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. |
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| Species | ||||
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 and Arachnids |
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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 | ||||
Fungi and Lichens |
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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 | ||||
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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484
Destinations
2,587
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
| Autumnal Season | ||||
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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Babette Kis uploaded 1 photo of green pug 10/8/2022. Alfredo Colon uploaded 1 photo of ashen pinion 6/30/2021. Babette Kis uploaded 2 photos of rigid sunflower borer 10/8/2022.
Alfredo Colon uploaded 1 photo of small red midge 6/30/2021. Luciearl uploaded 1 photo of Blue Mycena 11/27/2023. Bobbi Johnson uploaded 1 photo of whitetail deer 11/29/2023. Babette Kis uploaded 1 photo of red-shouldered stink bug 10/5/2022. Alfredo Colon uploaded 3 photos of snowy tree cricket 12/13/2022 and Luciearl uploaded 2 photos of Earthfan 10/18/2023. Jim Gicking uploaded 1 photo of Golden Pholiota 11/25/2023. Babette Kis uploaded 2 photos of Forbes’ tree cricket 10/5/2022. Dan W. Andree uploaded 1 photo of George H. Crosby Manitou State Park Alfredo Colon uploaded 1 photo of treehopper (Telamona monticola) 7/8/2021. Luciearl uploaded 2 photos of Indianpipe 11/21/2023. Dan W. Andree uploaded 1 photo of a site near Upper Manitou Forest Preserve Dan W. Andree uploaded 1 photo of brook trout 11/20/2023. Dan W. Andree uploaded 1 photo of a site near Upper Manitou Forest Preserve Jordan Wilson uploaded 8 photos of poison sumac 11/19/2023. Jordan Wilson uploaded 3 photos of seaside three-awn 11/19/2023. Dan W. Andree uploaded 1 photo of brook trout 11/19/2023. Dan W. Andree uploaded 1 photo of George H. Crosby Manitou State Park Greg Watson uploaded 5 photos of Wagon Wheel Trail 11/17/2023. Luciearl uploaded 2 photos of blueberry stem gall wasp on lowbush blueberry Lucas, Roz, and Kat Kraemer uploaded 2 photos of Elegant Sunburst Lichen Dan W. Andree uploaded 1 photo of a site near Upper Manitou Forest Preserve Jordan Wilson uploaded 1 photo of seaside three-awn 11/10/2023. Dan W. Andree uploaded 2 photos of Agassiz Recreational Trail, Norman Babette Kis uploaded 1 photo of snowy urola moth 10/5/2022. Alfredo Colon uploaded 1 photo of treehoppers (Cyrtolobus spp.) 7/1/2021. Jordan Wilson uploaded 5 photos of Kellogg Weaver Dunes SNA, Jordan Wilson uploaded 1 photo of Kellogg Weaver Dunes SNA, Bird Lady uploaded 1 photo of juniper stink bug 11/8/2023. Luciearl uploaded 1 photo of fern mosses (Thuidium spp.) 10/13/2023. Babette Kis uploaded 1 photo of elm spanworm moth 10/5/2022. Alfredo Colon uploaded 1 photo of treehopper (Acutalis tartarea) 10/30/2022. Dan W. Andree uploaded 1 photo and 1 video of Belted Kingfisher 11/7/2023. Luciearl uploaded 1 photo of juniper haircap moss 11/6/2023. Jeff Holm uploaded 3 photos of red velvet mites (Trombidium spp.) 11/6/2023. Robin Anderson uploaded 2 photos of blue stain fungi 11/5/2023. Luciearl uploaded 1 photo of Blusher 10/9/2023. Crystal Boyd uploaded 1 photo of green-striped grasshopper 6/12/2013. AngelG uploaded 4 photos of millipedes (Class Diplopoda) 11/3/2023. Dan W. Andree uploaded 1 video of Ruffed Grouse 11/3/2023. Dan W. Andree uploaded 1 video of smooth greensnake 11/2/2023. Dan W. Andree uploaded 1 video of regal fritillary 11/2/2023. Dan W. Andree uploaded 1 video of plains clubtail 11/2/2023. Babette Kis uploaded 2 photos of oblique streaktail 10/4/2022. Alfredo Colon uploaded 2 photos of leafhopper (Macropsis osborni) 7/1/2021. Luciearl uploaded 2 photos of Dark Honey Fungus 10/9/2023. Crystal Boyd uploaded 1 photo of mournful thyris 6/12/2013. |
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Next Up |
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1 |
black-dotted glyph (Maliattha synochitis) |
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2 |
scallop moth (Cepphis armataria) |
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3 |
common bagworm moth (Psyche casta) |
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4 |
cherry shoot borer moth (Argyresthia oreasella) |
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5 |
tortricine leafroller moths (Subfamily Tortricinae) |
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6 |
lesser vagabond sod webworm moth (Agriphila ruricolellus) |
Babette Kis | |||
7 |
primrose moth (Schinia florida) |
Alfredo Colon | |||
8 |
glossy black idia moth (Idia lubricalis) |
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9 |
confused woodgrain moth (Morrisonia confusa) |
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10 |
variable narrow-wing (Magusa divaricata) |
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11 |
spongy moth (Lymantria dispar dispar) |
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12 |
alfalfa webworm moth (Loxostege cereralis) |
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13 |
speckled renia moth (Renia adspergillus) |
