon D810 DSLR camera.
July 25, 2025 at 2:11 AM
stevevalley.bsky.social
A male #AmericanRubyspot #damselfly #Hetaerina-americana #CoxCreek,Albany,Oregon #Odonata #Insects #Zygoptera #Calopterygidae #Invertebrate #Entomology #FocusStacking #NikonD850 #ZereneStacker #BugPics #art #DamselflyPortraits #DragonflyPhotography #Structural/MetallicColors #SteveValleyPhotography
A male American Rubyspot, Hetaerina americana displaying the bright metallic red on his face that is caused by the surface micro-structure rather than by pigments. As this species ages the facial colors may dull or darken. Many species of damselflies and dragonflies display bright structural coloration on their heads. A focus stacked image shot with a Mitutoyo M Plan APO 5x infinity objective and Nikon D850 DSLR camera.
July 25, 2025 at 1:55 AM
stevevalley.bsky.social
A mature male #ColumbiaClubtail #dragonfly #Gomphurus-lynnae #JohnDayRiver,Oregon #Odonata #Insects #Anisoptera #Gomphidae #Invertebrate #Entomology #FocusStacking #NikonD810 #ZereneStacker #BugPics #art #DragonflyPortraits #DragonflyPhotography #Pruinosity #SteveValleyPhotography
A mature male Columbia Clubtail, Gompurus lynnae on the John Day River, Oregon.
July 3, 2025 at 4:41 AM
stevevalley.bsky.social
A mature female #ColumbiaClubtail #dragonfly #Gomphurus-lynnae #JohnDayRiver,Oregon #Odonata #Insects #Anisoptera #Gomphidae #Invertebrate #Entomology #FocusStacking #NikonD810 #ZereneStacker #BugPics #art #DragonflyPortraits #DragonflyPhotography #Pruinosity #SteveValleyPhotography
A mature female Columbia Clubtail, Gompurus lynnae on the John Day River, Oregon.
July 3, 2025 at 1:14 AM
stevevalley.bsky.social
A male #RiverJewelwing #damselfly #Calopteryx-aequabilis on Cox Creek #Albany,Oregon
#Odonata #Insects #Zygoptera #Calopterigidae #MatingDisplays #Invertebrate #Entomology #SteveValleyPhotography #photography #SciArt #NikonD700 #200mmMicro-Nikkor #BugPics #DragonflyPhotography #Macro #Art #Science
A male River Jewelwing damselfly, Calopteryx aequabilis on Cox Creek, Albany, Oregon. Nikon D700 with a 200mm Micro-Nikkor. A wing flair display is used to signal "this is my spot, back-off!" They stand on their tiptoes, hyper-alert and aware of my presence a few inches away, ready to flit to another nearby perch. Males like visible perches to stage their competitive aerial display for watching females. The males also have a fairly wide set of mating displays performed closer to an individual target female that appears receptive to his advances.
April 28, 2025 at 5:59 AM
stevevalley.bsky.social
A Female #RiverJewelwing #damselfly #Calopteryx-aequabilis on Cox Creek #Albany,Oregon
#Odonata #Insects #Zygoptera #Calopterigidae #MatingDisplays #Invertebrate #Entomology #SteveValleyPhotography #photography #SciArt #NikonD700 #200mmMicro-Nikkor #BugPics #DragonflyPhotography #Macro #Art #Science
A female River Jewelwing damselfly, Calopteryx aequabilis on Cox Creek, Albany, Oregon. Nikon D700 with a 200mm Micro-Nikkor. They stand on their tiptoes, hyper-alert and aware of my presence a few inches away, ready to flit to another nearby perch. Females have favorite perches to give them clear view of males performing different intricate flight displays in groups and individually.
April 27, 2025 at 5:52 AM
stevevalley.bsky.social
A mature female #RiverJewelwing #damselfly #Calopteryx-aequabilis Cox Creek #Albany,Oregon #Odonata #Insects #Zygoptera #Calopterygidae #Invertebrate #Entomology #FocusStacking #NikonD850 #ZereneStacker #BugPics #art #DamselflyPortraits #DragonflyPhotography #StructuralColors #SteveValleyPhotography
DOES ANYONE READ THESE OR CARE? A mature female River Jewelwing damselfly, Calopteryx aequabilis on Cox Creek, Albany, Oregon. The eyes have darkened as she matured and the bright metallic structural colored patches have also darkened, while the base of each antennae and several patches on the face have become bright cream-colored patches. Her wing membranes have darkened and the veins are dark green and there is a bright white pseudostigma. DOES ANYONE READ THESE OR CARE?
