“Why would anyone go walk around a prairie? Isn’t it just a bunch of grass?”
Don’t be that person. Go walk around a prairie.
If that feels like a lot of work, or you don’t have a prairie nearby, feel free to enjoy these photos I’ve taken during my own wanderings. But seriously, you should go explore a prairie for yourself.
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Flora
Prairie Insects
Assassin bug with captured fly. 220610_D020 
Praying mantis. 210830_D045 
Hover flies in morning dew. 250906_D001 
Red milkweed beetle. 230711_D021 
Bush cicadas. 230828_D034 
Giant robber fly. 210811_D005 
Midge. 240927_D015 
Leaf beetles on aromatic aster. 210917_D003 
Damsel bug on foxtail barley. 220606_D013 
Mound building ants. 240502_D006 
Milkweed bug nymphs. 210906_D034 
Clay-colored leaf beetle. 220613_D023 
Bush cicada. 220806_D011 
Assassin bug. 220925_D001 
Praying mantis at sunrise. 221006_D009 
Stick insect. 230613_D028 
False milkweed bug. 230715_D013 
Mayfly. 230722_D039 
Bush cicada. 230812_D055 
Praying mantis. 230828_D018 
Goldenrod soldier beetle. 230830_D038 
Oil beetle on pasqueflower. 240411_D026 
Seven spotted ladybug. 240530_D042 
Ant on Maximilian sunflower. 240622_D017 
Green lacewing. 240625_D016 
Soybean stem borer. 240628_D058 
Adult antlion. 250818_D042 
Red milkweed bug. 240712_D074 
Big sand tiger beetle. 240715_D028
Landscapes
Wildflowers. Helzer Family Prairie. 200620_D010 
Photographer at the Norden Chute. 120725_D002 
The Nature Conservancy’s Cherry Ranch. 190613_D077 
Bumblebee on tall gayfeather. 160803_D006 
Maximilian sunflowers. 210830_D006 
Pasque flower. Niobrara Valley Preserve. 180430_D029 
Four-point evening primrose. 140723_D003 
Cloudy morning over the Niobrara River. 140531_D008 
Windmill and hay. 150804_D025 
Niobrara Valley Preserve. 151023_D004 
Lightning storm over the Niobrara River. 250817_D034 
Sandhills wetland. 160825_D041 
Painted lady butterflies on hoary vervain. 170807_D011 
Compass plant and prairie at sunrise. 250807_D006 
Wild bergamot. Helzer Family prairie. 200726_D013 
Sandhills prairie. Niobrara Valley Preserve. 180626_D012 
Buffalo pea at Helzer Family Prairie. 190504_D002 
Smoke, sandhills, and sunset. 201209_d059 
Fourpoint evening primrose. Niobrara Valley Preserve. 190718_D008 
Restored wetland. Platte River Prairies. 200916_D001 
Maximilian sunflower and sunrise. 240817_D028 
Beggarticks and wetland. 200916_D043 
Common milkweed. Helzer Family Prairie. 210627_D052 
Foxtail barley (Hordeum jubatum) at sunset. 220610_D035 
Courthouse Rock. 230518_D016 
Windmill and fog in the Sandhills. 230623_D044 
Restored prairie in Iowa. 230627_D044 
Common milkweed seed and sunrise. 231009_D001 
Wildflowers at the Helzer Family Prairie. 240803_D024 
Niobrara River at sunset. 240923_D003 
Restored prairie and compass plant at sunrise. 250807_D013 
Lightning and coming rain. Niobrara Valley Preserve. 250817_D029 
Sunrise, sunflowers, and bison fence. 250819_D001 
Sand bluestem and sunrise. 2509028_D005
Bison
Bison at The Niobrara Valley Preserve. 210722_D057 
Bison at The Niobrara Valley Preserve. 210630_D001 
Bison at The Niobrara Valley Preserve. 230502_D006 
