Thursday
Jan202011

Mushroom

From last autumn: a brittlegill mushroom, probably a Russula sp.

Photo taken in the Wilderness, Whiteknights Park, Reading, UK, on 2010-09-19.

Wednesday
Jan192011

Leaf Miner Moth

From late spring last year: a leaf miner moth, probably a female Incurvaria masculella (Lepidoptera: Incurvariidae).  The males of this species have feathery antennae (see here).  Incurvaria oehlmanniella is similar-looking but its larvae mine bilberry and cloudberry leaves, neither of which have I seen in Reading University grounds, whereas  I. masculella larvae mine the leaves of hawthorn bushes, which are common.

Photos taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2010-05-26.

Tuesday
Jan182011

Smoky Bracket Fungus

What I think is smoky bracket fungus, Bjerkandera adusta, on a decaying log.  The distinctive grey pore surface is characteristic of this species.  See here for some more mature growths of this fungus from last spring.

Photo taken in the Wilderness, Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2011-01-15.

Monday
Jan172011

Coral Spot Fungus

Coral spot fungus (Nectria cinnabarina) on a fallen twig.  These light pink blobs are the asexual stage in the life of this fungus; the sexual stage consists of clusters of smaller red blobs, like those shown here.

Photo taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2011-01-15.

Sunday
Jan162011

Yellow Brain Fungus

A yellow brain fungus, probably Tremella mesenterica, on a birch twig (I think).  According to Sterry and Hughes (Collins Complete Guide to British Mushrooms and Toadstools, 2009), T. mesenterica is parasitic on the mycelium of Peniophora fungi.  The similar T. aurantia parasitizes the mycelium of Stereum hirsutum.

Photo taken in the Wilderness, Whiteknights Park, Reading, University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2011-01-15.