White Slime Mould

What I think is one of the stages in the lifecycle of slime mould Enteridium lycoperdon (= Reticularia lycoperdon).

When it first appears, this species looks like a small pile of grated coconut.  It then consolidates into a solid globule and develops a silvery crust which then cracks open to reveal a fine brown, powdery, mass of spores.

The following specimen appears to be slightly less mature than the above one.

Photos taken in the Wilderness, Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2010-04-11.

Wood Anenome

Wood anenome (Anenome nemorosa).

Photo taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2010-04-09.

Another Orange Slime Mould

From a week ago, another orange slime mould.  This one is also growing on rotting silver birch logs, and its fruiting bodies are much smaller than the Lycogala shown here, so it is possible that it is just an immature specimen of the same species.

Photos taken in the Wilderness, Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2010-04-05.

Sawfly

A small black sawfly, probably a Tenthredinid Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae).  It looks similar to some species of Dolerus but I don't feel confident in picking out which species.  [Note added 2010-11-08: The head looks too shiny for Dolerus, which are quite furry about the head.  It is most likely some other genus.]

Photos taken in the Wilderness, Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2010-04-11.

Orange Slime Mould

Probably Lycogala epidendrum, wolf's milk slime mould.  The orange fruiting bodies (aethalia, not sporangia) were up to a centimetre or so across.

It must be the season for this species: I came across it in three separate places during my walk, in each case it was growing on decaying wood.

Photos taken in the Wilderness, Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2010-04-11.