Bison at The Niobrara Valley Preserve. 151022_D058 
Bison at The Niobrara Valley Preserve. 130813_D029 
Bison at The Niobrara Valley Preserve. 191028_D031 
Bison at The Niobrara Valley Preserve. 221228_D076 
Bison at The Niobrara Valley Preserve. 190721_D015 
Bison at The Niobrara Valley Preserve. 231015_D002 
Bison at The Niobrara Valley Preserve. 160809_D001 
Bison at The Niobrara Valley Preserve. 240528_D071 
Bison at The Niobrara Valley Preserve. 240528_D019 
Bison at The Niobrara Valley Preserve. 181228_D018 
Bison at The Niobrara Valley Preserve. 160710_D006 
Bison at The Niobrara Valley Preserve. 210429_D056 
Bison at The Niobrara Valley Preserve. 220808_D069 
Bison at The Niobrara Valley Preserve. 190721_D034 
Bison at The Niobrara Valley Preserve. 210722_D054 
Bison at The Niobrara Valley Preserve. 221228_D079 
Bison at The Niobrara Valley Preserve. 230502_D005 
Bison at The Niobrara Valley Preserve. 230613_D115 
Bison at The Niobrara Valley Preserve. 181228_D039 
Bison at The Niobrara Valley Preserve. 230817_D078 
Bison at The Niobrara Valley Preserve. 130628_D040 
Bison at The Niobrara Valley Preserve. 240528_D004 
Bison at The Niobrara Valley Preserve. 240215_D010 
Bison at The Niobrara Valley Preserve. 240528_D008 
Bison at The Niobrara Valley Preserve. 221228_D081 
Bison at The Niobrara Valley Preserve. 240528_D013 
Bison at The Niobrara Valley Preserve. 240528_D069
Pollinators
Longhorned bee. 140829_D009 
Painted lady butterfly. 170917_D017 
American bumblebee on larkspur. 210608_D030 
Geometer Moth. 180805_D010 
Blue sage bee. 180810_D024 
Bumble bee on tall thistle. 180824_D012 
Drone fly on yarrow. 190619_D009 
Monarch butterfly. 190812_D002 
Sphinx moth. 190813_D004 
Brown-belted bumblebee. 190827_D004 
Moth on pitcher sage. 180812_D036 
Painted lady butterfly. 170927_D003 
Sweat bee on sensitive briar. 200620_D036 
Tawny-edged skipper butterfly. 180805_D015 
Southern plains bumblebee. 200905_D033 
Long-horned bee on rosinweed. 200810_D017 
Sulphur butterfly on curly cup gumweed. 200901_D003 
Reakirt’s blue butterfly. 250604_D036 
Skipper butterfly at sunrise. 200907_D001 
Roosting longhorn bees. 250817_D012 
Common eastern bumblebee. 200818_D001 
Eight-spotted scoliid wasp. 220727_D057 
Sweat bee on rocky mountain bee plant. 220804_D017 
Brown-belted bumble bee. 220914_D028 
Wasp in summer prairie. 230830_D035 
Longhorn bee. 240721_D015 
Sweat bee on prairie gentian. 210719_D015 
Wasp and morning dew. 240801_D013 
Southern plains bumblebee and sun. 200905_D030 
Monarch butterfly on pitcher sage. 250916_D020
Dragonflies
Variegated meadowhawk dragonfly. 230912_D051 
Damselflies in the morning. 220904_D033 
Variegated meadowhawk. 190423_D038 
Band-winged meadowhawk. 190722_D008 
Damselfly. 170703_D021 
Meadowhawk dragonfly at sunrise. 200907_D004 
Variegated meadowhawk dragonfly. 251007_D031 
Damselfy nymph. 180709_D004 
Band-winged meadowhawk. 190723_D031 
Damselfly in the early morning. 190923_D048 
Variegated meadowhawk dragonfly at sunrise. 211006_D013 
Variegated meadowhawk dragonfly. 2509021_D005 
Variegated meadowhawk. 220925_D009 
Damselfly in the early morning. 140830_D013 
Recently emerged green darner. 140802_D020 