April 23, 2025 at 5:21 AM
stevevalley.bsky.social
Female ovipositing #RiverJewelwing #damselfly #Calopteryx-aequabilis on Cox Creek #Albany,Oregon
#Odonata #Insects #Zygoptera #Calopterigidae #MatingDisplays #Invertebrate #Entomology #SteveValleyPhotography #photography #SciArt #NikonD700 #200mmMicro-Nikkor #BugPics #DragonflyPhotography #Science
A female River Jewelwing damselfly, Calopteryx aequabilis ovipositing on Cox Creek, Albany, Oregon. She is completely submerged except for he wingtips she stayed underwater for 28 minutes. Nikon D700 with a 200mm Micro-Nikkor.
April 22, 2025 at 5:21 AM
stevevalley.bsky.social
An immature male #RiverJewelwing #damselfly #Calopteryx-aequabilis Cox Creek #Albany,Oregon #Odonata #Insects #Zygoptera #Calopterygidae #Invertebrate #Entomology #FocusStacking #NikonD810 #ZereneStacker #BugPics #DamselflyPortraits #DragonflyPhotography #StructuralColors #SteveValleyPhotography
An immature male River Jewelwing damselfly, Calopteryx aequabilis on Cox Creek, Albany, Oregon. The eyes will darken quickly as he matures until they are almost entirely deep black, much darker than the female's mature eye color. The metallic structural colors on the face will mostly darken until they look mostly black, while the metallic green on the body will darken but still be a spectacular metallic dark blue/green. Males engage in complex aerial lekking displays for watching females.
April 21, 2025 at 6:22 AM
stevevalley.bsky.social
A pair #RiverJewelwing #damselfly #Calopteryx-aequabilis on Cox Creek #Albany,Oregon
#Odonata #Insects #Zygoptera #Calopterigidae #MatingDisplays #Invertebrate #Entomology #SteveValleyPhotography #photography #SciArt #NikonD700 #200mmMicro-Nikkor #BugPics #DragonflyPhotography #Macro #Art #Science
Direct eye contact between a female (left) and a male (right) River Jewelwing damselflies, Calopteryx aequabilis on Cox Creek, Albany, Oregon. Nikon D700 with a 200mm Micro-Nikkor. Sometimes at this stage in courtship, they lose the hyper-alert and awareness of my presence a few inches away. The males also have a fairly wide set of mating displays performed closer to an individual target female that appears receptive to his advances.
April 19, 2025 at 6:31 AM
stevevalley.bsky.social
An immature male #RiverJewelwing #damselfly #Calopteryx-aequabilis Cox Creek #Albany,Oregon #Odonata #Insects #Zygoptera #Calopterygidae #Invertebrate #Entomology #FocusStacking #NikonD810 #ZereneStacker #BugPics #DamselflyPortraits #DragonflyPhotography #StructuralColors #SteveValleyPhotography
An immature male River Jewelwing damselfly, Calopteryx aequabilis on Cox Creek, Albany, Oregon. The eyes will darken quickly as he matures until they are almost entirely deep black, much darker than the female's mature eye color. The metallic structural colors on the face will mostly darken until they look mostly black, while the metallic green on the body will darken but still be a spectacular metallic dark blue/green. Males engage in complex aerial lekking displays for watching females.
April 17, 2025 at 5:20 AM
stevevalley.bsky.social
An immature female #RiverJewelwing #damselfly #Calopteryx-aequabilis Cox Creek #Albany,Oregon #Odonata #Insects #Zygoptera #Calopterygidae #Invertebrate #Entomology #FocusStacking #NikonD810 #ZereneStacker #BugPics #DamselflyPortraits #DragonflyPhotography #StructuralColors #SteveValleyPhotography
An immature female River Jewelwing damselfly, Calopteryx aequabilis on Cox Creek, Albany, Oregon. The eyes will darken as she matures and the bright metallic structural colored patches will also darken, while the base of each antennae and several patches on the face will become bright whitish patches. Her wings were bright copper reflections of the morning sun on her maiden flight.
April 15, 2025 at 6:04 AM
stevevalley.bsky.social
A male #RiverJewelwing #damselfly #Calopteryx-aequabilis on Cox Creek #Albany,Oregon
#Odonata #Insects #Zygoptera #Calopterigidae #MatingDisplays #Invertebrate #Entomology #SteveValleyPhotography #photography #SciArt #NikonD700 #200mmMicro-Nikkor #BugPics #DragonflyPhotography #Macro #Art #Science
A male River Jewelwing damselfly, Calopteryx aequabilis on Cox Creek, Albany, Oregon. Nikon D700 with a 200mm Micro-Nikkor. They stand on their tiptoes, hyper-alert and aware of my presence a few inches away, ready to flit to another nearby perch. Males like visible perches to stage their competitive aerial display for watching females. The males also have a fairly wide set of mating displays performed closer to an individual target female that appears receptive to his advances.