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14 |
little underwing (Catocala minuta) |
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15 |
common gray (Anavitrinella pampinaria) |
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16 |
bent-lined carpet (Costaconvexa centrostrigaria) |
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17 |
sumac leaf blotch miner moth (Caloptilia rhoifoliella) |
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18 |
plume moths (Geina spp.) | Babette Kis | |||
19 |
brown panopoda moth (Panopoda carneicosta) |
Alfredo Colon | |||
20 |
plume moths (Hellinsia spp.) |
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21 |
strawberry rootworm (Paria fragariae) |
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22 |
wasp-like falsehorn (Temnostoma alternans) |
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23 |
maize calligrapher (Toxomerus politus) |
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24 |
flower lebia beetle (Lebia viridis) |
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25 |
eastern spurred ghost spider (Anyphaena pectorosa) |
Alfredo Colon | |||
26 |
tachinid flies (Cylindromyia spp.) |
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27 |
pale green weevil (Polydrusus impressifrons) |
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28 |
northern bush katydid (Scudderia septentrionalis) |
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29 |
smoky poplar aphid (Chaitophorus populicola) |
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30 |
red speckled dun (Callibaetis ferrugineus ferrugineus) |
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31 |
Kansas lady beetle (Scymnus kansanus) |
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32 |
gnat ogre (Holcocephala calva) |
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33 |
mining bees (Andrena Subgenus Melandrena) |
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34 |
aphideaters (Eupeodes americanus complex) |
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35 |
two-spotted leafwalker (Xylota angustiventris) |
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36 |
raspberry fruitworm beetle (Byturus unicolor) |
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37 |
obscure plant bug (Plagiognathus obscurus) |
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38 |
pufftails (Sphegina Subgenus Asiosphegina) |
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39 |
short-winged nabis (Nabis rufusculus) |
Alfredo Colon | |||
40 |
click beetles (Agriotes spp.) |
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41 |
potato flea beetle (Epitrix cucumeris) |
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42 |
orange-spotted drone fly (Eristalis anthophorina) |
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43 |
ichneumonid wasp (Acroricnus stylator aequatus) |
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44 |
clover leaf weevil (Brachypera zoilus) |
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45 |
reddish checkered beetle (Enoclerus rosmarus) |
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46 |
black vine weevil (Otiorhynchus sulcatus) |
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47 |
broad-banded meadow fly (Chrysotoxum plumeum) |
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48 |
bee fly (Chrysanthrax cypris) |
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49 |
plant bug (Neurocolpus spp.) |
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50 |
thin-legged wolf spiders (Pardosa spp.) |
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51 |
picture-winged fly (Pseudoseioptera albipes) |
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52 |
grayish jumping spider (Phidippus princeps) |
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53 |
limoniid crane fly (Helius flavipes) |
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54 |
fruit fly (Campiglossa albiceps) |
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55 |
recumbent ground crab spider (Xysticus auctificus) |
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56 |
pallid leafroller moth (Xenotemna pallorana) |
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57 |
cutleaf teasel (Dipsacus laciniatus) |
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58 |
emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) |
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59 |
lateral-lobed soldier beetle (Ditemnus latilobus) |
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60 |
yellow-necked soldier beetle (Podabrus flavicollis) |
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61 |
northern flatid planthopper (Flatormenis proxima) |
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62 |
spotted bird grasshopper (Schistocerca lineata) |
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63 |
common flower fly (Syrphus ribesii) |
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64 |
Milwaukee miner bee (Andrena milwaukeensis) |
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65 |
Canada thistle bud weevil (Larinus carlinae) |
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66 |
flower weevils (Odontocorynus spp.) |
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67 |
brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys) |
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68 |
goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) |
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69 |
eastern carpenter bee (Xylocopa virginica) |
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70 |
lost sallow (Eupsilia devia) |
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71 |
dirt-colored seed bug (Ozophora picturata) |
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72 |
warty leaf beetles (Exema spp.) | ||||
73 |
root maggot flies (Family Anthomyiidae) |
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74 |
California calligraphy leaf beetle (Calligrapha californica) |
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75 |
common sawfly (Monostegia abdominalis) |
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76 |
three-banded crab spider (Xysticus triguttatus) |
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77 |
gall midges and wood midges (Family Cecidomyiidae) |
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78 |
peppered jumping spider (Pelegrina galathea) |
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79 |
plant bugs (Plagiognathus spp.) |
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80 |
rough avens (Geum laciniatum) |
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81 |
viburnum leaf beetle (Pyrrhalta viburni) |
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82 |
baptisia seed pod weevil (Trichapion rostrum) |
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83 |
variegated lady beetle (Hippodamia variegata) | Alfredo Colon | |||
84 |
four-spotted sap beetle (Glischrochilus quadrisignatus) | Babette Kis | |||
85 |
common crane fly (Tipula furca) |
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86 |
striped garden caterpillar moth (Trichordestra legitima) | Babette Kis | |||
87 |
scarlet plant bugs (Lopidea spp.) | ||||
88 |
common barklouse (Metylophorus purus) | Babette Kis | |||
89 |
ant mimic jumping spider (Myrmarachne formicaria) |
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90 |
fork-tailed bush katydid (Scudderia furcata) |
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91 |
common stoneflies (Family Perlidae) |
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92 |
tree cattle (Cerastipsocus venosus) |
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93 |
longlegged fly (Condylostylus caudatus group) |
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94 |
fourteen-spotted lady beetle (Propylea quatuordecimpunctata) |
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95 |
Canadian potter wasp (Symmorphus canadensis) |
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96 |
black bean aphid (Aphis fabae) |
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97 |
tiger fly (Coenosia tigrina) |
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98 |
hairy evening primrose (Oenothera villosa ssp. villosa) |
Alfredo Colon | |||
99 |
parenthesis lady beetle (Hippodamia parenthesis) |
Alfredo Colon | |||
100 |
oval ambersnail (Novisuccinea ovalis) |
Alfredo Colon | |||
101 |
brown knapweed (Centaurea jacea) |
Alfredo Colon | |||
102 |
horned squash bug (Anasa armigera) |
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103 |
eastern black carpenter ant (Camponotus pennsylvanicus) |
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104 |
elegant crab spider (Xysticus elegans) |
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105 |
retrorse sedge (Carex retrorsa) |
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106 |
bald-faced hornet fly (Spilomyia fusca) |
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107 |
slender springtail (Homidia socia) |
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108 |
triangular false click beetle (Microrhagus triangularis) |
Alfredo Colon | |||
109 |
common ragweed fruit fly (Euaresta bella) |
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110 |
fruit fly (Eutreta noveboracensis) |
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111 |
walnut lace bug (Corythucha juglandis) |
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112 |
round bullet gall wasp (Disholcaspis quercusglobulus) |
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113 |
stink bug (Mormidea lugens) |
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114 |
ragweed leaf beetle (Ophraella communa) | Alfredo Colon | |||
115 |
ghost spiders (Anyphaena spp.) | Alfredo Colon | |||
116 |
Hart’s jumping spider (Tutelina harti) | Alfredo Colon | |||
117 |
heptagonal orbweaver (Gea heptagon) | Alfredo Colon | |||
118 |
entomophagus fungus (Entomophaga maimaiga) |
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119 |
brown leaf weevil (Phyllobius oblongus) |
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120 |
tachinid fly (Zelia vertebrata) | Alfredo Colon | |||
121 |
braconid wasps (Opius spp.) |
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122 |
tarnished plant bug (Lygus lineolaris) |
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123 |
stink bug (Dendrocoris humeralis) | Alfredo Colon | |||
124 |
broad-winged skipper (Poanes viator) |
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125 |