Damselfly on big bluestem. 200815_D017 
Variegated meadowhawk dragonfly. 251007_D030 
Damselfly. 220924_D025 
Variegated meadowhawk at sunrise. 200907_D006 
Variegated meadowhawk dragonfly. 230912_D018 
Damselfly in the morning. 210702_D002 
Variegated meadowhawk dragonfly. 251007_D024 
Damselfly mating on the Niobrara River. 220630_D056 
Variegated meadowhawk dragonfly. 251007_D019 
Damselfly face. 200721_D036 
Band-winged meadowhawk. 190723_D043 
Variegated meadowhawk dragonfly. 230916_D044 
Damselfly on a foggy morning. 230623_D025 
Dragonfly on a foggy morning. 230623_D031 
Variegated meadowhawk dragonfly. 2509021_D002
Frost and Snow
Leaves and melting spring snow. 200315_D016 
Snow and prairie. Helzer Family Prairie. 190302_D006 
Indiangrass after ice storm. 170117_D017 
Bubbles and wetland plants. 200205_D030 
Heath aster seed head and snow. 171224_D012 
Cattail seed on frozen wetland. 180130_D019 
Ice formations on Lincoln Creek. 170129_D001 
Maple leaf in ice on Lincoln Creek. 220130_D018 
Leopard frog on ice. 191114_D054 
Cattail seed on ice. 191226_D012 
Ice and switchgrass. 200111_D037 
Ice pedestals on the Platte River. 140202_D027 
Wild rose hips and snow. 221228_D118 
Frost on a frozen wetland. 191227_D012 
Snowy sunrise over the Niobrara River. 200101_D024 
Bubbles and wetland plants. 200205_D016 
Switchgrass after ice storm. 170117_D054 
Buckbrush and frosty prairie. 221008_D020 
Pitcher sage after ice storm. 200110_D029 
Maximilian sunflower head in snow. 190218_D029 
Prairie grass after ice storm. 170117_D042 
Sunflower seed head and snow. 201231_D006 
Ice on barbed wire fence. 110221_D008 
Snowy prairie. Platte River Prairies. 210201_D010 
Dogbane seed and frost. 210209_D003 
Frost and ice on a frozen wetland. 220107_D006 
Frost and ice. 220107_D016 
Grasses in deep snow. 210207_D007 
Frost on a frozen wetland. 220107_D018 
False boneset and frosty prairie. 221008_D023 
Prairie wild rose hips and snow. 220123_D010 
Smooth sumac and snow. 221219_D013 
Frosty Niobrara Valley. 221230_D082 
Goldenrod plant, frost and snow. 230122_D013 
Stiff goldenrod seed and frost. 230122_D030 
Trees and snow. 230326_D016 
Butterfly milkweed leaves in snowy prairie. 230326_D032 
Fog and frost and grass. 231221_D021 
Lead plant on foggy, snowy morning. 231228_D011 
Ice bubbles on a restored wetland. The Nature Conservancy’s Platte River Prairies, Nebraska 
Ice on a plant stem. Pioneers Trail Recreation Area north of Aurora, Nebraska.
Prairie Insects (2)
Longhorn milkweed beetle. 210617_D008 
Leaf beetle on prairie cordgrass. 200816_D007 
Tiny insect in web. 210706_D037 
Ambush bug feeding on a small bee. 210724_D007 
Milkweed bug nymph. 181024_D011 
Chinese praying mantis. 130901_D031 
Two-striped planthopper. 180810_D029 
Big sand tiger beetle. 160824_D041 
Wasp mimic mantidfly. 170626_D006 
Long-horned milkweed beetle. 200712_D015 
Chinese praying mantis. 200823_D013 
Beetle on Maximilian sunflower. 180804_D007 
Praying mantis nymph. 130823_D005 
Stilt bug. 190630_D013 
Large milkweed bug. 190630_D037 
Robberfly with leaf hopper. 160809_D029 
Salt marsh caterpillar. 140629_D002 
Fly on tall thistle. 190901_D029 
Carolina mantis. 190930_D002. 
