Minnesota Seasons
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.
Species
Plants
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.
Insects and Arachnids
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.
Wildlife
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.
Mushrooms, Lichens, and Other Fungi
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.
| 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
2,951
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
| Hibernal Season |
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The hibernal ecological season corresponds to the winter calendar season. In our area it is characterized by cold temperatures, a usually snow-covered landscape, and an absence of migratory bird species. Deciduous trees are bare and fallen leaves begin to decay. Migrating birds have settled in winter habitats. In Minnesota the hibernal season usually begins about December 1 and lasts until about March 1. Snow Cover Temperature |
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| Recent Uploads |
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| December |
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Justin B. uploaded 1 photo of grass spiders (Agelenopsis spp.) 12/1/2025. |
| November |
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Bill Reynolds uploaded 1 video of bobcat 11/31/2025. |
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Dan W. Andree uploaded 1 video of smooth greensnake 11/29/2025. |
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Dan W. Andree uploaded 3 photos of Fragrant Funnel 8/13/2025. |
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Bobbi Johnson uploaded 1 photo of Earthy Powdercap 11/10/2025. |
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Alfredo Colon uploaded 1 photo of braconid wasps (Opius spp.) 12/2/2022. |
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Nancy Falkum uploaded 2 photos of Many-fruited Pelt Lichen 10/28/2025. |
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Randy uploaded 2 photos of Osage-orange 11/5/2025. |
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Luciearl uploaded 3 photos of northern pin oak 11/20/2025. |
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Luciearl uploaded 2 photos of poke milkweed 11/20/2025. |
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Leon Purcell uploaded 1 photo of Barred Owl 11/17/2025. |
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Dan W. Andree uploaded 1 photo of wood, mound, and field ants (Formica spp.) on Gray Reindeer Lichen 11/13/2025. |
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Dan W. Andree uploaded 3 photos of Diminutive Agaricus 8/9/2025. |
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Luciearl uploaded 3 photos of goldenrod gall fly 11/12/2025. |
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Bobbi Johnson uploaded 1 photo of bald-faced hornet 11/10/2025. |
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Bobbi Johnson uploaded 1 photo of Virginia opossum 11/10/2025. |
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Bobbi Johnson uploaded 1 photo of red maple 11/10/2025. |
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Bobbi Johnson uploaded 1 photo of Golden Pholiota 11/10/2025. |
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Bobbi Johnson uploaded 1 photo of field thistle 11/10/2025. |
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Alfredo Colon uploaded 2 photos of heptagonal orbweaver 12/12/2022. |
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Alfredo Colon uploaded 1 photo of heptagonal orbweaver 12/2/2022. |
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Dan W. Andree uploaded 1 photo of Hexagonal-pored Polypore 11/8/2025. |
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Dan W. Andree uploaded 1 photo of Destructive Pholiota 11/7/2025. |
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Dan W. Andree uploaded 2 photos of Aspen Bolete 11/7/2025. |
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Nancy Falkum uploaded 1 photo of Dog Pelt Lichen 10/28/2025. |
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Dan W. Andree uploaded 1 photo of dog sick slime mold 8/7/2025. |
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Carrie Andersson uploaded 1 photo of Purple-spored Puffball 11/4/2025. |
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Luciearl uploaded 1 photo of eastern gray squirrel 11/4/2025. |
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Luciearl uploaded 3 photos of Birch Polypore on paper birch 11/2/2025. |
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Alfredo Colon uploaded 1 photo of ghost spiders (Anyphaena spp.) 12/13/2022. |
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Alfredo Colon uploaded 1 photo of ghost spiders (Anyphaena spp.) 12/12/2022. |
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Alfredo Colon uploaded 1 photo of ghost spiders (Anyphaena spp.) 12/2/2022. |
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Nancy Falkum uploaded 1 photo of pines (family Pinaceae) with dual pathogen symptoms 10/28/2025. |
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Dan W. Andree uploaded 1 photo of Candy Apple Waxy Cap 9/9/2025. |
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Dan W. Andree uploaded 1 photo of Candy Apple Waxy Cap 9/6/2025. |
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Dan W. Andree uploaded 1 photo of Candy Apple Waxy Cap 8/27/2025. |
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Dan W. Andree uploaded 1 photo of Candy Apple Waxy Cap 8/5/2025. |
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Dan W. Andree uploaded 1 photo of Candy Apple Waxy Cap 8/4/2025. |
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Dan W. Andree uploaded 1 photo of Candy Apple Waxy Cap 8/3/2025. |
