Minnesota Seasons

 

Destinations

These are locations in Minnesota where native plants, birds, and other wildlife can be viewed. With very few exceptions, these destinations are open to the public.

Visitors can share their own photos, videos, plant and wildlife sightings, and other observations.

  Stanley Eddy Memorial Park Reserve

 

Species

Plants

  musk thistle

Native, naturalized, invasive, or simply planted—any plant growing outside of cultivation in Minnesota.

More than 900 plant pages include photos, a description, a distribution map, a list of sightings by MinnesotaSeasons.com, and visitor sightings.

 
    Photo by Alfredo Colon

Insects

  white underwing

Insects and arachnids found in Minnesota.

More than 900 insect and arachnid pages include photos, a description, a distribution map, a list of sightings by MinnesotaSeasons.com, and visitor sightings.

 
    Photo by Norm & Peg Dibble

Wildlife

  American red squirrel

Birds and bears, snakes and squirrels, toads and turtles—wildlife found in Minnesota.

Wildlife pages include photos, a description, a distribution map, a list of sightings by MinnesotaSeasons.com, and visitor sightings.

 
    Photo by Luciearl

Mushrooms, Lichens, and Other Fungi

  Yellow Morel

Mushrooms, lichens, and other fungi found in Minnesota.

More than 200 fungi and lichen pages include photos, a description, a distribution map, a list of sightings by MinnesotaSeasons.com, and visitor sightings.

 
     

 

Wallpapers

Download free high resolution wallpapers (screen backgrounds). These are photos of destinations featured on MinnesotaSeasons.com. The wallpapers are grouped by ecological season. Each wallpaper is optimized for the screen resolutions used most often on desktops, laptops, and tablets.

  Minnesota Valley State Recreation Area - Lawrence Unit
 

487
Destinations

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,673
Species*

* Species pages may represent a species, subspecies, variety, genus, family, or other taxonmomic group, or an unidentified organism. Using the word “taxa” here would be more accurate but less widely understood.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Snow Depth

 

 

 

Drought Monitor

 

 

Prevernal Season

Prevernal is an ecological season. It does not correspond to any calendar season. Also called pre-spring, it fits between snow-covered winter and the wildflowers of spring. In Minnesota, it begins about March 1, as the weather warms and the snow melts, and lasts until about May 1. Deciduous tree buds begin to swell. Migrating birds fly from winter to summer habitats.

  Stanley Eddy Memorial Park Reserve

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recent Uploads
April

pufftail (Sphegina Subgenus Asiosphegina)

Babette Kis uploaded 1 photo of pufftails (Sphegina subg. Asiosphegina)
10/19/2022.

common harvestman

Alfredo Colon uploaded 1 photo of common harvestman 7/8/2021.

turfgrass ant

Alfredo Colon uploaded 1 photo of turfgrass ant 7/3/2021.

winter firefly

Alfredo Colon uploaded 1 photo of winter firefly 4/22/2024.

broad-banded meadow fly

Alfredo Colon uploaded 2 photos of broad-banded meadow fly 7/8/2021.

Pileated Woodpecker

Bobbi Johnson uploaded 2 photos of Pileated Woodpecker 4/19/2024.

common snapping turtle

Greg Watson uploaded 1 photo of common snapping turtle 4/14/2024.

Blue-winged Teal

Greg Watson uploaded 1 photo of Blue-winged Teal 4/14/2024.

long-tailed aphideater complex

Babette Kis uploaded 2 photos of long-tailed aphideater complex 10/19/2022.

tumbling ragdoll flower beetle

Alfredo Colon uploaded 2 photos of tumbling ragdoll flower beetle 12/24/2022.

wasp-like falsehorn

Babette Kis uploaded 1 photo of wasp-like falsehorn 10/15/2022.

Dan W. Andree uploaded 1 video of Greater Prairie-chicken 4/14/2024.