Robber fly with captured tiger beetle. 160825_D033 
Crane fly along the Niobrara River. 210702_D012 
Festive tiger beetle. 210309_D005 
Praying mantis nymph on black-eyed Susan. 200715_D001 
Seven-spotted lady beetle. 190706_D031 
Assasin bug. 210601_D027 
Lady bug and grass. 210608_D012 
Chinese praying mantis. 200823_D018 
Green lacewing. 210612_D025 
Praying mantis nymph. 210613_D022
Spiders
Crab spider on upright coneflower. 220709_D016 
Crab spider and prey in penstemon. 210531_D010 
Crab spider and ant. 130628_D024 
Jumping spider. 150816D024 
Crab spider on yarrow. 170607_D037 
Wolf spider with spiderlings. 170612_D041 
Crab spider on thistle. 190702_D072 
Spider and web. 190723_D036 
Crab spider and dandelion. 200515_D015 
Spider and milkweed leaf. 200614_D014 
Planthopper and spider in web. 200721_D012 
Spider and web. 190723_D003 
Male crab spider. 240628_D050 
Spider on a frosty morning. 201103_D005 
Crab spider on daisy fleabane at sunset. 250609_D020 
Spider and dewy web. 231017_D040 
Lynx spider. 210617_D026 
Long-jawed orbweaver. 210702_D006 
Spider on web. 210821_D007 
Daddy longlegs (Harvestman). 210925_D038 
Orchard spider and web. 210529_D001 
Crab spider on foxtail barley. 220531_D013 
Harvestman, aka daddy longlegs. 240622_D067 
Spider and web and fog. 230623_D013 
Spider and web. 230604_D070 
Jumping spider. 230521_D004 
Spider and web and fog. 230623_D016 
Spider and dewy web. 231017_D035 
Crab spider with captured hover fly. 240511_D028 
Spider web in dew. 230916_D028 
Wolf spider and katydid. 240601_D007 
Spider and web and fog. 230623_D037 
Female crab spider. 
Black and yellow argiope. 240928_D045 
Crab spiderling and pussytoes. 250510_D005 
Long-jawed orb weaver and sunset. 250510_D069
Grasshoppers, Crickets, and Katydids
Katydid nymph on dewy foxtail barley. 230709_D031 
Grasshopper on milkweed plant. 110928_D131 
Cricket in morning dew. 220821_D029 
Compass plant and tree cricket. 170712_D018 
Grasshopper on Cardinal flower. 200916_D032 
Katydid in autumn prairie. 220927_D027 
Katydid on purple prairie clover. 170703_D004 
Hoary vervain and grasshopper. 190723_018 
Tree cricket nymph on prairie ragwort. 190518_D021 
Bush katydid. 180728_D020 
Tree cricket and tall thistle. 190818_D002 
Katydid on purple prairie clover. 200721_D043 
Bush katydid on pitcher sage. 200816_D009 
Grasshopper. 200725_D004 
Bush katydid. 180728_D011 
Grasshopper on plains sunflower. 200827_D056 
Katydid on prickly poppy. 210630_D011 
Two-striped grasshopper. 210810_D009 
Katydid on purple prairie clover. 170703_D025 
Tiny katydid nymph on prairie rose. 220609_D008 
Grasshopper on common milkweed leaf. 210802_D079 
Katydid nymph on purple prairie clover. 220708_D020 
Grasshopper nymph on hairy puccoon. 230524_D041 
Katydid nymph. 230531_D032 
Katydid on Maximilian sunflower. 230907_D008 
Tree cricket on lead plant. 240706_D024 
Bush katydid. 250802_D010 
Woodland meadow katydid. 240925_D019 
Katydid. 251008_D004 
Bush katydid on pitcher sage. 200816_D009
Miscellaneous Close-Up Photos
A spiderwort and dew drop. 160615_D012 
Common milkweed seeds. 201016_D031 
Shell leaf penstemon and rainwater. 140531_D060 
Stiff goldenrod with frost. 251030_D019 
Cottonwood leaf in creek. 161027_D081 
Goatsbeard seed and hoary vervain. 180624_D013 
Milkweed seed at sunrise. 211106_D014 
Ironweed seed. 220220_D026 
Insect galls on prairie wild rose. 140516_D005 
Sunrise and Indiangrass. 230917_D031 
Dew drops on big bluestem. 240830_D002 
Silky prairie clover and sand. 220627_D009 
Milkweed seed at sunrise. 221009_D011 
Autumn leaves in streamwater. 221017_D045 
Water flowing over a beaver dam. 171004_D008 
Common milkweed seed. 211007_D011 
Goatsbeard seed head. 230612_D014 
Prairie larkspur at sunset. 230612_D025 
Fungus on a log. 231015_D053 
Butterfly milkweed seed. 241011_D050 
Dew drop and butterfly milkweed. 240706_D005. 