weevil wasp (Cerceris halone) |
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126 |
Texas striped sweat bee (Agapostemon texanus) |
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127 |
leaf miner flies (Liriomyza spp.) |
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128 |
Hemlock Varnish Shelf (Ganoderma tsugae) |
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129 |
spring tree-top flasher (Pyractomena borealis) |
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130 |
horned parasitic cobweaver (Neospintharus trigonum) |
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131 |
Canada fire-colored beetle (Dendroides canadensis) |
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132 |
black-margined loosestrife beetle (Galerucella calmariensis) |
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133 |
violet dancer (Argia fumipennis violacea) |
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134 |
flower bud weevil (Nanophyes marmoratus) |
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135 |
privet leafhopper (Fieberiella florii) |
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136 |
plant bugs (Phytocoris spp.) |
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137 |
black-tailed red sheetweaver (Florinda coccinea) |
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138 |
shore spider (Pardosa milvina) |
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139 |
lyric cobweaver (Yunohamella lyrica) |
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140 |
brown centipede (Lithobius forficatus) |
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141 |
alder spittlebug (Clastoptera obtusa) |
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142 |
featherlegged orbweaver (Uloborus glomosus) |
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143 |
half-belted blue-black spider wasp (Anoplius semicinctus) |
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144 |
carrot wasps (Gasteruption spp.) |
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145 |
wood nettle gall midge (Dasineura investita) |
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146 |
flat-headed apple tree borer (Chrysobothris femorata) |
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147 |
plant bug (Phytocoris eximius) |
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148 |
chalcidoid wasp (Leucospis affinis) |
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149 |
assassin bugs (Family Reduviidae) |
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150 |
garden tortrix (Clepsis peritana) |
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151 |
striped sweat bees (Agapostemon spp.) |
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152 |
dog day cicadas (Neotibicen spp.) |
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153 |
starry bristle moss (Orthotrichum stellatum) |
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154 |
nosy pill woodlouse (Armadillidium nasatum) |
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155 |
pine tree spur-throat grasshopper (Melanoplus punctulatus) | Alfredo Colon | |||
156 |
crisped pincushion (Ulota crispa) | Alfredo Colon | |||
157 |
painted harvestman (Odiellus pictus) | Alfredo Colon | |||
158 |
Wheeler's thick-legged jumping spider (Admestina wheeleri) | Alfredo Colon | |||
159 |
hybotid dance flies (Tachypeza spp.) |
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160 |
twice-stabbed lady beetle (Chilocorus stigma) |
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161 |
spreadwings and allies (Family Lestidae) | Alfredo Colon | |||
162 |
gnat ogre (Holcocephala fusca) | Alfredo Colon | |||
163 |
gnat ogres (Holcocephala spp.) | Alfredo Colon | |||
164 |
Hooded Rosette Lichen (Physcia adscendens) | Alfredo Colon | |||
165 |
rough stink bug (Brochymena arborea) | Alfredo Colon | |||
166 |
flea jumping spider (Naphrys pulex) | Alfredo Colon | |||
167 |
common crane fly (Tipula caloptera) | Alfredo Colon | |||
168 |
flat-footed flies (Platypeza spp.) | ||||
169 |
hook-toothed money spider (Erigone dentosa) |
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170 |
Oriental beetle (Exomala orientalis) | ||||
171 |
fungus (Gibellula pulchra) | Alfredo Colon | |||
172 |
banded net-wing beetle (Calopteron reticulatum) | Alfredo Colon | |||
173 |
rustic wolf spider (Trochosa ruricola) | Alfredo Colon | |||
174 |
European alder spittlebug (Aphrophora alni) | Alfredo Colon | |||
175 |
Common Gilled Mushrooms and Allies (Order Agaricales) | ||||
176 |
gold-marked thread-waisted wasp (Eremnophila aureonotata) | Alfredo Colon | |||
177 |
triangle weaver (Hyptiotes cavatus) | Alfredo Colon | |||
178 |
miserable mining bee (Andrena miserabilis) | ||||
179 |
oribatid mites (Galumna spp.) | ||||
180 |
Collared Parachute (Marasmius rotula) | Alfredo Colon | |||
181 |
Strict-branched Coral Fungus (Ramaria stricta) | Alfredo Colon | |||
182 |
tachinid fly (Gymnoclytia occidua) | Alfredo Colon | |||
183 |
lyre-tipped spreadwing (Lestes unguiculatus) | Alfredo Colon | |||
184 |
delicate cycnia (Cycnia tenera) | Alfredo Colon | |||
185 |
ichneumonid wasps (Glypta spp.) |
Alfredo Colon | |||
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jewel bug (Homaemus aeneifrons) | John Valo | |||
Created 12/13/2003
Last Updated: