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 or comments. |
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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 1,000 plant pages include a profile, photos, a distribution map, a list of sightings by MinnesotaSeasons.com, and visitor sightings. |
Photo by Alfredo Colon |
| Insects |
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Insects and arachnids found in Minnesota. More than 1,200 insect and arachnid pages include a profile, photos, a distribution map, a list of sightings by MinnesotaSeasons.com, and visitor sightings. |
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 a profile, photos, a distribution map, a list of sightings by MinnesotaSeasons.com, and visitor sightings. |
Photo by Luciearl |
| Mushrooms, Lichens, and Other Fungi |
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Mushrooms, lichens, and other fungi found in Minnesota. Almost 300 fungi and lichen pages include a profile, photos, 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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492
Destinations
2,929
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.
Drought Monitor
| Autumnal Season |
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The autumnal ecological season, called fall in North America but autumn elsewhere, needs no explanation. It is that time when the landscape transitions from summer to winter. It follows the serotinal season (late summer) when leaves of deciduous trees and many forbs and grasses begin to change color, and precedes the the usually snow-blanketed hibernal season (winter). In Minnesota, the Autumnal season usually begins about September 15 and ends about December 1. In the Twin Cities metro area it typically arrives late September to early (north metro) to mid- (south metro) October. Deciduous leaves are in full fall color then turn brown and fall to the ground. Birds migrate back to wintering areas. The advance of the season can be watched on the Minnesota DNR's Fall Color Finder Web page. The map displayed there is updated daily. The Autumnal season has arrived in those areas colored red (75–100%) and dark brown (past peak). The northwest corner is the first area in Minnesota to see peak fall colors each year. |
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| Recent Uploads |
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| October |
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| September |
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Alfredo Colon uploaded 1 photo of tachinid flies (Admontia spp.) 11/30/2022. |
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Luciearl uploaded 1 photo of British Soldier Lichen 9/15/2025. |
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Nancy Lundquist uploaded 1 photo of spiny crawler mayflies (family Ephemerellidae) 9/15/2025. |
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Dan W. Andree uploaded 3 photos of King Bolete 9/28/2025. |
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Dan W. Andree uploaded 1 photo of Aspen Bolete 9/27/2025. |
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Dan W. Andree uploaded 1 photo of Green Reindeer Lichen 9/27/2025. |
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Patriot Coins MN uploaded 2 photos of Hen of the Woods 9/27/2025. |
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Luciearl uploaded 2 photos of American snout fly on spotted touch-me-not 9/15/2025. |
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Gary Walton uploaded 2 photos of tufted thyatirine moth 8/20/2025. |
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Luciearl uploaded 2 photos of narrow-banded pond flies, western honey bees, and a common eastern bumble bee on goldenrod sp. 9/25/2025. |
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Luciearl uploaded 3 photos of Shaggy Mane 9/23/2025. |
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Gregory Gilman uploaded 1 photo of monarch 9/23/2025. |
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Bonnie Freeman uploaded 2 photos of bur cucumber 9/21/2025. |
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Nancy Lundquist uploaded 1 photo of red speckled dun 9/19/2025. |
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Dan W. Andree uploaded 1 photo of Shaggy Mane 9/18/2025. |
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Bill Reynolds uploaded 1 photo of beet webworm moth 9/1/2025. |
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Dan W. Andree uploaded 2 photos of Golden Pholiota 9/18/2025. |
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Dan W. Andree uploaded 1 photo of Collared Parachute and Dragon Horn 9/13/2025. |
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Alfredo Colon uploaded 1 photo of Collared Parachute 8/27/2023. |
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Dan W. Andree uploaded 1 photo of Golden Pholiota, King Alfred’s Cakes, Brown American Star-footed Amanita, and Bracket Fungi (Family Polyporaceae) 9/17/2025. |
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Nancy Lundquist uploaded 1 photo of common harvestman 9/16/2025. |
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Luciearl uploaded 1 photo of multicolored Asian lady beetle 9/15/2025. |
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Luciearl uploaded 2 photos of multicolored Asian lady beetle on spotted touch-me-not 9/14/2025. |