Stiff sunflower at sunrise. 250818_D001 
Maximilian sunflower seed heads. 241106_D009 
Velvety gaura leaf. 240801_D023 
Dew drops on big bluestem. 240830_D025 
Butterfly milkweed seed. 211007_D021 
Sunrise and wild rose hips. 241021_D016 
Canada wildrye at sunrise. 250807_D022 
Autumn leaves in streamwater. 221017_D045 
Plains sunflowers. 250819_D026 
Common milkweed seed. 251019_D026
Vertebrates
Ornate box turtle. 160616_D048 
Bobolink. 190611_D015 
Red-sided garter snake. 130508_D017 
Black-tailed prairie dog. 240411_D022 
Pronghorn. 230613_D094 
Mouse. 131218_D007 
Woodhouse’s Toad. 110613_D004 
Plains garter snake. 141420_D002 
Eastern hognose snake. 200623_D028 
Pronghorn calf twins. 160525_D029 
American bullfrog. 210706_D010 
Black-tailed jackrabbit. 170830_D010 
Cope’s gray tree frog. 180924_D025 
Grasshopper sparrow. 220517_D006 
Ornate box turtle and fly. 130812_D015 
American badger. 190525_D002 
Ornate box turtle. 120810_D034 
Northern bobwhite. 190702_D043 
Woodhouse’s toad. 200615_D032 
Rough green snake. 210925_D050 
Western meadowlark. 220418_D018 
Sharp-tailed grouse. 220418_D035 
Cope’s gray tree frog. 180918_D001 
Bullfrog. 170417_D003 
Dickcissel. 220604_D010 
Male sharp-tailed grouse on lek. 230406_D049 
Black-tailed prairie dog. 240411_D002 
Lesser earless lizard. 240715_D031 
Eastern hognose snake. 200623_D022 
Milk snake. 240812_D049 
Cottontail rabbit. 241026_D028 
Ornate box turtle. 250530_D030
High Elevation Colorado Grasslands
Flat Tops Wilderness. 220714_D055 
Chicago Lakes. 130723_D043 
Mormon cricket. 250729_D060 
Flat Tops Wilderness. 230801_D098 
Upper Blue Lake. 201002_D038 
Least chipmunk. 250730_D065 
Sneezeweed and sunset. 220712_D056 
Blue columbine. 230801_D035 
Flat Tops Wilderness. 220713_D008 
Flat Tops Wilderness. 220714_D102 
Wildflowers in sagebrush shrubland. 240725_D014 
Bee fly on fleabane. 250729_D003 
Flat Tops Wilderness. 220715_D012 
Ants tending aphids. 220712_D030 
Flat Tops Wilderness. 230801_D094 
Geranium. 220712_D047 
Flat Tops Wilderness. 230802_D006 
Flat Tops Wilderness. 230802_D024 
Salamander. 230801_D098 
Flat Tops Wilderness. 220723_D028 
Tiny butterfly at sunset. 220712_D062 
Old-Man-of-the-Mountain. 210716_D043 
Lupine in sagebrush shrubland. 240725_D036 
Nodding onion. 250727_D005 
Prairie smoke. 250729_D020 
Aspen. Lost Creek Wilderness. 250730_D026
The Prairie Ecologist 