tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14196510783509894652024-03-23T10:14:19.996+00:00Gower WildlifeBarry Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12080358305675651314noreply@blogger.comBlogger1492125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1419651078350989465.post-88205591617036681872020-04-17T18:26:00.001+01:002020-04-18T17:45:12.476+01:00common things in the gardenGradually getting to grips with things I'd expect to see in the garden although today's much needed rain will slow down finding much more for now. Caught up with a few more Bumble Bees.<br />
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This is a queen of the Buff-tailed Bumble Bee <i>Bombus terrestris</i> which shows the buff tail, warming itself on the wall. The workers have a white tip to the tail and are essentially indistinguishable from the group of species now making up what was the White-tailed Bumblebee <i>Bombus lucorum</i>.</div>
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Much smaller is the Early Bumble Bee <i>Bombus pratorum </i>which by virtue of starting early and being small can have 2 generations per year, at least in the south of the UK. Males can appear as early as April.</div>
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Lastly is the Common Carder Bee <i>Bombus pascuorum</i> a late starter and recognised, in normal suburban gardens, by having a brown topped thorax and no white tip to the tail. This is one of a group of bees called pocket makers because they make a pocket alongside the larvae into which they place a mix of pollen and nectar. The other bumblebee type places this mix in pots away from the larvae and the workers carry it to them. The name carder is used because they comb material to make a soft insulation for the nest. There are also a group of parasitic bumblebees who invade the nests and kill the queen and make the workers rear their young, they tend to be less common and fly later in the year as they need an active nest to parasitise.</div>
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On our Rosemary plant I came across an Early Bumblebee fallen victim to a crab spider <i>Misumena vatia</i></div>
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From this pose it is easy to see why it is called a Crab Spider.</div>
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The colour can vary from white to yellow and even pink.</div>
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This male (because of the large palps in front of the face) Wolf Spider, Lycosidae, I identified as <i>Pardosa amentara</i> by examining the underside of the palps.</div>
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I had decided before that this was the female of the same species based on her appearance, not a very reliable way of identification. There are large numbers of these running around in my lawns, not bald green bowling green lawns!</div>
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In the bushes are small webs with this green spider which I can only put down as 1 or the other of <i>Araniella opistographa or cucurbitina</i> without trying to key out a specimen.</div>
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Lurking in my coal shed is the long legged spider <i>Pholcus phalangioides</i></div>
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many of whom will come indoors at the end of the year. A much more attractive spider can be found lurking in the dark, often under tightly stuck stones or in cracks. This animal is nocturnal and is called the Woodlouse Spider <i>Dysdera crocata.</i></div>
