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

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,657
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

March

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.

February

flower weevil (Odontocorynus sp.)

Alfredo Colon uploaded 1 photo of flower weevils (Odontocorynus spp.) 10/30/2022.

red speckled dun

Babette Kis uploaded 1 photo of red speckled dun 10/18/2022.

Green Reindeer Lichen

Luciearl uploaded 1 photo of Green Reindeer Lichen 2/26/2024.

Unidentified Lichen

Luciearl uploaded 1 photo of Unidentified Lichen 2/26/2024.

European snout beetle

Alfredo Colon uploaded 1 photo of European snout beetle 7/6/2021.

European snout beetle

Alfredo Colon uploaded 1 photo of European snout beetle 6/30/2021.

Bald Eagle

Bobbi Johnson uploaded 1 photo of Bald Eagle 2/24/2024.

regal fritillary

Dan W. Andree uploaded 1 photo of regal fritillary 2/24/2024.

American Redstart

Dan W. Andree uploaded 2 photos of American Redstart 2/23/2024.

Hammered Shield Lichen

Luciearl uploaded 1 photo of Hammered Shield Lichen 2/22/2024.

Star Rosette Lichen

Luciearl uploaded 1 photo of Star Rosette Lichen 2/22/2024.

George H. Crosby Manitou State Park

Dan W. Andree uploaded 1 photo of George H. Crosby Manitou State Park 2/22/2024.

Mock Oyster Mushroom

Blyke uploaded 5 photos of Mock Oyster Mushroom 2/21/2024.

northern bush katydid

Babette Kis uploaded 2 photos of northern bush katydid 10/18/2022.

western poison ivy

Luciearl uploaded 2 photos of western poison ivy 2/20/2024.

tree climacium moss

Luciearl uploaded 1 photo of tree climacium moss 2/13/2024.

pale green weevil

Alfredo Colon uploaded 1 photo of pale green weevil 6/30/2021.

flower weevil (Odontocorynus sp.)

Babette Kis uploaded 1 photo of flower weevils (Odontocorynus spp.) 5/16/2023.

Black Witches’ Butter

Luciearl uploaded 3 photos of Black Witches’ Butter 1/22/2024.

Black Witches’ Butter

Luciearl uploaded 1 photo of Black Witches’ Butter 1/21/2024.

Canada thistle bud weevil

Alfredo Colon uploaded 1 photo of Canada thistle bud weevil 12/12/2022.

Canada thistle bud weevil

Alfredo Colon uploaded 2 photos of Canada thistle bud weevil 9/9/2022.

western poison ivy

Luciearl uploaded 1 photo of western poison ivy 2/13/2024.

brook trout

Dan W. Andree uploaded 1 photo of brook trout 2/13/2024.

black vine weevil

Babette Kis uploaded 2 photos of black vine weevil 10/20/2022.

Bald Eagle

Dan W. Andree uploaded 1 photo of Bald Eagle 2/11/2024.

Red Tree Brain Fungus

Luciearl uploaded 1 photo of Red Tree Brain Fungus 1/22/2024.

Red Tree Brain Fungus

Luciearl uploaded 1 photo of Red Tree Brain Fungus 1/21/2024.

George H. Crosby Manitou State Park

Dan W. Andree uploaded 3 photos of George H. Crosby Manitou State Park 2/8/2024.

veiny pea

Luciearl uploaded 1 photo of veiny pea 2/8/2024.

baptisia seed pod weevil

Babette Kis uploaded 1 photo of baptisia seed pod weevil 10/6/2023.

flower bud weevil

Alfredo Colon uploaded 1 photo of flower bud weevil 12/12/2022.

George H. Crosby Manitou State Park

Dan W. Andree uploaded 1 photo of George H. Crosby Manitou State Park 2/6/2024.

Eurasian Collared-Dove

Lisa Hoover uploaded 1 photo of Eurasian Collared-Dove 2/5/2024.

Club-like Tuning Fork

Luciearl uploaded 1 photo of Club-like Tuning Fork 2/5/2024.

Star Rosette Lichen

Luciearl uploaded 1 photo of Star Rosette Lichen 2/3/2024.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Pages

March

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

February

2/29/2024

orange blister beetle

2/27/2024

red speckled dun

2/26/2024

European snout beetle

2/22/2024

Mock Oyster Mushroom

2/21/2024

northern bush katydid

2/20/2024

tree climacium moss

2/18/2024

pale green weevil

2/17/2024

flower weevils (Odontocorynus spp.)

2/16/2024

Black Witches’ Butter

2/15/2024

Canada thistle bud weevil

2/13/2024

black vine weevil

2/12/2024

Red Tree Brain Fungus

2/9/2024

baptisia seed pod weevil

2/8/2024

flower bud weevil

2/5/2024

little bluestem

2/2/2024

Common Rim Lichen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What’s Next

1

Silvery-violet Cort (Cortinarius alboviolaceus) Robert Briggs

2

Weaver Dunes Addition

Nancy Falkum

3

banded net-wing beetle (Calopteron reticulatum)

Alfredo Colon

4

rough avens (Geum laciniatum)

Babette Kis

5

potato flea beetle (Epitrix cucumeris)

Alfredo Colon

6

Milwaukee miner bee (Andrena milwaukeensis)

Babette Kis

7

lateral-lobed soldier beetle (Ditemnus latilobus)

Alfredo Colon

8

maize calligrapher (Toxomerus politus)

Babette Kis

9

triangular false click beetle (Microrhagus triangularis)

Alfredo Colon

10

orange-spotted drone fly (Eristalis anthophorina)

Babette Kis

11

spring tree-top flasher (Pyractomena borealis)

Alfredo Colon

12

wasp-like falsehorn (Temnostoma alternans)

Babette Kis

13

Canada fire-colored beetle (Dendroides canadensis)

Alfredo Colon

14

aphideaters (Eupeodes americanus complex)

Babette Kis

15

broad-banded meadow fly (Chrysotoxum plumeum)

Alfredo Colon

16

pufftails (Sphegina Subgenus Asiosphegina)

Babette Kis

17

common flower fly (Syrphus ribesii)

Alfredo Colon

18

tachinid flies (Cylindromyia spp.)

Babette Kis

19

gnat ogre (Holcocephala fusca)

Alfredo Colon

20

gnat ogre (Holcocephala calva)

Babette Kis

21

gnat ogres (Holcocephala spp.)

Alfredo Colon

22

bee fly (Chrysanthrax cypris)

Babette Kis

23

picture-winged fly (Pseudoseioptera albipes)

Alfredo Colon

24

fruit fly (Campiglossa albiceps)

Babette Kis

25

recumbent ground crab spider (Xysticus auctificus)

Alfredo Colon

26

thin-legged wolf spiders (Pardosa spp.)

Babette Kis

27

ant mimic jumping spider (Myrmarachne formicaria)

Alfredo Colon

28

grayish jumping spider (Phidippus princeps)

Babette Kis

29

eastern spurred ghost spider (Anyphaena pectorosa)

Alfredo Colon

30

three-banded crab spider (Xysticus triguttatus)

Babette Kis

31

ghost spiders (Anyphaena spp.) Alfredo Colon

32

peppered jumping spider (Pelegrina galathea)

Babette Kis

33

reddish checkered beetle (Enoclerus rosmarus)

Alfredo Colon

34

common barklouse (Metylophorus purus) Alfredo Colon

35

elegant crab spider (Xysticus elegans)

Alfredo Colon

36

Hart’s jumping spider (Tutelina harti) Alfredo Colon

37

heptagonal orbweaver (Gea heptagon) Alfredo Colon

38

black-tailed red sheetweaver (Florinda coccinea)

Alfredo Colon

39

shore spider (Pardosa milvina)

Alfredo Colon

40

lyric cobweaver (Yunohamella lyrica)

Alfredo Colon

41

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

Alfredo Colon

42

flea jumping spider (Naphrys pulex)

Alfredo Colon

43

hook-toothed money spider (Erigone dentosa)

Alfredo Colon

44

rustic wolf spider (Trochosa ruricola)

Alfredo Colon

45

triangle weaver (Hyptiotes cavatus)

Alfredo Colon

46

plant bug (Neurocolpus spp.)