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Patty Polkoski uploaded 1 photo of white-margined burrower bug 9/15/2025. |
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Luciearl uploaded 1 photo of Green Wood Cup 9/15/2025. |
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Robbi H uploaded 1 photo of Sharp-scaly Pholiota 9/15/2025. |
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Edward B. uploaded 1 photo of leafhoppers (Aphrodes spp.) 9/14/2025. |
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Edward B. uploaded 1 video of leafhoppers (Aphrodes spp.) 9/14/2025. |
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Luciearl uploaded 2 photos of white snakeroot 9/14/2025. |
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Luciearl uploaded 2 photos of Green Wood Cup 9/14/2025. |
David Schaffhausen uploaded 1 photo of hunchback bee fly 9/14/2025. |
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Dan W. Andree uploaded 1 photo of Smoky Polypore and carnival candy slime mold 9/13/2025. |
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Bill Reynolds uploaded 3 photos of bald-faced hornet fly and jagged ambush bug 9/13/2025. |
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Luciearl uploaded 2 photos of banded tussock moth 9/12/2025. |
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David Schaffhausen uploaded 1 video of hunchback bee fly 9/12/2025. |
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Gary Walton uploaded 1 photo of red-streaked mompha moth 8/17/2025. |
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Dan W. Andree uploaded 1 photo of Pseudomonas syringae pv. tagetis (Pst) on Canada thistle 9/11/2025. |
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Dan W. Andree uploaded 2 photos of Hairy Bracket 7/2/2025. |
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Dan W. Andree uploaded 1 photo of Lead-grey Puffball 7/2/2025. |
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Luciearl uploaded 3 photos of Potter’s grass spider 9/7/2025. |
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Luciearl uploaded 1 photo of common eastern bumble bee on stiff goldenrod 9/7/2025. |
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Luciearl uploaded 2 photos of northern lady fern 9/7/2025. |
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Luciearl uploaded 1 photo of red osier dogwood 9/7/2025. |
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Dan W. Andree uploaded 3 photos of Witch’s Hat 9/8/2025. |
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Amy Stifter uploaded 1 photo of Indianpipe 9/8/2025. |
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Bill Reynolds uploaded 2 photos of banded argiope 9/7/2025. |
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Dan W. Andree uploaded 1 photo of Witch’s Hat 9/7/2025. |
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Katey uploaded 1 photo of Wrinkled Peach 9/7/2025. |
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Dan W. Andree uploaded 1 photo of Witch’s Hat 9/6/2025. |
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Dan W. Andree uploaded 1 photo of Witch’s Hat 9/5/2025. |
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Amy D uploaded 1 photo of curlytop knotweed 9/5/2025. |
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Nancy Lundquist uploaded 1 photo of brown-eyed Susan 9/5/2025. |
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Melanie Hilgendorf uploaded 2 photos of eastern tiger salamander 9/4/2025. |
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Bill Reynolds uploaded 2 photos of agile longhorn bee on Maximilian’s sunflower 8/25/2025. |
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Alfredo Colon uploaded 1 photo of leafcurling sac spiders (Clubiona spp.) 11/30/2022. |
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Joe B uploaded 1 photo of prairie skink 9/3/2025. |
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Tim uploaded 1 photo of wild columbine 9/3/2025. |
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Luciearl uploaded 1 photo of generous pyrausta moth on milkweed 8/10/2025. |
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Josie Brow uploaded 1 photo of Virginian tiger moth 9/1/2025. |
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Luciearl uploaded 2 photos of Milk-white Toothed Polypore 4/22/2020. |
| New Pages |
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| October |
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| 10/13/2025 | |
10/12/2025 |
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10/11/2025 |
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10/10/2025 |
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10/9/2025 |
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10/8/2025 |
red-tailed flesh fly scientific name changed from Sarcophaga haemorrhoidalis to Sarcophaga africa |
| 10/8/2025 | Dieunomia heteropoda common name changed from sunflower nomia to giant sweat bee |
10/7/2025 |
Sachem (Atalopedes campestris) name changed to Huron sachem (Atalopedes huron) |
10/7/2025 |
low baby’s-breath |
10/6/2025 |
pruinose squash bee |
10/5/2025 |
Summer Tanager |
10/4/2025 |
five-banded thynnid wasp |
| 10/3/2025 |
| September |
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| 9/30/2025 | |
9/29/2025 |
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9/27/2025 |
American snout fly |
9/26/2025 |
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9/19/2025 |