Canada fire-colored beetle

Alfredo Colon uploaded 2 photos of Canada fire-colored beetle 8/27/2023.

Canada fire-colored beetle

Alfredo Colon uploaded 1 photo of Canada fire-colored beetle 12/9/2022.

orange-spotted drone fly

Babette Kis uploaded 2 photos of orange-spotted drone fly 10/12/2022.

regal fritillary

Dan W. Andree uploaded 1 photo of regal fritillary 4/7/2024.

American pasqueflower

Dan W. Andree uploaded 1 photo of American pasqueflower 4/7/2024.

snowshoe hare

Sheila Belland uploaded 2 photos of snowshoe hare 4/7/2024.

slender crab spider (Tibellus sp.)

B. Brock uploaded 1 photo of slender crab spiders (Tibellus spp.) 4/6/2024.

American pasqueflower

Dan W. Andree uploaded 1 photo of American pasqueflower 4/6/2024.

toothed plagiomnium moss

Nancy Falkum uploaded 2 photos of toothed plagiomnium moss 4/1/2024.

spring tree-top flasher

Alfredo Colon uploaded 2 photos of spring tree-top flasher 7/1/2021.

fern moss (Thuidium sp.)

Luciearl uploaded 1 photo of fern mosses (Thuidium spp.) 4/3/2024.

fisher

Dave Dosh uploaded 1 photo of fisher 4/3/2024.

maize calligrapher

Babette Kis uploaded 1 photo of maize calligrapher 3/16/2023.

March

lateral-lobed soldier beetle

Alfredo Colon uploaded 1 photo of lateral-lobed soldier beetle 9/9/2022.

Milwaukee mining bee

Babette Kis uploaded 4 photos of Milwaukee mining bee 5/16/2023.

potato flea beetle (Psylliodes affinis)

Alfredo Colon uploaded 1 photo of potato flea beetle (Epitrix cucumeris) 7/8/2021.

raspberry fruitworm beetle

Babette Kis uploaded 2 photos of raspberry fruitworm beetle 10/19/2022.

banded net-wing beetle

Alfredo Colon uploaded 1 photo of banded net-wing beetle 8/27/2023.

regal fritillary

Dan W. Andree uploaded 1 photo of regal fritillary 3/19/2024.

Silvery-violet Cort

Robert Briggs uploaded 1 photo of Silvery-violet Cort 10/20/2016.

King Bolete

Kathryn Wallis uploaded 2 photos of King Bolete 8/16/2020.

goldenseal

Babette Kis uploaded 4 photos of goldenseal 5/17/2023.

fulminating long-horned beetle

Michael Woolridge uploaded 2 photos of fulminating long-horned beetle 3/2/2024.

American idia moth

Luciearl uploaded 2 photos of American idia moth 3/13/2024.

Oriental beetle

Alfredo Colon uploaded 2 photos of Oriental beetle 8/27/2023.

regal fritillary

Dan W. Andree uploaded 1 photo of regal fritillary 3/9/2024.

spotted bird grasshopper

Babette Kis uploaded 1 photo of spotted bird grasshopper 11/9/2022.

monarch and regal fritillary

Dan W. Andree uploaded 1 photo of monarch and regal fritillary 3/2/2024.

two-spotted stink bug

Heather uploaded 2 photos of two-spotted stink bug 3/2/2024.

Black-footed Reindeer Lichen

Luciearl uploaded 1 photo of Black-footed Reindeer Lichen 2/26/2024.

Dark-eyed Junco

Betsy O’Rourke uploaded 2 photos of Dark-eyed Junco 3/1/2024.

flat-headed apple tree borer

Alfredo Colon uploaded 2 photos of flat-headed apple tree borer 12/20/2022.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Pages
April

4/24/2024

pufftails (Sphegina subg. Asiosphegina)

4/21/2024

broad-banded meadow fly

4/20/2024

meadow flies (Chrysotoxum spp.)