April 15, 2025 at 1:01 AM
stevevalley.bsky.social
American Economist on American conservatism: "The modern conservative is not even especially modern. He is engaged, on the contrary, in one of man’s oldest, best financed, most applauded, and, on the whole, least successful exercises in moral philosophy. That is the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. It is an exercise which always involves a certain number of internal contradictions and even a few absurdities. The conspicuously wealthy turn up urging the character-building value of privation for the poor. The man who has struck it rich in minerals, oil, or other bounties of nature is found explaining the debilitating effect of unearned income from the state. The corporate executive who is a superlative success as an organization man weighs in on the evils of bureaucracy. Federal aid to education is feared by those who live in suburbs that could easily forgo this danger, and by people whose children are in public schools. Socialized medicine is condemned by men emerging from Walter Reed Hospital. Social Security is viewed with alarm by those who have the comfortable cushion of an inherited income. Those who are immediately threatened by public efforts to meet their needs — whether widows, small farmers, hospitalized veterans, or the unemployed — are almost always oblivious to the danger." Kenneth Galbraith (1908-2006) Canadian-American economist, diplomat, author Speech (1963-12-13), “Wealth and Poverty,” National Policy Committee on Pockets of Poverty
April 13, 2025 at 12:12 AM
stevevalley.bsky.social
A female #RiverJewelwing #damselfly #Calopteryx-aequabilis on Cox Creek #Albany,Oregon
#Odonata #Insects #Zygoptera #Calopterigidae #MatingDisplays #Invertebrate #Entomology #SteveValleyPhotography #photography #SciArt #NikonD700 #200mmMicro-Nikkor #BugPics #DragonflyPhotography #Macro #Art #Science
A female River Jewelwing damselfly, Calopteryx aequabilis on Cox Creek, Albany, Oregon. Nikon D700 with a 200mm Micro-Nikkor. They stand on their tiptoes, hyper-alert and aware of my presence a few inches away, ready to flit to another nearby perch. Females have favorite perches to give them clear view of males performing different intricate flight displays in groups and individually.
April 12, 2025 at 9:56 PM
stevevalley.bsky.social
A mature male #DesertWhitetail #dragonfly #Plathemis-subornata #MickeyHotSprings, #Alvord #MalheurCo,Oregon

#Odonata #Insects #Anisoptera #Libellulidae #Invertebrate #Entomology #SteveValleyPhotography #photography #SciArt #NikonD700 #200mmMicro-Nikkor #BugPics #DragonflyPhotography #Macro #Science
A mature male Desert Whitetail dragonfly, Plathemis subornata at Twin Hot Springs, White Horse Ranch Road, Malheur County, Oregon. This species is normally found in the Desert Southwestern US, in SE Oregon they are always associated with hot springs that are common throughout the geologically active region. Note pruinosty on abdomen and inner wings and how the dark pigment has filled in the wing patches.
April 12, 2025 at 3:27 AM
stevevalley.bsky.social
An imm. male #DesertWhitetail #dragonfly, #Plathemis-subornata #MickeyHotSprings, #Alvord #MalheurCo,Oregon

#Odonata #Insects #Anisoptera #Libellulidae #Invertebrate #Entomology #SteveValleyPhotography #photography #SciArt #NikonD700 #200mmMicro-Nikkor #BugPics #DragonflyPhotography #Macro #Science
An immature male Desert Whitetail dragonfly, Plathemis subornata at Mickey Hot Spring, Alvord Area, off the Mann Lake/Fields Road, Malheur County, Oregon. This species is normally found in the Desert Southwestern US, in SE Oregon they are always associated with hot springs that are common throughout the geologically active region.
April 7, 2025 at 5:26 AM
stevevalley.bsky.social
A male #VarigatedMeadowhawk #dragonfly, #Sympetrum-corruptum Cox Creek #Albany,Oregon,USA

#Odonata #Insects #Anisoptera #Libellulidae #Invertebrate #Entomology #FocusStacking #NikonD810 #ZereneStacker #Macro #BugPics #DragonflyPhotography #Science #SteveValleyPhotography #photography #SciArt #Art
A male Varigated Meadowhawk dragonfly, Sympetrum corruptum on Cox Creek, Albany, Oregon.
