Minnesota Seasons
Destinations |
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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. |
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Species |
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Plants |
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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. |
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| Photo by Alfredo Colon |
Insects |
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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. |
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| Photo by Norm & Peg Dibble |
Wildlife |
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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. |
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| Photo by Luciearl |
Mushrooms, Lichens, and Other Fungi |
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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. |
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Wallpapers |
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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. |
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487
Destinations
2,674
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
Vernal Season |
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The vernal season, also called spring, is the season when visible signs of life return to the landscape after a desolate hibernal (winter) and a mostly barren prevernal (pre-spring) season. Tree buds burst into leaves. Birds establish territories and begin mating and nesting. In Minnesota, the vernal season usually begins about May 1 and ends about June 15. |
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Recent Uploads |
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| May | |
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Dan W. Andree uploaded 1 photo of candle anemone 5/7/2024. |
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Dan W. Andree uploaded 2 photos of prairie violet 5/7/2024. |
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Dan W. Andree uploaded 1 photo of Green-winged Teal and Greater Yellowlegs 5/7/2024. |
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Nancy uploaded 1 photo of kittentails 5/6/2024. |
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Laura N uploaded 5 photos of Scarlet Tanager 5/6/2024. |
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Greg Watson uploaded 1 photo of Gabled False Morel 5/6/2024. |
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Luciearl uploaded 1 photo of common eastern bumble bee 5/4/2024. |
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Jason Kingstrom uploaded 1 photo of European mantis 5/4/2024. |
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Bobbi Johnson uploaded 1 photo of tricolored bumble bee 5/3/2024. |
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Bobbi Johnson uploaded 1 photo of moose 5/3/2024. |
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Greg Watson uploaded 2 photos of Wagon Wheel Trail, La Crescent, MN 5/3/2024. |
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Greg Watson uploaded 1 photo of American black currant 5/3/2024. |
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Greg Watson uploaded 1 photo of Solitary Sandpiper 5/3/2024. |
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Crystal N uploaded 11 photos and 1 video of western lynx spider 5/3/2024. |
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E Barth uploaded 1 photo of Western Cattle Egret 5/2/2024. |
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Luciearl uploaded 1 photo of common juniper 5/2/2024. |
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Alfredo Colon uploaded 1 photo of white-banded crab spider 8/27/2023. |
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Alfredo Colon uploaded 1 photo of bold jumper 8/27/2023. |
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Alfredo Colon uploaded 1 photo of damsel bug (Nabis roseipennis) 8/27/2023. |
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Alfredo Colon uploaded 1 photo of European earwig 8/27/2023. |
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Alfredo Colon uploaded 2 photos of Chinese mantis 8/27/2023. |
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Alfredo Colon uploaded 1 photo of northern paper wasp 8/27/2023. |
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Alfredo Colon uploaded 2 photos of American toad 8/27/2023. |
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Alfredo Colon uploaded 2 photos of pitted mason wasp 12/24/2022. |
New Pages |
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| May | |
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5/7/2024 |
Gabled False Morel scientific name changed from Gyromitra brunnea to Discina brunnea. |
5/7/2024 |
paradise apple (Malus pumila) name changed to apple (Malus domestica) |
| April | |
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4/30/2024 |
lobed mason wasp scientific name changed from Ancistrocerus antilope to Ancistrocerus capra |
4/29/2024 |
violets (Viola section Chamaemelanium subsection Nudicaules) AKA “yellow violets” |
4/26/2024 |
downy yellow violet (Viola pubescens var. pubescens) name changed to downy yellow violet (Viola pubescens) |
4/26/2024 |
smooth yellow violet scientific name changed from Viola pubescens var. scabriuscula to Viola eriocarpa |
4/25/2024 |
tachinid fly (Archytas apicifer) name changed to hornworm tachinid fly |
| 4/24/2024 | Cattle Egret name changed to Western Cattle Egret |
4/24/2024 |
Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) name changed to American Goshawk (Accipiter atricapillus) |
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 |
What’s Next |
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1 |
brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys) |
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2 |
cylindrical click beetle (Sylvanelater cylindriformis) | Greg Watson |
3 |
common flower fly (Syrphus ribesii) |
