Bracket Fungus

A white bracket fungus, probably Trametes gibbosa, growing on a horse chestnut log (Aesculus hippocastanum).  The green colour is due to algae growing on its upper surface.

I took a specimen.  This is the upper surface:

And this is the lower surface:

There are about 2 of the slit-like pores per mm.

The specimen yielded the following spores (magnification x600, field width 86um):

These average about 3 x 1.5um which is a little smaller than the 4-5 x 2-2.5um given for T. gibbosa in this page at Mycobank.

First photo and specimen taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading, UK, on 2014-01-18.

Coral Fungus

A beige coral fungus, probably Clavinulopsis umbrinella (=Clavulinopsis cinereoides).There was quite a lot of it growing in short grass around a hawthorn tree (Crataegus sp).  This association of this species with Crataegus is mentioned in several places out on the web (see here and here).

Later on the same day that I took the above photo I noticed "How boots of first world war troops brought a foreign invader to Scotland", a fungi-related story in the Guardian in which it is stated as fact that this species had not been recorded in Scotland before 2014.  However, this is directly contradicted by the distribution map at the NBN Gateway which shows about 20 locations in Scotland where it has been found.  Without this supposed fact the story loses its whole foundation.

Anyhow, after taking the above photo I collected this specimen:

This yielded the following spores (magnification x600, field width 86um):

These average about 9 x 7um which is towards the long end of the range (5.2-)5.6-7.9(-10.5) x 5.6-7(-9.0)um given on this page at Mycobank.

The basidia have 2 sterigmata (magnification x600, field width 86um):

And the hyphae look like this (magnification x150, field width about 340um - note the different scale!):

First photo and specimen taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading, UK, on 2014-01-18.

Muscid Fly

From back in 2010: a male muscid fly, probably Helina evecta (Diptera: Muscidae).

Photos taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading, UK, on 2010-10-16.

Greenbottle Flies

From back in late summer: a pair of Lucilia sp (Diptera: Calliphoridae), resting on a fleabane flower (Pulicaria dysenterica).  Male to the left, female to the right.

Photo taken beside the top lake, Whiteknights Park, Reading, UK, on 2013-08-25.

Beetle

From back in September: carrion beetle Oiceoptoma thoracicum (Coleoptera: Silphidae).

Photos taken below Highcliff, near Guisborough, North Yorkshire, UK, on 2013-09-12.