March 28, 2025 at 5:06 AM
stevevalley.bsky.social
A male #VarigatedMeadowhawk #dragonfly, #Sympetrum-corruptum Cox Creek #Albany,Oregon,USA

#Odonata #Insects #Anisoptera #Libellulidae #Invertebrate #Entomology #FocusStacking #NikonD810 #ZereneStacker #Macro #BugPics #DragonflyPhotography #Science #SteveValleyPhotography #photography #SciArt #Art
A male Varigated Meadowhawk dragonfly, Sympetrum corruptum on Cox Creek, Albany, Oregon.
March 28, 2025 at 4:15 AM
stevevalley.bsky.social
#PurpleDeadnettle, #Lamium-purpurium-L
#Wildflowers #Albany,Oregon,USA. A common edible weed globally
#Flowers #Spring #VascularPlants #NativePlants #Botony #Entomology #SteveValleyPhotography #FocusStacking #NikonD810 #ZereneStacker #photography #Macro #SciArt #BugPics #FlowerPhotography #Science
Purple Deadnettle, Lamium purpurium L. A wildflower in Albany, Oregon, USA. A very common weed globally with a surprisingly intricate flower. Google says it's edible and suggests using it in salads anywhere you would use spinach.
March 21, 2025 at 6:12 AM
stevevalley.bsky.social
#PurpleDeadnettle, #Lamium-purpurium-L
#Wildflowers #Albany,Oregon,USA. A common edible weed globally
#Flowers #Spring #VascularPlants #NativePlants #Botony #Entomology #SteveValleyPhotography #FocusStacking #NikonD810 #ZereneStacker #photography #Macro #SciArt #BugPics #FlowerPhotography #Science
Purple Deadnettle, Lamium purpurium L. A wildflower in Albany, Oregon, USA. A very common weed globally with a surprisingly intricate flower. Google says it's edible and suggests using it in salads anywhere you would use spinach.
March 21, 2025 at 5:26 AM
stevevalley.bsky.social
#PurpleDeadnettle, #Lamium-purpurium-L
#Wildflowers #Albany,Oregon,USA. A common weed globally.
#Flowers #Spring #VascularPlants #NativePlants #Botony #Entomology #SteveValleyPhotography #FocusStacking #NikonD810 #ZereneStacker #photography #Macro #SciArt #BugPics #FlowerPhotography #Science
Purple Deadnettle, Lamium purpurium L. A wildflower in Albany, Oregon, USA. A very common weed globally with a surprisingly intricate flower.
March 21, 2025 at 1:59 AM
stevevalley.bsky.social
#PurpleDeadnettle, #Lamium-purpurium-L
#Wildflowers #Albany,Oregon,USA. A common weed globally.
#Flowers #Spring #VascularPlants #NativePlants #Botony #Entomology #SteveValleyPhotography #FocusStacking #NikonD810 #ZereneStacker #photography #Macro #SciArt #BugPics #FlowerPhotography #Science
Purple Deadnettle, Lamium purpurium L. A wildflower in Albany, Oregon, USA. A very common weed globally with a surprisingly intricate flower.
March 21, 2025 at 12:27 AM
stevevalley.bsky.social
#PurpleDeadnettle, #Lamium-purpurium-L
#Wildflowers #Albany,Oregon,USA. A common weed globally.
#Flowers #Spring #VascularPlants #NativePlants #Botony #Entomology #SteveValleyPhotography #FocusStacking #NikonD810 #ZereneStacker #photography #Macro #SciArt #BugPics #FlowerPhotography #Science
Purple Deadnettle, Lamium purpurium L. A wildflower in Albany, Oregon, USA. A very common weed globally with a surprisingly intricate flower.
March 21, 2025 at 12:25 AM
stevevalley.bsky.social
Female #AmericanRubyspot #damselflies #Hetaerina-americana Lighting comparisons on Cox Creek #Albany,Oregon,USA
#Odonata #Insects #Zygoptera #Calopterigidae #Invertebrate #Entomology #SteveValleyPhotography #photography #SciArt #NikonD700 #200mmMicro-Nikkor #BugPics #DragonflyPhotography #Macro #Art
A female American Rubyspot damselfly, Hetaerina americana lighting comparisons on Cox Creek, Albany, Oregon, USA. The sun was just a few degrees off vertical, BEHIND the subject causing her wings to glow. I think this may be one of the most exquisitely beautiful creatures on this planet! A female American Rubyspot damselfly, Hetaerina americana lighting comparisons on Cox Creek, Albany, Oregon, USA. The sun was just a few degrees off vertical, IN FRONT OF the subject making the pigmented spot look much darke, but it shows us that the darker pigmented areas on her body are actually structural colors that look metallic bronze.
March 19, 2025 at 8:29 PM