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Not surprisingly, given its english name, it feeds on woodlice of which there are a vast number in my garden. To penetrate the hard carapace of the woodlice the spider has very sharp and strong chelicerae meaning it is one of the few spiders in this country that can give you a nasty bite.The main woodlouse in my garden is <i>Porcellio scaber</i> identified to genus by the 2 segments to the flagellum of the antenna. The flagellum is the final most flexible part of the antenna and is shown in more detail in the small vignette included.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWmmDGptsstDj8QezMDksiUmIT-pkiKjGubvUdIH1Cj4uFLK3h540exZWOzZn4QWnMpVrrET4qSt0g4Zt_ekkl6p0RRKSEE-zWnXY2fYilnuF3-I5hQnOfd9X4KRd6M7982L522pK_uaI/s1600/porcellio+scaber+4B6A9043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="870" data-original-width="1600" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWmmDGptsstDj8QezMDksiUmIT-pkiKjGubvUdIH1Cj4uFLK3h540exZWOzZn4QWnMpVrrET4qSt0g4Zt_ekkl6p0RRKSEE-zWnXY2fYilnuF3-I5hQnOfd9X4KRd6M7982L522pK_uaI/s320/porcellio+scaber+4B6A9043.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The adult woodlouse is mainly grey but younger animals exhibit varying amounts of reddish or orange areas, as seen here.</div>
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Bugs, Hemiptera, are represented most commonly and easily identified by the shield bugs. This is the Green Shieldbug <i>Palomena prasina</i> sitting on bushes everywhere and doing what comes naturally as you see here. Hemipterans have a sucking proboscis like a hypodermic needle for sucking plants, animals and occasionally both.They are not specialist feeders and suck from a wide variety of bushes and trees including fruit, unfortunately. This next is the Sloe Bug <i> Dolycoris baccarum</i> which does feed on Sloe bushes but also a wide variety of other trees and bushes.</div>
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If you have trees in or around your garden you will also probably find this species, the Hawthorn Shieldbug <i>Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale</i> which, again, does feed on Hawthorn but also a wide variety of other species.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFcPHuV566XRTQZ6BDhynk8qCCaFzC6JO-AciGaJCGngtkatbohiKMG5m_1zVFgfLvfxP1Fh233K7Ssq_e75yUWFCmuAmB7IVxNkzdi7v5HtMfB_KegmoQSxFjLaQIkVXV1jCxurJ71tM/s1600/acanthosoma+haemorrhoidale+4B6A8983.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1408" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFcPHuV566XRTQZ6BDhynk8qCCaFzC6JO-AciGaJCGngtkatbohiKMG5m_1zVFgfLvfxP1Fh233K7Ssq_e75yUWFCmuAmB7IVxNkzdi7v5HtMfB_KegmoQSxFjLaQIkVXV1jCxurJ71tM/s320/acanthosoma+haemorrhoidale+4B6A8983.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Since I have no books on the subject I have relied on the excellent britishbugs.org.uk to try and identify 2 further species which I present as tentative identifications. First is a Lygaeid, <i>Drymus sylvaticus</i><br />
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and, secondly, a mirid <i>Stenodema laevigata</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcrfSf-I9auxntlmaMs27glat7UXcrmWksYWQH9y7VJPATrJ52tZTGgeyVvPFrmA1VTIE8NPNlKcRvBPCUS59agWPAYws3iSc1_KPAjY8y9Kw0QPPoIaZ8bBhGg2MUAapUbJJ9xJlLUb4/s1600/stenodema+laevigata+4B6A8951a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1435" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcrfSf-I9auxntlmaMs27glat7UXcrmWksYWQH9y7VJPATrJ52tZTGgeyVvPFrmA1VTIE8NPNlKcRvBPCUS59agWPAYws3iSc1_KPAjY8y9Kw0QPPoIaZ8bBhGg2MUAapUbJJ9xJlLUb4/s320/stenodema+laevigata+4B6A8951a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Maybe.....if anyone has a view please let me know. Lastly are a group of hoverflies, syrphidae, not quite so problematic in the identification but there exist some which are.</div>
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Firstly is probably our commonest and well known hoverfly the Marmalade Hoverfly <i>Episyrphus balteatus.</i></div>
