Giant Hogweed

From our canal holiday in the summer: giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum). 

I used to think that some of the hogweed in Reading University grounds might be giant hogweed because it was taller than me (1.8 metres), but after seeing the above (4 metres tall and main stem as thick as my arm) I am in no doubt that that was just normal-sized hogweed.

Photo taken beside the Aire and Calder Canal, near Rothwell, West Yorkshire, UK, on 2009-08-03.

Soldier Fly

An end-of-season soldier fly, Sargus bipunctatus (Diptera: Stratiomyidae).  The orange patch at the front of the abdomen indicates that this is a female; the males don't have it.  Named bipunctatus because of the two white spots between its eyes.

Photos taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2009-09-24.

Brain Fungus

A brain fungus, probably Myxarium nucleatum (= Exidia nucleata), but possibly Exidia thuretiana, growing on a dead log.  M. nucleatum is supposed to be distinguished from E. thuretiana by having white nuclei within it, and I think I can see these in the above photo.  However, there seems to be a lot of variation in the form and texture of these species (presumably with age and degree of hydration), so I am not completely confident in this identification.

Photo taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2009-12-12.

Black Bee

A small black bee, possibly Andrena sp. (Hymenoptera: Andrenidae) on wild carrot (Daucus carota).  Note the pollen stored in the hairs on the hind legs.

Photos taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2009-07-16.

Levels of Proof as a Measure of Integrity

.. I think you can tell the integrity of a scientist by the level of proof that they require for things that they agree with, versus the level of proof for things they don't agree with.

Tim Kruger, Director of the Oxford Geoengineering Institute, on the BBC Radio 4 Material World program broadcast on Thursday 10th December.