4/18/2024

Greek valerian name changed to spreading Jacob’s ladder

4/18/2024

long-tailed aphideater complex

4/17/2024

tumbling ragdoll flower beetle

4/16/2024

wasp-like falsehorn

4/14/2024

Canada fire-colored beetle

4/13/2024

orange-spotted drone fly

4/7/2024

toothed plagiomnium moss

4/5/2024

spring tree-top flasher

4/2/2024

maize calligrapher
March

3/31/2024

lateral-lobed soldier beetle

3/23/2024

Milwaukee mining bee

3/23/2024

potato flea beetle (Epitrix cucumeris)

3/22/2024

raspberry fruitworm beetle

3/21/2024

banded net-wing beetle
3/19/2024

Silvery-violet Cort

3/18/2024

King Bolete

3/16/2024

goldenseal

3/14/2024

fulminating long-horned beetle

3/13/2024

showy goldenrod species complex
3/12/2024

showy goldenrod (Solidago speciosa var. rigidiuscula) mame changed to stiff-leaved showy goldenrod (Solidago rigidiuscula)

3/12/2024

Oriental beetle

3/10/2024

hairy false goldenaster (Heterotheca villosa var. foliosa) name changed to leafy false goldenaster

3/9/2024

hairy false goldenaster (Heterotheca villosa var. ballardii) name changed to Ballard’s goldenaster (Heterotheca ballardii)

3/7/2024

spotted bird grasshopper

3/2/2024

Black-footed Reindeer Lichen

3/1/2024

flat-headed apple tree borer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What’s Next

1

common flower fly (Syrphus ribesii)

Alfredo Colon

2

tachinid flies (Cylindromyia spp.)

Babette Kis

3

gnat ogre (Holcocephala fusca)

Alfredo Colon

4

gnat ogre (Holcocephala calva)

Babette Kis

5

gnat ogres (Holcocephala spp.)

Alfredo Colon

6

bee fly (Chrysanthrax cypris)

Babette Kis

7

picture-winged fly (Pseudoseioptera albipes)

Alfredo Colon

8

fruit fly (Campiglossa albiceps)

Babette Kis

9

recumbent ground crab spider (Xysticus auctificus)

Alfredo Colon

10

thin-legged wolf spiders (Pardosa spp.)

Babette Kis

11

ant mimic jumping spider (Myrmarachne formicaria)

Alfredo Colon

12

grayish jumping spider (Phidippus princeps)

Babette Kis

13

eastern spurred ghost spider (Anyphaena pectorosa)

Alfredo Colon

14

three-banded crab spider (Xysticus triguttatus)

Babette Kis

15

ghost spiders (Anyphaena spp.) Alfredo Colon

16

peppered jumping spider (Pelegrina galathea)

Babette Kis

17

reddish checkered beetle (Enoclerus rosmarus)

Alfredo Colon

18

common barklouse (Metylophorus purus) Alfredo Colon

19

elegant crab spider (Xysticus elegans)

Alfredo Colon

20

Hart’s jumping spider (Tutelina harti) Alfredo Colon

21

heptagonal orbweaver (Gea heptagon) Alfredo Colon

22

black-tailed red sheetweaver (Florinda coccinea)

Alfredo Colon

23

shore spider (Pardosa milvina)

Alfredo Colon

24

lyric cobweaver (Yunohamella lyrica)

Alfredo Colon

25

Wheeler's thick-legged jumping spider (Admestina wheeleri)

Alfredo Colon

26

flea jumping spider (Naphrys pulex)

Alfredo Colon

27

hook-toothed money spider (Erigone dentosa)

Alfredo Colon

28

rustic wolf spider (Trochosa ruricola)

Alfredo Colon

29

triangle weaver (Hyptiotes cavatus)

Alfredo Colon

30

plant bug (Neurocolpus spp.)