Alfredo Colon

47

limoniid crane fly (Helius flavipes)

Alfredo Colon

48

short-winged nabis (Nabis rufusculus)

Alfredo Colon

49

ichneumonid wasp (Acroricnus stylator aequatus)

Alfredo Colon

50

brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys)

Alfredo Colon

51

eastern carpenter bee (Xylocopa virginica)

Alfredo Colon

52

gall midges and wood midges (Family Cecidomyiidae)

Alfredo Colon

53

gall midges (Subfamily Cecidomyiinae) Alfredo Colon

54

plant bugs (Plagiognathus spp.)

Alfredo Colon

55

cutleaf teasel (Dipsacus laciniatus)

Alfredo Colon

56

northern flatid planthopper (Flatormenis proxima)

Alfredo Colon

57

dirt-colored seed bug (Ozophora picturata)

Alfredo Colon

58

root maggot flies (Family Anthomyiidae)

Alfredo Colon

59

common sawfly (Monostegia abdominalis)

Alfredo Colon

60

common crane fly (Tipula furca)

Alfredo Colon

61

obscure plant bug (Plagiognathus obscurus)

Alfredo Colon

62

scarlet plant bugs (Lopidea spp.)

Alfredo Colon

63

fork-tailed bush katydid (Scudderia furcata)

Alfredo Colon

64

common stoneflies (Family Perlidae)

Alfredo Colon

65

tree cattle (Cerastipsocus venosus)

Alfredo Colon

66

longlegged fly (Condylostylus caudatus group)

Alfredo Colon

67

Canadian potter wasp (Symmorphus canadensis)

Alfredo Colon

68

black bean aphid (Aphis fabae)

Alfredo Colon

69

tiger fly (Coenosia tigrina)

Alfredo Colon

70

hairy evening primrose (Oenothera villosa ssp. villosa)

Alfredo Colon

71

oval ambersnail (Novisuccinea ovalis)

Alfredo Colon

72

brown knapweed (Centaurea jacea)

Alfredo Colon

73

horned squash bug (Anasa armigera)

Alfredo Colon

74

eastern black carpenter ant (Camponotus pennsylvanicus)

Alfredo Colon

75

retrorse sedge (Carex retrorsa)

Alfredo Colon

76

bald-faced hornet fly (Spilomyia fusca)

Alfredo Colon

77

slender springtail (Homidia socia)

Alfredo Colon

78

common ragweed fruit fly (Euaresta bella)

Alfredo Colon

79

fruit fly (Eutreta noveboracensis)

Alfredo Colon

80

walnut lace bug (Corythucha juglandis)

Alfredo Colon

81

round bullet gall wasp (Disholcaspis quercusglobulus)

Alfredo Colon

82

stink bug (Mormidea lugens)

Alfredo Colon

83

entomophagus fungus (Entomophaga maimaiga)

Alfredo Colon

84

tachinid fly (Zelia vertebrata)

Alfredo Colon

85

braconid wasps (Opius spp.)

Alfredo Colon

86

tarnished plant bug (Lygus lineolaris)

Alfredo Colon

87

stink bug (Dendrocoris humeralis)

Alfredo Colon

88

broad-winged skipper (Poanes viator)

Alfredo Colon

89

weevil wasp (Cerceris halone)

Alfredo Colon

90

Texas striped sweat bee (Agapostemon texanus)

Alfredo Colon

91

leaf miner flies (Liriomyza spp.)