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9/18/2025 |
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9/13/2025 |
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| 9/12/2025 | Pseudomonas syringae pv. tagetis (Pst) (A pathogen of Asteraceae) |
| 9/11/2025 | |
9/10/2025 |
northern lady fern scientific name changed from Athyrium filix-femina var. angustum to Athyrium angustum. |
9/9/2025 |
common sawflies (Macrophya spp.) |
9/8/2025 |
crane flies (Infraorder Tipulomorpha) (updated) |
9/5/2025 |
agile longhorn bee |
9/4/2025 |
leafcurling sac spiders (Clubiona spp.) |
9/2/2025 |
generous pyrausta moth |
9/1/2025 |
| What’s Next |
|---|
1 |
common looper (Autographa precationis) |
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2 |
Pinewood Gingertail (Xeromphalina campanella) | Luciearl |
3 |
toadflax brocade moth (Calophasia lunula) | Gary Walton |
4 |
ichneumonid wasps (Subtribe Agrothereutina) |
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5 |
agrimony (Agrimonia spp.) | Dan W. Andree |
6 |
painted harvestman (Odiellus pictus) |
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7 |
Candy Apple Waxy Cap (Hygrocybe cuspidata) |
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8 |
ghost spiders (Anyphaena spp.) |
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9 |
dog sick slime mold (Mucilago crustacea) |
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10 |
heptagonal orbweaver (Gea heptagon) |
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11 |
eastern thistle long-horned bee (Melissodes desponsus) |
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12 |
braconid wasps (Opius spp.) |
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13 |
Diminutive Agaricus (Agaricus diminutivus) |
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14 |
tachinid fly (Zelia vertebrata) |
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15 |
Fragrant Funnel (Clitocybe fragrans) |
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16 |
insect destroyer (Entomophaga maimaiga) |
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17 |
Bolete Eater (Hypomyces chrysospermus) |
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18 |
weevil wasp (Cerceris halone) |
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19 |
Dragon Horn (Cladonia squamosa) | Dan W. Andree |
20 |
broad-winged skipper (Poanes viator) |
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21 |
carnival candy slime mold (Arcyria denudata) |
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22 |
stink bug (Dendrocoris humeralis) |
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23 |
tree-skirt moss (Pseudanomodon attenuatus) | Dan W. Andree |
24 |
eastern dobsonfly (Corydalus cornutus) |
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25 |
Lumpy Bracket (Trametes gibbosa) | Dan W. Andree |
26 |
slender-footed jewel beetle (Spectralia gracilipes) |
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27 |
Common Milkcaps (Lactarius spp.) | Dan W. Andree |
28 |
imported willow leaf beetle (Plagiodera versicolora) |
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29 |
Bracket Fungi (Family Polyporaceae) | Dan W. Andree |
30 |
three-ribbed soldier beetle (Podabrus tricostatus) |
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31 |
Common Conecap (Conocybe tenera) | Dan W. Andree |
32 |
guided soldier beetle (Rhagonycha recta) |
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33 |
Orange Pinwheel (Marasmius siccus) | Dan W. Andree |
34 |
wide-horned soldier beetle (Polemius laticornis) |
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35 |
Gray Reindeer Lichen (Cladonia rangiferina) | Dan W. Andree |
36 |
soldier beetles (Rhagonycha spp.) |
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37 |
Fan Ramalina (Ramalina sinensis) | Dan W. Andree |
38 |
Pennsylvania flea beetle (Disonycha pensylvanica) |
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39 |
mourning fire-colored beetle (Pedilus lugubris) |
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40 |
bronze darkling beetle (Arthromacra aenea) |
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41 |
common brown click beetle (Athous haemorrhoidalis) |
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42 |
fraternal darkling beetle (Mycetochara fraterna) |
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43 |
golden loosestrife beetle (Neogalerucella pusilla) |
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44 |
featherlegged orbweaver (Uloborus glomosus) |
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45 |
perennial mason wasp (Parancistrocerus perennis) |
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46 |
Texas striped sweat bee (Agapostemon texanus) |
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47 |
common crane fly (Tipula caloptera) |
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48 |
Hemlock Varnish Shelf (Ganoderma tsugae) |
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49 |
horned parasitic cobweaver (Neospintharus trigonum) |
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50 |
shore spider (Pardosa milvina) |
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51 |
black-tailed red sheetweaver (Florinda coccinea) |
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52 |
privet leafhopper (Fieberiella florii) |
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53 |
violet dancer (Argia fumipennis violacea) |
