Crust Fungus

A pale lilac crust fungus, possibly Vuilleminia comedens (waxy crust fungus), growing on a dead branch of an oak tree. I am not sure whether the dark features are part of the fungus or just raised bits of the underlying wood poking through. 

A week later it looked like this:

And here is a wider-angle view:

Photos taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2011-01-26 (first one) and 2011-02-03 (second and third).

Orange Flies

From last October: Lauxaniid flies mating, possibly Tricholauxania praeusta (Diptera: Lauxaniidae).  See here also.  They were on a patch of nettles beside the path near the Wilderness Road entrance to the university grounds.

Photos taken in the Wilderness, Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2010-10-29.

Crust Fungus

Another photo of what I think is Cylindrobasidium evolvens.  See here for two different forms.

Photo taken in the Wilderness, Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2011-01-26

Moth

From last summer: a small moth, probably an Epiblema sp (Lepidoptera: Torticidae).  This genus contains several species that look like this, in particular E. scutulana, E. cirsiana, and E. sticticana.  These cannot be reliably distinguished by photographs alone.

Photo taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2010-06-02.

Oyster Mushrooms

Oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus) growing on a beech tree.  The brownish colour suggests that these mushrooms are fairly mature.

This unfortunate beech tree also had a bracket fungus and the first signs of Kretzschmaria deusta at the base of its trunk. 

Photo taken in the Wilderness, Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2011-02-05.