| New Pages |
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| December |
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| November |
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11/29/2025 |
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11/28/2025 |
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11/27/2025 |
tachinid flies (Winthemia spp.) |
11/26/2025 |
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| 11/26/2025 | Holcocephala calva common name changed from none to gray goggle eye |
11/25/2025 |
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| 11/24/2025 | Holcocephala abdominalis common name changed from none to golden goggle eye |
11/24/2025 |
Osage-orange |
11/23/2025 |
Amara lunicollis common name changed from moon-collared harp ground beetle to mesophile sunshiner |
| 11/22/2025 | Dicots (Class Magnoliopsida) (updated) |
| 11/22/2025 | Class Magnoliopsida common name changed to Dicots |
11/14/2025 |
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11/10/2025 |
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| 11/8/2025 | Hemipholiota populnea common name changed from Poplar Pholiota to Destructive Pholiota |
11/6/2025 |
Dog Pelt Lichen |
| 11/5/2025 | |
11/3/2025 |
ghost spiders (Anyphaena spp.) |
| 11/2/2025 | |
| 11/1/2025 |
| What’s Next |
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1 |
house pseudoscorpion (Chelifer cancroides) | Bill Reynolds |
2 |
Freckled Pelt Lichen (Peltigera aphthosa) | Nancy Falkum |
3 |
tachinid fly (Zelia vertebrata) |
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4 |
emperor moths (Subfamily Saturniinae) | Bobbi Johnson |
5 |
Bolete Eater (Hypomyces chrysospermus) |
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6 |
Sheepish Pelt Lichen (Peltigera extenuata) | Nancy Falkum |
7 |
insect destroyer (Entomophaga maimaiga) |
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8 |
Dragon Horn (Cladonia squamosa) |
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9 |
weevil wasp (Cerceris halone) |
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10 |
carnival candy slime mold (Arcyria denudata) | Dan W. Andree |
11 |
broad-winged skipper (Poanes viator) |
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12 |
tree-skirt moss (Pseudanomodon attenuatus) |
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13 |
stink bug (Dendrocoris humeralis) |
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14 |
Lumpy Bracket (Trametes gibbosa) | Dan W. Andree |
15 |
eastern dobsonfly (Corydalus cornutus) |
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16 |
Common Milkcaps (Lactarius spp.) | Dan W. Andree |
17 |
slender-footed jewel beetle (Spectralia gracilipes) |
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18 |
Common Conecap (Conocybe tenera) | Dan W. Andree |
19 |
imported willow leaf beetle (Plagiodera versicolora) |
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20 |
Orange Pinwheel (Marasmius siccus) | Dan W. Andree |
21 |
three-ribbed soldier beetle (Podabrus tricostatus) |
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22 |
Gray Reindeer Lichen (Cladonia rangiferina) | Dan W. Andree |
23 |
guided soldier beetle (Rhagonycha recta) |
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24 |
Fan Ramalina (Ramalina sinensis) | Dan W. Andree |
25 |
wide-horned soldier beetle (Polemius laticornis) |
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26 |
Red-banded Webcap (Cortinarius armillatus) | Dan W. Andree |
27 |
soldier beetles (Rhagonycha spp.) |
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28 |
Easter Foam (Stereocaulon paschale) | Dan W. Andree |
29 |
Pennsylvania flea beetle (Disonycha pensylvanica) |
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30 |
Mealy Pixie Cup (Cladonia chlorophaea) |
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31 |
mourning fire-colored beetle (Pedilus lugubris) |
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32 |
Common Fieldcap (Agrocybe pediades) | Dan W. Andree |
33 |
bronze darkling beetle (Arthromacra aenea) |
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34 |
Wrinkled Cortinarius (Cortinarius caperatus) | Dan W. Andree |
35 |
common brown click beetle (Athous haemorrhoidalis) |
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36 |
fraternal darkling beetle (Mycetochara fraterna) |
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37 |
golden loosestrife beetle (Neogalerucella pusilla) |
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38 |
featherlegged orbweaver (Uloborus glomosus) |
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39 |
perennial mason wasp (Parancistrocerus perennis) |
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40 |
Texas striped sweat bee (Agapostemon texanus) |
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41 |
common crane fly (Tipula caloptera) |
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42 |
Hemlock Varnish Shelf (Ganoderma tsugae) |
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43 |
horned parasitic cobweaver (Neospintharus trigonum) |
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44 |
shore spider (Pardosa milvina) |
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45 |
black-tailed red sheetweaver (Florinda coccinea) |
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46 |
privet leafhopper (Fieberiella florii) |
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47 |
violet dancer (Argia fumipennis violacea) |
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48 |
carrot wasps (Gasteruption spp.) |
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49 |
lyric cobweaver (Yunohamella lyrica) |
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50 |
alder spittlebug (Clastoptera obtusa) |
