brettortler.com | Author, Writer, Editor, and Nature Nerd

As a field guide editor, I’m interested in a lot of things but not an expert in any of them. But my jack-of-all-trades-master-of-none life is useful, in the aggregate, for me, as I end up taking more than a few photos of bugs, mushrooms, and anything else I find interesting. I then try, and often fail, to identify them.

I post my photos, and very tentative IDs, to iNaturalist, where I share my photos online, and where anyone can use them as long as they cite them according to a Creative Commons license. (It’s super easy; if you can’t figure it out, just shoot me an email and I’ll give you the OK to use them.)

My iNaturalist page is accessible: here.

Happily, a handful of them have proven useful for researchers in the field. (As I’m not a scientist, this is maybe the most rewarding info I can get!) I’ll update this space as I hear back.

And my many, many thanks to the tireless scientists, researchers, experts, and community scientists who dedicate their time to efforts such as iNaturalist. I won’t name-drop here, but thank you.

Coleoptera (Beetles)

Winter Firefly (specimen collected/sent to researcher)

2024

American Green Crab Spider, first Anoka County record

Tricholathys, possible MN state first (unconfirmed)

Common Candy-striped Spider, first Cass County record

2023

Potter’s Grass Spider, first Anoka County record

Two-banded Ant-mimic Sac Spider, first Anoka County record

Four-lined Slender Jumping Spider, first Anoka County record

Eurasian Leaflitter Crab spider, Minnesota State first record

2022