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54 |
carrot wasps (Gasteruption spp.) |
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55 |
lyric cobweaver (Yunohamella lyrica) |
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56 |
alder spittlebug (Clastoptera obtusa) |
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57 |
half-belted blue-black spider wasp (Anoplius semicinctus) |
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58 |
wood nettle gall midge (Dasineura investita) |
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59 |
common ectemnius (Ectemnius continuus) |
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60 |
striped sweat bees (Agapostemon spp.) |
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61 |
chalcidoid wasp (Leucospis affinis) |
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62 |
assassin bugs (Family Reduviidae) |
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63 |
dog day cicadas (Neotibicen spp.) |
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64 |
starry bristle moss (Orthotrichum stellatum) |
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65 |
crisped pincushion (Ulota crispa) |
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66 |
pine tree spur-throat grasshopper (Melanoplus punctulatus) |
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67 |
Speckled Greenshield (Flavopunctelia flaventior) |
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68 |
Wheeler's thick-legged jumping spider (Admestina wheeleri) |
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69 |
hybotid dance flies (Tachypeza spp.) |
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70 |
Hooded Rosette Lichen (Physcia adscendens) |
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71 |
rough stink bug (Brochymena arborea) |
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72 |
flea jumping spider (Naphrys pulex) |
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73 |
hook-toothed money spider (Erigone dentosa) |
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74 |
crabronid wasps (Tachytes spp.) |
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75 |
European tube wasp (Ancistrocerus gazella) |
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76 |
gold-marked thread-waisted wasp (Eremnophila aureonotata) |
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77 |
rustic wolf spider (Trochosa ruricola) |
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78 |
European alder spittlebug (Aphrophora alni) |
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79 |
gall midges (Subfamily Cecidomyiinae) |
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80 |
fungus (Gibellula pulchra) |
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81 |
ichneumonid wasps (Glypta spp.) |
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82 |
triangle weaver (Hyptiotes cavatus) |
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83 |
miserable mining bee (Andrena miserabilis) |
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84 |
oribatid mites (Galumna spp.) |
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85 |
tachinid fly (Gymnoclytia occidua) |
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86 |
lyre-tipped spreadwing (Lestes unguiculatus) |
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87 |
bot flies, blow flies, and allies (Superfamily Oestroidea) |
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88 |
American harlequin (Xanthogramma flavipes) |
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89 |
oak gall wasps (Tribe Cynipini) |
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90 |
flat bug (Aradus robustus) |
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91 |
non-biting midges (Family Chironomidae) |
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92 |
olethreutine leafroller moths (Subfamily Olethreutinae) |
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93 |
non-biting midge (Psectrotanypus dyari) |
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94 |
unequal cellophane bee (Colletes inaequalis) |
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95 |
rufous-backed cellophane bee (Colletes rufocinctus) |
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96 |
contrasted long-jawed spider (Tetragnatha straminea) |
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97 |
winter midge (Diamesa mendotae) |
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98 |
oblique-banded pond fly (Sericomyia chrysotoxoides) |
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99 |
yellow-haired falsehorn (Temnostoma balyras) |
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100 |
lump-legged swamp fly (Anasimyia chrysostoma) |
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101 |
mountain ash sawfly (Pristiphora geniculata) |
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102 |
leafhopper (Macropsis basalis) |
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103 |
rust fly (Loxocera cylindrica) |
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104 |
black-headed ash sawfly (Tethida barda) |
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105 |
treehopper (Archasia belfragei) |
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106 |
gray pug moth (Eupithecia subfuscata) |
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107 |
large clover casebearer moth (Coleophora trifolii) |
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108 |