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51 |
half-belted blue-black spider wasp (Anoplius semicinctus) |
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52 |
wood nettle gall midge (Dasineura investita) |
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53 |
common ectemnius (Ectemnius continuus) |
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54 |
striped sweat bees (Agapostemon spp.) |
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55 |
chalcidoid wasp (Leucospis affinis) |
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56 |
assassin bugs (Family Reduviidae) |
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57 |
dog day cicadas (Neotibicen spp.) |
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58 |
starry bristle moss (Orthotrichum stellatum) |
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59 |
crisped pincushion (Ulota crispa) |
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60 |
pine tree spur-throat grasshopper (Melanoplus punctulatus) |
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61 |
Speckled Greenshield (Flavopunctelia flaventior) |
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62 |
Wheeler's thick-legged jumping spider (Admestina wheeleri) |
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63 |
hybotid dance flies (Tachypeza spp.) |
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64 |
Hooded Rosette Lichen (Physcia adscendens) |
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65 |
rough stink bug (Brochymena arborea) |
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66 |
flea jumping spider (Naphrys pulex) |
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67 |
hook-toothed money spider (Erigone dentosa) |
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68 |
crabronid wasps (Tachytes spp.) |
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69 |
European tube wasp (Ancistrocerus gazella) |
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70 |
gold-marked thread-waisted wasp (Eremnophila aureonotata) |
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71 |
rustic wolf spider (Trochosa ruricola) |
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72 |
European alder spittlebug (Aphrophora alni) |
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73 |
gall midges (Subfamily Cecidomyiinae) |
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74 |
fungus (Gibellula pulchra) |
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75 |
ichneumonid wasps (Glypta spp.) |
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76 |
triangle weaver (Hyptiotes cavatus) |
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77 |
miserable mining bee (Andrena miserabilis) |
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78 |
oribatid mites (Galumna spp.) |
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79 |
tachinid fly (Gymnoclytia occidua) |
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80 |
lyre-tipped spreadwing (Lestes unguiculatus) |
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81 |
bot flies, blow flies, and allies (Superfamily Oestroidea) |
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82 |
American harlequin (Xanthogramma flavipes) |
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83 |
oak gall wasps (Tribe Cynipini) |
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84 |
flat bug (Aradus robustus) |
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85 |
non-biting midges (Family Chironomidae) |
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86 |
tortricid leafroller moths (Family Tortricidae) |
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87 |
non-biting midge (Psectrotanypus dyari) |
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88 |
unequal cellophane bee (Colletes inaequalis) |
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89 |
rufous-backed cellophane bee (Colletes rufocinctus) |
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90 |
contrasted long-jawed spider (Tetragnatha straminea) |
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91 |
winter midge (Diamesa mendotae) |
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92 |
oblique-banded pond fly (Sericomyia chrysotoxoides) |
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93 |
yellow-haired falsehorn (Temnostoma balyras) |
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94 |
lump-legged swamp fly (Anasimyia chrysostoma) |
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95 |
mountain ash sawfly (Pristiphora geniculata) |
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96 |
leafhopper (Macropsis basalis) |
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97 |
rust fly (Loxocera cylindrica) |
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98 |
black-headed ash sawfly (Tethida barda) |
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99 |
treehopper (Archasia belfragei) |
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100 |
gray pug moth (Eupithecia subfuscata) |
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101 |
large clover casebearer moth (Coleophora trifolii) |
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102 |
Brown-staining Cheese Polypore (Fuscopostia fragilis) |
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103 |
scarlet plant bugs (Lopidea spp.) |
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104 |
rose plume moth (Cnaemidophorus rhododactyla) |
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105 |
red-lipped lacewing (Chrysoperla rufilabris) |
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106 |
dusky-banded leafwalker (Chalcosyrphus nemorum) |
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107 |
chalcidid wasps (Conura side complex) |
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108 |
fragile forktail (Ischnura posita) |