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<i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixdees7qAzBc_1F8YooR4v-3ZRq32tWkv5Zn3opVjfj0SGqsmHg4q8-qNg0HREQoAO8yRly0QNLbSRQB-cyOkQUeRwRqTp0nn7Y5hmF6uL1ZBJ0TPaMNdusQgt_og5wlM2RDTOZs-HRw8/s1600/episyrphus+balteatus+female+4B6A8826.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1271" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixdees7qAzBc_1F8YooR4v-3ZRq32tWkv5Zn3opVjfj0SGqsmHg4q8-qNg0HREQoAO8yRly0QNLbSRQB-cyOkQUeRwRqTp0nn7Y5hmF6uL1ZBJ0TPaMNdusQgt_og5wlM2RDTOZs-HRw8/s320/episyrphus+balteatus+female+4B6A8826.jpg" width="320" /></a></i></div>
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This female (eyes not touching) has quite the normal amount of orange, but they can be found with much darker colours and even silver bands if the temperature at which they developed is lower. They are wasp mimics and due to the larval diet of aphids are a help in keeping our crops aphid free.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSzPvEBMXX15HNEeIkzoTQxxE7OR38us7uFv935k0r2JbGXIZOHcouy7omfj1-suT6NlUESLeEOiByovTDoN1jQpVuotqUq8rUMwCbrSqkqhoiD-HPlbe5jkKAbY1wI58Wc0GI_S6aqhE/s1600/epistrophe+eligans+female+4B6A8969.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1521" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSzPvEBMXX15HNEeIkzoTQxxE7OR38us7uFv935k0r2JbGXIZOHcouy7omfj1-suT6NlUESLeEOiByovTDoN1jQpVuotqUq8rUMwCbrSqkqhoiD-HPlbe5jkKAbY1wI58Wc0GI_S6aqhE/s320/epistrophe+eligans+female+4B6A8969.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This female is another aphid feeder, this time of fruit and other trees <i>Epistrophe eligans.</i><br />
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Very common in grassy areas is <i>Melanostoma mellinum </i>(a male this time) whose larvae are also aphid feeders but now in the grasses or down in leaf litter. As adults this species often visits supposedly wind pollinated plants like Plantains and contributes to their pollination as well as feeding on the pollen. Lastly is one of the archetypal hover flies found hovering a lot in many habitats. Known as Drone Flies because of a resemblance to male honeybees this genus is <i>Eristalis </i>and is found throughout the spring and summer but may be most apparent in autumn busy at the flowers of Ivy.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgltDZtDb9AEy46HQczQUcBW61OFYFSxqAofi4z9eFgLdlkhX6d9TPTejU3pYmG1rmmvqCUfaUuZsplrOiPCozwULDYT7PB2NFaxbleiWcSnIi4HlPIpcODXFQX-gqsHjeHtk82IT6Pry0/s1600/eristalis+pertinax+male+4B6A8719.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1011" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgltDZtDb9AEy46HQczQUcBW61OFYFSxqAofi4z9eFgLdlkhX6d9TPTejU3pYmG1rmmvqCUfaUuZsplrOiPCozwULDYT7PB2NFaxbleiWcSnIi4HlPIpcODXFQX-gqsHjeHtk82IT6Pry0/s320/eristalis+pertinax+male+4B6A8719.jpg" width="299" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxrtGAqf7KY0iDb2egR9ReY4jBWb6cTualbHkUtdW8DOIMn85OOlP2Nt_3qDR4X6eqp5BNcfS8uKQB2mMquvqXp9CnANt0S72cesJQouuem-7NCYM0UjgXtHruuQnl4_UzuuA3F1FZhwE/s1600/eristalis+pertinax+male+4B6A8721.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1123" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxrtGAqf7KY0iDb2egR9ReY4jBWb6cTualbHkUtdW8DOIMn85OOlP2Nt_3qDR4X6eqp5BNcfS8uKQB2mMquvqXp9CnANt0S72cesJQouuem-7NCYM0UjgXtHruuQnl4_UzuuA3F1FZhwE/s320/eristalis+pertinax+male+4B6A8721.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is <i>Eristalis pertinax</i>, a male because the eyes meet at the top of the head and the species because of the yellowish tarsi and the narrow black stripe on the front of the face defined by 'dusting' either side of it. The larvae in this case are the rat tailed maggots found in nutrient rich waters or farmyard drains.</div>
