Entries from February 1, 2010 - February 28, 2010

Sunday
Feb072010

Caterpillar

From last spring: a caterpillar, probably the dark form of the powdered quaker moth caterpillar, Orthosia gracilis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).

Photo taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2009-05-17.

Saturday
Feb062010

Slime Mould Again

Just as I suspected, the areas of the slime mould plasmodium that a few days ago were covered in little bumps, have now developed into lots of yellow sporangia.  As these ripen they should turn black and then grey.

Many of the remaining areas of plasmodium are now turning bumpy:

Photos taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2010-02-05.

Friday
Feb052010

Green Dock Beetles

Green dock beetles, Gastrophysa viridula (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) on a dock leaf (Rumex sp.).  The large one is a female (with a body too large for its wing cases) and the smaller is a male.

Photo taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2009-06-02.

Thursday
Feb042010

Slime Mould Update

The slime mould sporangia from a few days back have now taken on a more definite grey colour, which is consistent with an identification of Badhamia utricularis.  One or two sporangia even appear to have burst, releasing their spores.

While the yellow plasmodium has withered where the sporangia have developed, it is still thriving on other parts of the same log, as well as on nearby logs:

Photos taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2010-02-03.

Wednesday
Feb032010

House Moth

A white-shouldered house moth, Endrosis sarcitrella (Lepidoptera: Oecophoridae) on the wall of my bedroom back in October of last year.  The grey markings on the wings can vary quite a bit.  See here for a photo that matches the above one fairly well.  This species is a widespread pest as its larvae feed on dry vegetable matter such as flour and clothing.

Photo taken in Reading, UK, on 2009-10-12.