Morel Mushroom

A common morel mushroom, Morchella esculenta, growing in wood chips.

Photo taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2011-04-02.

Bibionid Flies

One of two small male Bibionid flies, probably Bibio johannis (Diptera: Bibionidae),  that I came across on nettles on the dam at the lower end of the large lake.  Male Bibio lanigerus are similar but their bodies are covered with white hairs instead of black (see here). 

Here is the second one, which jumped onto my hand:

Photos taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2011-04-01.

Soldier Fly with Prey

A soldier fly, probably a Dioctria rufipes (Diptera: Asilidae), with its prey.  The characteristic of this species is the combination of reddish front and middle legs with black hind legs.  This particular specimen has lost half of one of its middle legs.

Photo taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2010-06-12.

White Slime Mould

From yesterday afternoon: a young, plasmodial form of the slime mould Enteridium lycoperdon.  A little further down the tree trunk were these examples of the later silver-crust stage of the same species:

Photos taken in the Wilderness, Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2011-03-31.

Bee Flies

From a week ago: a bee fly, Bombylius major (Diptera: Bombyliidae) feeding from blossom.  Photo taken in the Wilderness, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2011-03-24.

From last April, here is a side view of a female, showing the long proboscis that is characteristic of genus Bombylius:

Photo taken beside the top lake, Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2010-04-13.