Alfredo Colon

31

limoniid crane fly (Helius flavipes)

Alfredo Colon

32

short-winged nabis (Nabis rufusculus)

Alfredo Colon

33

ichneumonid wasp (Acroricnus stylator aequatus)

Alfredo Colon

34

brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys)

Alfredo Colon

35

eastern carpenter bee (Xylocopa virginica)

Alfredo Colon

36

gall midges and wood midges (Family Cecidomyiidae)

Alfredo Colon

37

gall midges (Subfamily Cecidomyiinae) Alfredo Colon

38

plant bugs (Plagiognathus spp.)

Alfredo Colon

39

cutleaf teasel (Dipsacus laciniatus)

Alfredo Colon

40

northern flatid planthopper (Flatormenis proxima)

Alfredo Colon

41

dirt-colored seed bug (Ozophora picturata)

Alfredo Colon

42

root maggot flies (Family Anthomyiidae)

Alfredo Colon

43

common sawfly (Monostegia abdominalis)

Alfredo Colon

44

common crane fly (Tipula furca)

Alfredo Colon

45

obscure plant bug (Plagiognathus obscurus)

Alfredo Colon

46

scarlet plant bugs (Lopidea spp.)

Alfredo Colon

47

fork-tailed bush katydid (Scudderia furcata)

Alfredo Colon

48

common stoneflies (Family Perlidae)

Alfredo Colon

49

tree cattle (Cerastipsocus venosus)

Alfredo Colon

50

longlegged fly (Condylostylus caudatus group)

Alfredo Colon

51

Canadian potter wasp (Symmorphus canadensis)

Alfredo Colon

52

black bean aphid (Aphis fabae)

Alfredo Colon

53

tiger fly (Coenosia tigrina)

Alfredo Colon

54

hairy evening primrose (Oenothera villosa ssp. villosa)

Alfredo Colon

55

oval ambersnail (Novisuccinea ovalis)

Alfredo Colon

56

brown knapweed (Centaurea jacea)

Alfredo Colon

57

horned squash bug (Anasa armigera)

Alfredo Colon

58

eastern black carpenter ant (Camponotus pennsylvanicus)

Alfredo Colon

59

retrorse sedge (Carex retrorsa)

Alfredo Colon

60

bald-faced hornet fly (Spilomyia fusca)

Alfredo Colon

61

slender springtail (Homidia socia)

Alfredo Colon

62

common ragweed fruit fly (Euaresta bella)

Alfredo Colon

63

fruit fly (Eutreta noveboracensis)

Alfredo Colon

64

walnut lace bug (Corythucha juglandis)

Alfredo Colon

65

round bullet gall wasp (Disholcaspis quercusglobulus)

Alfredo Colon

66

stink bug (Mormidea lugens)

Alfredo Colon

67

entomophagus fungus (Entomophaga maimaiga)

Alfredo Colon

68

tachinid fly (Zelia vertebrata)

Alfredo Colon

69

braconid wasps (Opius spp.)

Alfredo Colon

70

tarnished plant bug (Lygus lineolaris)

Alfredo Colon

71

stink bug (Dendrocoris humeralis)

Alfredo Colon

72

broad-winged skipper (Poanes viator)

Alfredo Colon

73

weevil wasp (Cerceris halone)

Alfredo Colon

74

Texas striped sweat bee (Agapostemon texanus)

Alfredo Colon

75

leaf miner flies (Liriomyza spp.)

Alfredo Colon

76

Hemlock Varnish Shelf (Ganoderma tsugae)

Alfredo Colon

77

horned parasitic cobweaver (Neospintharus trigonum)

Alfredo Colon

78

violet dancer (Argia fumipennis violacea)

Alfredo Colon

79

privet leafhopper (Fieberiella florii)

Alfredo Colon

80

plant bugs (Phytocoris spp.)

