If you’re the curious type that likes to know the name of the spider you found on your porch or just what that prairie-looking flower is that came up in your garden, you’ll appreciate these online identification resources.
While we welcome identification requests via social media, these guides can be helpful as well, especially on weekends and evenings when we’re unable to respond to social media questions. Please note that inclusion on this list does not equal an endorsement and that this is also not an exhaustive list.
Insects
Bugguide.net
Forest Insect Pests (smartphone app)
Spiders
Spiders.us
Reptiles and Amphibians (including snakes)
herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/
Birds
Cornell Lab of Ornithology: www.allaboutbirds.org
Bird calls: www.whatbird.com
Fish
Fish Species of Iowa from the DNR: https://www.iowadnr.gov/Fishing/IowaFishSpecies.aspx
Mammals
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
Trees
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
vTree (smartphone app)
Mushrooms
Prairie States Mushroom Club: http://iowamushroom.org/
Other plants and wildflowers:
USDA Plants
Illinois Wildflowers (many species common to both states): http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/