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Lastly for this post is a female (by the relatively straight 'pincers' at the rear tip) earwig <i>Forficula auricularia </i>which feeds on plant and animal matter. A nuisance to my Dahlia growing neighbour when I was a kid, a plant pot placed upside down on the supporting post somehow helped.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX2a-zi_1dAqgXE9mPsUNDC3hUoYyFXm-5r8wYJzzDTpzGfrI-ytz3U8W2tQAPoisVkm0LTWa1vPxrkxWFTVJIM0AJeJPsEojW7qMWkBmLgGnHacw0tkhAu7MenqvfkY-5eqkgEQ9s65U/s1600/forficula+auricularia+female+4B6A9050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1599" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX2a-zi_1dAqgXE9mPsUNDC3hUoYyFXm-5r8wYJzzDTpzGfrI-ytz3U8W2tQAPoisVkm0LTWa1vPxrkxWFTVJIM0AJeJPsEojW7qMWkBmLgGnHacw0tkhAu7MenqvfkY-5eqkgEQ9s65U/s320/forficula+auricularia+female+4B6A9050.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Unusually for insects the female lays a relatively small number of eggs, licks then to keep them clear of infections and guards the young until independence.</div>
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<br />ian tewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16500046396210991619noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1419651078350989465.post-57225155207256851582020-04-15T09:21:00.001+01:002020-05-03T09:59:39.615+01:00further garden insectsThis amazing weather continues to draw me out of doors into my garden and so the posting of pictures falls behind as usual.<br />
Wherever colonies of solitary bees exist there are normally Bee Flies, in this case the Dark-Edged Bee Fly<i> Bombylius major </i>at work flicking eggs onto the soil in the vicinity of nests. The larvae crawl into the next and live as parasitoids. These bees often indicate the presence of a bee colony before the bees themselves are seen<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl_OY5RVn5-pfgP6IyxTc2TgBiC8bGYG4OHmRQuovJsvDiTIucjP5Tfa1uQVfk20IZnmyrxeWuXMtfDH2HLQdd7HVnfizwP8PJaTbva6C7CTVWFOQN6spVaKX6zS2WHqNUUsxccVbPPo0/s1600/bombylius+major+4B6A8772.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1332" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl_OY5RVn5-pfgP6IyxTc2TgBiC8bGYG4OHmRQuovJsvDiTIucjP5Tfa1uQVfk20IZnmyrxeWuXMtfDH2HLQdd7HVnfizwP8PJaTbva6C7CTVWFOQN6spVaKX6zS2WHqNUUsxccVbPPo0/s320/bombylius+major+4B6A8772.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgydeoOghkhrSWAhSnucYLZjrTlFOAnBFHm5WspkjPTxHHJ9PMf7HfTvaI_fU9et4M6UXuPvzYptr_Yz67TMOKyqRSwE0f_zxRDSRjw3o5qRLGkCCPV8_8b4M693J21WtrorBxude70HZE/s1600/bombylius+major+4B6A8776.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="836" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgydeoOghkhrSWAhSnucYLZjrTlFOAnBFHm5WspkjPTxHHJ9PMf7HfTvaI_fU9et4M6UXuPvzYptr_Yz67TMOKyqRSwE0f_zxRDSRjw3o5qRLGkCCPV8_8b4M693J21WtrorBxude70HZE/s320/bombylius+major+4B6A8776.jpg" width="247" /></a></div>
These flies are refilling with energy at flowers, hence the unfeasibly long proboscis. Here are a few more species of hymenoptera landing within photographic range. This is a male Hairy-Footed Flower Bee <i>Anthophora plumipes</i> and is named for the long hairs you can see here arising from the legs. In spite of being as big as small bumble bees this is still a solitary bee i.e. without a worker caste. The word solitary, used with solitary bees and wasps, does not apply to the numbers or density of nests, hundreds or even thousands may be found together or even inside a single communal entrance, e.g. a rabbit burrow, many separate nests may be found.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmQGwemP23eC04jHJ8_aeMt-dcBaWQsdW7uIA9Htn-7acfHaLGDVkbrUtxh52AjRlucP_9cW7ELIMv87Lrs9fqT2GccBs19r0iEvpblXJ_yvyIseDVEFvjOok0GvBFiY1tf9Dok9AUZaA/s1600/anthophora+plumipes+male+4B6A8894.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="950" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmQGwemP23eC04jHJ8_aeMt-dcBaWQsdW7uIA9Htn-7acfHaLGDVkbrUtxh52AjRlucP_9cW7ELIMv87Lrs9fqT2GccBs19r0iEvpblXJ_yvyIseDVEFvjOok0GvBFiY1tf9Dok9AUZaA/s320/anthophora+plumipes+male+4B6A8894.jpg" width="281" /></a></div>