Alfredo Colon

81

brown centipede (Lithobius forficatus)

Alfredo Colon

82

alder spittlebug (Clastoptera obtusa)

Alfredo Colon

83

featherlegged orbweaver (Uloborus glomosus)

Alfredo Colon

84

half-belted blue-black spider wasp (Anoplius semicinctus)

Alfredo Colon

85

carrot wasps (Gasteruption spp.)

Alfredo Colon

86

wood nettle gall midge (Dasineura investita)

Alfredo Colon

87

plant bug (Phytocoris eximius)

Alfredo Colon

88

chalcidoid wasp (Leucospis affinis)

Alfredo Colon

89

assassin bugs (Family Reduviidae)

Alfredo Colon

90

striped sweat bees (Agapostemon spp.)

Alfredo Colon

91

dog day cicadas (Neotibicen spp.)

Alfredo Colon

92

starry bristle moss (Orthotrichum stellatum)

Alfredo Colon

93

nosy pill woodlouse (Armadillidium nasatum)

Alfredo Colon

94

pine tree spur-throat grasshopper (Melanoplus punctulatus)

Alfredo Colon

95

crisped pincushion (Ulota crispa)

Alfredo Colon

96

painted harvestman (Odiellus pictus)

Alfredo Colon

97

hybotid dance flies (Tachypeza spp.)

Alfredo Colon

98

smoky poplar aphid (Chaitophorus populicola)

Alfredo Colon

99

spreadwings and allies (Family Lestidae)

Alfredo Colon

100

mining bees (Andrena Subgenus Melandrena)

Alfredo Colon

101

two-spotted leafwalker (Xylota angustiventris)

Alfredo Colon

102

Hooded Rosette Lichen (Physcia adscendens)

Alfredo Colon

103

rough stink bug (Brochymena arborea)

Alfredo Colon

104

common crane fly (Tipula caloptera)

Alfredo Colon

105

flat-footed flies (Platypeza spp.)

Alfredo Colon

106

fungus (Gibellula pulchra)

Alfredo Colon

107

European alder spittlebug (Aphrophora alni)

Alfredo Colon

108

Common Gilled Mushrooms and Allies (Order Agaricales)

Alfredo Colon

109

gold-marked thread-waisted wasp (Eremnophila aureonotata)

Alfredo Colon

110

miserable mining bee (Andrena miserabilis)

Alfredo Colon

111

oribatid mites (Galumna spp.)

Alfredo Colon

112

Collared Parachute (Marasmius rotula)

Alfredo Colon

113

Strict-branched Coral Fungus (Ramaria stricta)

Alfredo Colon

114

tachinid fly (Gymnoclytia occidua)

Alfredo Colon

115

lyre-tipped spreadwing (Lestes unguiculatus)

Alfredo Colon

116

ichneumonid wasps (Glypta spp.)

Alfredo Colon

117

ichneumonid wasps (Subtribe Agrothereutina) Alfredo Colon

118

sand-loving wasps (Tachytes spp.)

Alfredo Colon

119

rough avens (Geum laciniatum)

Alfredo Colon

120

non-biting midges (Family Chironomidae) Alfredo Colon

121

flat bug (Aradus robustus) Alfredo Colon

122

black-legged checkered beetle (Enoclerus nigripes) Alfredo Colon

123

oak gall wasps (Tribe Cynipini) Alfredo Colon

124

unequal cellophane bee (Colletes inaequalis) Alfredo Colon

125

rufous-backed cellophane bee (Colletes rufocinctus)

Alfredo Colon

126

winter midge (Diamesa mendotae)

Alfredo Colon

127

contrasted long-jawed spider (Tetragnatha straminea)

Alfredo Colon

128

woodland fuzzy ant (Lasius americanus)

Alfredo Colon

129

   

130

 

 
 

Weaver Dunes Addition

Nancy Falkum

 

jewel bug (Homaemus aeneifrons) John Valo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Created: 12/13/2003

Last Updated:

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