Alfredo Colon

92

Hemlock Varnish Shelf (Ganoderma tsugae)

Alfredo Colon

93

horned parasitic cobweaver (Neospintharus trigonum)

Alfredo Colon

94

violet dancer (Argia fumipennis violacea)

Alfredo Colon

95

privet leafhopper (Fieberiella florii)

Alfredo Colon

96

plant bugs (Phytocoris spp.)

Alfredo Colon

97

brown centipede (Lithobius forficatus)

Alfredo Colon

98

alder spittlebug (Clastoptera obtusa)

Alfredo Colon

99

featherlegged orbweaver (Uloborus glomosus)

Alfredo Colon

100

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

Alfredo Colon

101

carrot wasps (Gasteruption spp.)

Alfredo Colon

102

wood nettle gall midge (Dasineura investita)

Alfredo Colon

103

plant bug (Phytocoris eximius)

Alfredo Colon

104

chalcidoid wasp (Leucospis affinis)

Alfredo Colon

105

assassin bugs (Family Reduviidae)

Alfredo Colon

106

striped sweat bees (Agapostemon spp.)

Alfredo Colon

107

dog day cicadas (Neotibicen spp.)

Alfredo Colon

108

starry bristle moss (Orthotrichum stellatum)

Alfredo Colon

109

nosy pill woodlouse (Armadillidium nasatum)

Alfredo Colon

110

pine tree spur-throat grasshopper (Melanoplus punctulatus)

Alfredo Colon

111

crisped pincushion (Ulota crispa)

Alfredo Colon

112

painted harvestman (Odiellus pictus)

Alfredo Colon

113

hybotid dance flies (Tachypeza spp.)

Alfredo Colon

114

smoky poplar aphid (Chaitophorus populicola)

Alfredo Colon

115

spreadwings and allies (Family Lestidae)

Alfredo Colon

116

mining bees (Andrena Subgenus Melandrena)

Alfredo Colon

117

two-spotted leafwalker (Xylota angustiventris)

Alfredo Colon

118

Hooded Rosette Lichen (Physcia adscendens)

Alfredo Colon

119

rough stink bug (Brochymena arborea)

Alfredo Colon

120

common crane fly (Tipula caloptera)

Alfredo Colon

121

flat-footed flies (Platypeza spp.)

Alfredo Colon

122

fungus (Gibellula pulchra)

Alfredo Colon

123

European alder spittlebug (Aphrophora alni)

Alfredo Colon

124

Common Gilled Mushrooms and Allies (Order Agaricales)

Alfredo Colon

125

gold-marked thread-waisted wasp (Eremnophila aureonotata)

Alfredo Colon

126

miserable mining bee (Andrena miserabilis)

Alfredo Colon

127

oribatid mites (Galumna spp.)

Alfredo Colon

128

Collared Parachute (Marasmius rotula)

Alfredo Colon

129

Strict-branched Coral Fungus (Ramaria stricta)

Alfredo Colon

130

tachinid fly (Gymnoclytia occidua)

Alfredo Colon

131

lyre-tipped spreadwing (Lestes unguiculatus)

Alfredo Colon

132

ichneumonid wasps (Glypta spp.)

Alfredo Colon

133

raspberry fruitworm beetle (Byturus unicolor)

Alfredo Colon

134

tumbling ragdoll flower beetle (Mordella marginata) Alfredo Colon

135

ichneumonid wasps (Subtribe Agrothereutina) Alfredo Colon

136

sand-loving wasps (Tachytes spp.)

Alfredo Colon

137

   

138

   

139

   

140

   
 

 

 

 

jewel bug (Homaemus aeneifrons) John Valo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Created: 12/13/2003

Last Updated:

© MinnesotaSeasons.com. All rights reserved.

About Us

Privacy Policy

Contact Us