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This is the female Hairy-Footed Flower Bee <i>Anthophora plumipes </i>which as you can see is all black but with red haired hind legs. It has a relatively long proboscis designed for probing long necked flowers like these of Blueberries.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuaT_bfQtGqlxZCclw0eTzc01Gwi_khrbR9TyGvP4JnwO3F6JFR5mqyEQzqYFx2cooLugWREpluoeNrvWOqpTzpyM5BC2HywZ-j82dwVFUMVmlUtWARJtqEP8Q_HXxZ6melFyIKAbE8lc/s1600/anthophora+plumipes+female++4B6A8892.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1266" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuaT_bfQtGqlxZCclw0eTzc01Gwi_khrbR9TyGvP4JnwO3F6JFR5mqyEQzqYFx2cooLugWREpluoeNrvWOqpTzpyM5BC2HywZ-j82dwVFUMVmlUtWARJtqEP8Q_HXxZ6melFyIKAbE8lc/s320/anthophora+plumipes+female++4B6A8892.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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On the other hand this bee is tiny, almost certainly The Green Furrow Bee <i>Lasioglossum morio. </i> The females fly from March to October, only being joined by males from June onwards. In spite of being tiny (4mm or so long) this species is not a solitary bee, having a worker caste in small numbers. As is usual in nature habits do not necessarily follow our attempts at taxonomic organisation. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifearF98YL_K7GZQBF7xHNq3eFhjd741MPEC_oz9hCare9UCufPGebZPKBlD6qDyj_osHiqS-PJKsaf2QGCntnKJQPSBndzdtfwc4GiZC49xQaQmSX6WlUHHOQHJrsB-LaPZD9jKhzRa4/s1600/lasioglossum+morio+prob+4B6A8886.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="730" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifearF98YL_K7GZQBF7xHNq3eFhjd741MPEC_oz9hCare9UCufPGebZPKBlD6qDyj_osHiqS-PJKsaf2QGCntnKJQPSBndzdtfwc4GiZC49xQaQmSX6WlUHHOQHJrsB-LaPZD9jKhzRa4/s320/lasioglossum+morio+prob+4B6A8886.jpg" width="216" /></a></div>
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Another mining bee, The Grey Patched Mining Bee <i>Andrena nitida </i> is easy to identify in the female case. The orange thorax and shiny black abdomen are also found in the Cliff Mining Bee <i>Andrena thoracica</i> but the white hairs, particularly on the underside and legs show this is <i>nitida.</i> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5r50QXYM8kMzBghfDUE8EUqL1aJn1UqzE2_DTZUT2-ILPBCcaZ0dwZrdviuhiBFLhZoZLpihh7YeAaL-OzRKmljHaAtakEp3_LfsPR4khVIpabi0_cCliGBA0VolZbU2vtHON-vfr9bo/s1600/andrena+nitida+female+4B6A8942.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1088" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5r50QXYM8kMzBghfDUE8EUqL1aJn1UqzE2_DTZUT2-ILPBCcaZ0dwZrdviuhiBFLhZoZLpihh7YeAaL-OzRKmljHaAtakEp3_LfsPR4khVIpabi0_cCliGBA0VolZbU2vtHON-vfr9bo/s320/andrena+nitida+female+4B6A8942.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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A truly social bee now. The Red-tailed Bumble Bee <i>Bombus lapidarius </i>is a common spring species when the queens are on the wing looking for suitable nest sites. The queen rears the first young herself by going out foraging but then stays in the nest after enough smaller workers are produced. Once the colony has got going well new queens and males will be produced. Only the new queens will survive the next winter.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJtUSqNYU9cfM6vHCFNFsDH3oj5GbSWHw-jQd85Xi2RW4YajaCnNkHMeA_xd9hH2tdSX5bYAVMQCl3r674FcBdKq09yqc1GGTf2j3nXKF4PjmIVHKqxeYWyYxoaSoSTcS24XrgwF7ima8/s1600/bombus+lapidarius+queen+4B6A8845.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="984" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJtUSqNYU9cfM6vHCFNFsDH3oj5GbSWHw-jQd85Xi2RW4YajaCnNkHMeA_xd9hH2tdSX5bYAVMQCl3r674FcBdKq09yqc1GGTf2j3nXKF4PjmIVHKqxeYWyYxoaSoSTcS24XrgwF7ima8/s320/bombus+lapidarius+queen+4B6A8845.jpg" width="291" /></a></div>