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4 |
tachinid flies (Cylindromyia spp.) |
Babette Kis |
5 |
gnat ogre (Holcocephala fusca) |
Alfredo Colon |
6 |
gnat ogre (Holcocephala calva) |
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7 |
gnat ogres (Holcocephala spp.) |
Alfredo Colon |
8 |
bee fly (Chrysanthrax cypris) |
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9 |
picture-winged fly (Pseudoseioptera albipes) |
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10 |
fruit fly (Campiglossa albiceps) |
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11 |
recumbent ground crab spider (Xysticus auctificus) |
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12 |
thin-legged wolf spiders (Pardosa spp.) |
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13 |
ant mimic jumping spider (Myrmarachne formicaria) |
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14 |
grayish jumping spider (Phidippus princeps) |
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15 |
eastern spurred ghost spider (Anyphaena pectorosa) |
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16 |
three-banded crab spider (Xysticus triguttatus) |
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17 |
ghost spiders (Anyphaena spp.) | Alfredo Colon |
18 |
peppered jumping spider (Pelegrina galathea) |
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19 |
reddish checkered beetle (Enoclerus rosmarus) |
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20 |
common barklouse (Metylophorus purus) | Alfredo Colon |
21 |
elegant crab spider (Xysticus elegans) |
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22 |
Hart’s jumping spider (Tutelina harti) | Alfredo Colon |
23 |
eastern black carpenter ant (Camponotus pennsylvanicus) |
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24 |
heptagonal orbweaver (Gea heptagon) | Alfredo Colon |
25 |
black-tailed red sheetweaver (Florinda coccinea) |
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26 |
shore spider (Pardosa milvina) |
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27 |
lyric cobweaver (Yunohamella lyrica) |
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28 |
Wheeler's thick-legged jumping spider (Admestina wheeleri) |
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29 |
flea jumping spider (Naphrys pulex) |
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30 |
hook-toothed money spider (Erigone dentosa) |
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31 |
rustic wolf spider (Trochosa ruricola) |
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32 |
triangle weaver (Hyptiotes cavatus) |
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33 |
plant bug (Neurocolpus spp.) |
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34 |
limoniid crane fly (Helius flavipes) |
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35 |
short-winged nabis (Nabis rufusculus) |
Alfredo Colon |
36 |
ichneumonid wasp (Acroricnus stylator aequatus) |
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37 |
eastern carpenter bee (Xylocopa virginica) |
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38 |
gall midges and wood midges (Family Cecidomyiidae) |
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39 |
gall midges (Subfamily Cecidomyiinae) | Alfredo Colon |
40 |
plant bugs (Plagiognathus spp.) |
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41 |
cutleaf teasel (Dipsacus laciniatus) |
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42 |
northern flatid planthopper (Flatormenis proxima) |
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43 |
dirt-colored seed bug (Ozophora picturata) |
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44 |
root maggot flies (Family Anthomyiidae) |
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45 |
common sawfly (Monostegia abdominalis) |
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46 |
common crane fly (Tipula furca) |
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47 |
obscure plant bug (Plagiognathus obscurus) |
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48 |
scarlet plant bugs (Lopidea spp.) |
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49 |
fork-tailed bush katydid (Scudderia furcata) |
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50 |
common stoneflies (Family Perlidae) |
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51 |
tree cattle (Cerastipsocus venosus) |
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52 |
longlegged fly (Condylostylus caudatus group) |
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53 |
Canadian potter wasp (Symmorphus canadensis) |
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54 |
black bean aphid (Aphis fabae) |
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55 |
tiger fly (Coenosia tigrina) |
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56 |
hairy evening primrose (Oenothera villosa ssp. villosa) |
Alfredo Colon |
57 |
oval ambersnail (Novisuccinea ovalis) |
Alfredo Colon |
58 |
brown knapweed (Centaurea jacea) |
Alfredo Colon |
59 |
horned squash bug (Anasa armigera) |
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60 |
retrorse sedge (Carex retrorsa) |
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61 |
bald-faced hornet fly (Spilomyia fusca) |
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62 |
slender springtail (Homidia socia) |
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63 |
common ragweed fruit fly (Euaresta bella) |
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64 |
fruit fly (Eutreta noveboracensis) |
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65 |
walnut lace bug (Corythucha juglandis) |
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66 |
round bullet gall wasp (Disholcaspis quercusglobulus) |
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67 |
stink bug (Mormidea lugens) |
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68 |
entomophagus fungus (Entomophaga maimaiga) |
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69 |
tachinid fly (Zelia vertebrata) |
Alfredo Colon |
70 |
braconid wasps (Opius spp.) |