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109 |
lance flies (Lonchaea spp.) |
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110 |
distinct quaker (Achatia distincta) |
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111 |
snipe fly (Chrysopilus proximus) |
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112 |
black locust treehopper (Vanduzea arquata) |
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113 |
New York scalewort (Frullania eboracensis) |
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114 |
purplish stylus money spider (Styloctetor purpurescens) |
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115 |
banded olethreutes moth (Olethreutes fasciatana) |
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116 |
yellow-spotted webworm moth (Anageshna primordialis) |
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117 |
low-horned wrinkleheads (Chrysogaster spp.) |
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118 |
spotted cobweaver (Thymoites unimaculatus) |
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119 |
short-winged Darwin wasp (Agrothereutes abbreviatus) |
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120 |
common sawflies (Subfamily Nematinae) |
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121 |
ichneumonid wasps (Subfamily Campopleginae) |
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122 |
Nebraska harvestman (Leiobunum ventricosum) |
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123 |
braconid wasps (Spathius spp.) |
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124 |
Newman’s mathildana moth (Mathildana newmanella) |
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125 |
limoniid crane fly (Gnophomyia tristissima) |
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126 |
twigsitters (Holopogon spp.) |
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127 |
treehopper (Telamona decorata) |
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128 |
dung fly (Cordilura varipes) |
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129 |
limoniid crane fly (Antocha saxicola) |
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130 |
brown lacewings (Micromus spp.) |
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131 |
grape plume moth (Geina periscelidactylus) |
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132 |
northern eudeilinia moth (Eudeilinia herminiata) |
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133 |
variegated midget (Elaphria versicolor) |
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134 |
clastopterid spittlebugs (Clastoptera spp.) |
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135 |
spotted cuckoo spider wasp (Ceropales maculata) |
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136 |
green cloverworm moth (Hypena scabra) |
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137 |
ichneumonid wasps (Euceros spp.) |
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138 |
predatory stink bug (Podisus brevispinus) |
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139 |
buffalo treehoppers and allies (Tribe Ceresini) |
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140 |
white long-legged cobweaver (Theridion albidum) |
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141 |
hairy poplar sawfly (Cladius grandis) |
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142 |
dwarf spiders (Subfamily Erigoninae) |
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143 |
olethreutine leafroller moths (Olethreutes spp.) |
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144 |
hairy-eyed mimic (Mallota posticata) |
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145 |
rhododendron leafhopper (Graphocephala fennahi) |
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146 |
dusky mucksucker (Orthonevra pulchella) |
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147 |
picture-winged fly (Callopistromyia strigula) |
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148 |
moth mullein (Verbascum blattaria) |
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149 |
sidewalk mites (Balaustium spp.) |
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150 |
large crane flies (Dolichopeza spp.) |
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151 |
house fly (Eudasyphora cyanicolor) |
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152 |
cow vetch (Vicia cracca) |
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153 |
chalcidoid wasps (Oodera spp.) |
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154 |
two-spotted tree cricket (Neoxabea bipunctata) |
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155 |
snipe fly (Chrysopilus modestus) |
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156 |
narrow-winged tree cricket (Oecanthus niveus) |
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157 |
wild pansy (Viola tricolor) |
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158 |
limoniid crane fly (Erioptera chlorophylla) |
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159 |
rice leaf bug (Trigonotylus caelestialium) |
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160 |
four-toothed mason wasp (Monobia quadridens) |
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161 |
sawflies, horntails, and wood wasps (Suborder Symphyta) |
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162 |
sawflies, horntails, and wood wasps (Suborder Symphyta) |
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163 |
sawflies, horntails, and wood wasps (Suborder Symphyta) |
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164 |
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165 |
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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 |