Brown-staining Cheese Polypore (Fuscopostia fragilis) |
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109 |
scarlet plant bugs (Lopidea spp.) |
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110 |
rose plume moth (Cnaemidophorus rhododactyla) |
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111 |
red-lipped lacewing (Chrysoperla rufilabris) |
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112 |
dusky-banded leafwalker (Chalcosyrphus nemorum) |
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113 |
chalcidid wasps (Conura side complex) |
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114 |
fragile forktail (Ischnura posita) |
|
115 |
lance flies (Lonchaea spp.) |
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116 |
distinct quaker (Achatia distincta) |
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117 |
snipe fly (Chrysopilus proximus) |
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118 |
black locust treehopper (Vanduzea arquata) |
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119 |
New York scalewort (Frullania eboracensis) |
|
120 |
purplish stylus money spider (Styloctetor purpurescens) |
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121 |
banded olethreutes moth (Olethreutes fasciatana) |
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122 |
yellow-spotted webworm moth (Anageshna primordialis) |
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123 |
low-horned wrinkleheads (Chrysogaster spp.) |
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124 |
spotted cobweaver (Thymoites unimaculatus) |
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125 |
short-winged Darwin wasp (Agrothereutes abbreviatus) |
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126 |
common sawflies (Subfamily Nematinae) |
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127 |
ichneumonid wasps (Subfamily Campopleginae) |
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128 |
Nebraska harvestman (Leiobunum ventricosum) |
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129 |
braconid wasps (Spathius spp.) |
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130 |
Newman’s mathildana moth (Mathildana newmanella) |
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131 |
limoniid crane fly (Gnophomyia tristissima) |
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132 |
twigsitters (Holopogon spp.) |
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133 |
treehopper (Telamona decorata) |
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134 |
dung fly (Cordilura varipes) |
|
135 |
limoniid crane fly (Antocha saxicola) |
|
136 |
brown lacewings (Micromus spp.) |
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137 |
grape plume moth (Geina periscelidactylus) |
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138 |
northern eudeilinia moth (Eudeilinia herminiata) |
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139 |
variegated midget (Elaphria versicolor) |
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140 |
clastopterid spittlebugs (Clastoptera spp.) |
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141 |
spotted cuckoo spider wasp (Ceropales maculata) |
|
142 |
green cloverworm moth (Hypena scabra) |
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143 |
ichneumonid wasps (Euceros spp.) |
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144 |
predatory stink bug (Podisus brevispinus) |
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145 |
buffalo treehoppers and allies (Tribe Ceresini) |
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146 |
white long-legged cobweaver (Theridion albidum) |
|
147 |
hairy poplar sawfly (Cladius grandis) |
|
148 |
dwarf spiders (Subfamily Erigoninae) |
|
149 |
olethreutine leafroller moths (Olethreutes spp.) |
|
150 |
hairy-eyed mimic (Mallota posticata) |
|
151 |
rhododendron leafhopper (Graphocephala fennahi) |
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152 |
dusky mucksucker (Orthonevra pulchella) |
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153 |
picture-winged fly (Callopistromyia strigula) |
|
154 |
moth mullein (Verbascum blattaria) |
|
155 |
sidewalk mites (Balaustium spp.) |
|
156 |
large crane flies (Dolichopeza spp.) |
|
157 |
house fly (Eudasyphora cyanicolor) |
|
158 |
cow vetch (Vicia cracca) |
|
159 |
chalcidoid wasps (Oodera spp.) |
|
160 |
two-spotted tree cricket (Neoxabea bipunctata) |
|
161 |
snipe fly (Chrysopilus modestus) |
|
162 |
narrow-winged tree cricket (Oecanthus niveus) |
|
163 |
wild pansy (Viola tricolor) |
|
164 |
limoniid crane fly (Erioptera chlorophylla) |
|
165 |
rice leaf bug (Trigonotylus caelestialium) |
|
166 |
four-toothed mason wasp (Monobia quadridens) |
|
167 |
sawflies, horntails, and wood wasps (Suborder Symphyta) |
|
168 |
sawflies, horntails, and wood wasps (Suborder Symphyta) |
|
169 |
sawflies, horntails, and wood wasps (Suborder Symphyta) |
|
170 |
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short-collared soldier beetle (Podabrus brevicollis) | John Valo |
confederate violet (Viola sororia f. priceana) |
John Valo | |
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swamp rose mallow (Hibiscus moscheutos) |
John Valo |
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Newfoundland Chanterelle (Cantharellus enelensis) |
John Valo |
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jewel bug (Homaemus aeneifrons) | John Valo |