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71 |
tarnished plant bug (Lygus lineolaris) |
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72 |
stink bug (Dendrocoris humeralis) |
Alfredo Colon |
73 |
broad-winged skipper (Poanes viator) |
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74 |
weevil wasp (Cerceris halone) |
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75 |
Texas striped sweat bee (Agapostemon texanus) |
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76 |
leaf miner flies (Liriomyza spp.) |
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77 |
Hemlock Varnish Shelf (Ganoderma tsugae) |
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78 |
horned parasitic cobweaver (Neospintharus trigonum) |
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79 |
violet dancer (Argia fumipennis violacea) |
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80 |
privet leafhopper (Fieberiella florii) |
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81 |
plant bugs (Phytocoris spp.) |
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82 |
brown centipede (Lithobius forficatus) |
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83 |
alder spittlebug (Clastoptera obtusa) |
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84 |
featherlegged orbweaver (Uloborus glomosus) |
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85 |
half-belted blue-black spider wasp (Anoplius semicinctus) |
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86 |
carrot wasps (Gasteruption spp.) |
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87 |
wood nettle gall midge (Dasineura investita) |
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88 |
plant bug (Phytocoris eximius) |
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89 |
chalcidoid wasp (Leucospis affinis) |
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90 |
assassin bugs (Family Reduviidae) |
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91 |
striped sweat bees (Agapostemon spp.) |
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92 |
dog day cicadas (Neotibicen spp.) |
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93 |
starry bristle moss (Orthotrichum stellatum) |
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94 |
nosy pill woodlouse (Armadillidium nasatum) |
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95 |
pine tree spur-throat grasshopper (Melanoplus punctulatus) |
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96 |
crisped pincushion (Ulota crispa) |
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97 |
painted harvestman (Odiellus pictus) |
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98 |
hybotid dance flies (Tachypeza spp.) |
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99 |
smoky poplar aphid (Chaitophorus populicola) |
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100 |
spreadwings and allies (Family Lestidae) |
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101 |
mining bees (Andrena Subgenus Melandrena) |
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102 |
two-spotted leafwalker (Xylota angustiventris) |
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103 |
Hooded Rosette Lichen (Physcia adscendens) |
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104 |
rough stink bug (Brochymena arborea) |
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105 |
common crane fly (Tipula caloptera) |
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106 |
flat-footed flies (Platypeza spp.) |
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107 |
fungus (Gibellula pulchra) |
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108 |
European alder spittlebug (Aphrophora alni) |
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109 |
Common Gilled Mushrooms and Allies (Order Agaricales) |
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110 |
gold-marked thread-waisted wasp (Eremnophila aureonotata) |
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111 |
miserable mining bee (Andrena miserabilis) |
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112 |
oribatid mites (Galumna spp.) |
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113 |
Collared Parachute (Marasmius rotula) |
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114 |
Strict-branched Coral Fungus (Ramaria stricta) |
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115 |
tachinid fly (Gymnoclytia occidua) |
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116 |
lyre-tipped spreadwing (Lestes unguiculatus) |
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117 |
ichneumonid wasps (Glypta spp.) |
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118 |
ichneumonid wasps (Subtribe Agrothereutina) | Alfredo Colon |
119 |
sand-loving wasps (Tachytes spp.) |
Alfredo Colon |
120 |
rough avens (Geum laciniatum) |
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121 |
non-biting midges (Family Chironomidae) | Alfredo Colon |
122 |
flat bug (Aradus robustus) | Alfredo Colon |
123 |
black-legged checkered beetle (Enoclerus nigripes) | Alfredo Colon |
124 |
oak gall wasps (Tribe Cynipini) | Alfredo Colon |
125 |
unequal cellophane bee (Colletes inaequalis) | Alfredo Colon |
126 |
rufous-backed cellophane bee (Colletes rufocinctus) |
Alfredo Colon |
127 |
winter midge (Diamesa mendotae) |
Alfredo Colon |
128 |
contrasted long-jawed spider (Tetragnatha straminea) |
Alfredo Colon |
129 |
woodland fuzzy ant (Lasius americanus) |
Alfredo Colon |
130 |
meshweavers (Dictyna spp.) | Alfredo Colon |
131 |
Aldrich’s harvestman (Leiobunum aldrichi) |
Alfredo Colon |
132 |
common ectemnius (Ectemnius continuus) |
Alfredo Colon |
133 |
American harlequin (Xanthogramma flavipes) |
Alfredo Colon |
134 |
common mummy wasp (Aleiodes pseudoterminalis) |
Alfredo Colon |
135 |
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Weaver Dunes Addition |
Nancy Falkum | |
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jewel bug (Homaemus aeneifrons) | John Valo |
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Created: 12/13/2003 Last Updated: © MinnesotaSeasons.com. All rights reserved. |