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Who are we?

Bugs are everywhere in the summer, but have you ever thought about what happens to them in the winter?  Follow along with the University of Minnesota research team to discover the life-cycle dynamics of winter aquatic insects and their vital importance to trout in Minnesota. 

What are
winter 
aquatic insects?

Insects active in the winter months, such as non-biting midges, stone flies, mayflies, and caddisflies, impact the food web in lakes, streams, and rivers of Minnesota. They're able to survive freezing temperatures and can be often found on snowbanks!

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Photo credit; Bell Museum

Bugs Below Zero is supported by an interdisciplinary team of experts from the agricultural and environmental sciences, science communication, entomology, fisheries, wildlife, and conservation biology disciplines. Our work combines classroom resources, educational events, digital tools, and a participatory science effort. We focus on winter aquatic insects in trout streams around Minnesota. These bugs are vitally important to the health of trout ecosystems. Partial funding for this project was provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund, as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR).

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