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A social wasp, the queen Common Wasp <i>Vespula vulgaris,</i> of great benefit, until the colonies break up, because it is carnivorous. Like the Bumble Bees, only the queens survive the winter.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIa-86eehjzSIEb7ZQrtkSNPmgb65oaPw9hUi51m5_Xbii39H_sJT9pZ3mD_w2C27xRNNhAY2gbccq8mNRkLAaSyYRMXFw4sP3jLC5-fFVTwP_JcgYKZociuS5oejS2iXk1l1tfMNz9xU/s1600/vespula+vulgaris+female+4B6A8861.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1434" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIa-86eehjzSIEb7ZQrtkSNPmgb65oaPw9hUi51m5_Xbii39H_sJT9pZ3mD_w2C27xRNNhAY2gbccq8mNRkLAaSyYRMXFw4sP3jLC5-fFVTwP_JcgYKZociuS5oejS2iXk1l1tfMNz9xU/s320/vespula+vulgaris+female+4B6A8861.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
If you look at the mandibles in the photo below you can see there is no space, the malar space, between them and the eyes. In the third photo, when enlarged, you can see long pale hairs on the first segment of the gaster (the back part after the waist) and the yellow band running just behind the eyes is broadly interrupted by black.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmeUS1Dzs-pI4VsrLEcperbBmb582eJCQsKpjlwrjdIFGSy1Vmy0gtcZRm8D-tXQCnMJrJcMn_Pm7gIN08zleqoflq6nguZvlQ0gzAM12Z0FQEoi9HWiuZvncjDSvg8XNEmkeEWtW9TzY/s1600/vespula+vulgaris+queen+4B6A8837.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="915" data-original-width="1600" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmeUS1Dzs-pI4VsrLEcperbBmb582eJCQsKpjlwrjdIFGSy1Vmy0gtcZRm8D-tXQCnMJrJcMn_Pm7gIN08zleqoflq6nguZvlQ0gzAM12Z0FQEoi9HWiuZvncjDSvg8XNEmkeEWtW9TzY/s320/vespula+vulgaris+queen+4B6A8837.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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More interestingly, this third photo shows the insect collecting something exuded by the glands of Cherry Laurel leaves, be it wax, water or sugar... I seem to remember posting something about this a long time ago and have seen many hymenoptera visiting for this benefit whatever it might be.</div>
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Among our loveliest beetles are the ladybirds and 3 species have emerged in the garden so far. The Seven Spot <i>Coccinella septempuctata</i> is probably the most popular, a very useful insect in the garden being an aphid predator.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSMGUSKuRVlgMdzzjBCkro6WyXgA9tME-FAHlCbyBFyma6UwVnbISIUvep7511fiXXfOAYRmI0_GDEClmW3PqRZpwLWgeKIIKI87Lo2rT5pndutmFk-VLpPZRxUqXjqnanRq0szBy-kUI/s1600/7+spot+ladybird+4B6A8844.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1267" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSMGUSKuRVlgMdzzjBCkro6WyXgA9tME-FAHlCbyBFyma6UwVnbISIUvep7511fiXXfOAYRmI0_GDEClmW3PqRZpwLWgeKIIKI87Lo2rT5pndutmFk-VLpPZRxUqXjqnanRq0szBy-kUI/s320/7+spot+ladybird+4B6A8844.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Likewise with this Fourteen Spot <i>Propylea quattuordecimpunctata,</i> a help to the farmer if left to mop up the aphids but like all predators the population is controlled by the food numbers and so there is a lag in their numbers behind that of the prey.</div>
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The Harlequin Ladybird <i>Harmonia axyridis</i> is a recent arrival (2003) which has spread very rapidly across the UK. It is a large, beautiful and very variable species. This is the commonest form <i>succinea</i>. Because of its size and habit of feeding on other insects as well as aphids it was thought to be a threat to other ladybirds. As a common and widespread newcomer it is likely to cause a shift in numbers of other species, including ladybirds, but only time will tell how it settles down into the UK fauna. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV99wQcmweLj71gq2n989YPuEEpXeImt8UVvGlJbuGQtjbKuhRkahbPse9Juui7qRt-I1vfIJ2YoNPEUwOR4PPeHR4sGjvxQfuXsrdn2X8YNhiqrNF86qT6P41X0JdrSSHaE-l1C1QOUU/s1600/harlequin+ladybird+4B6A8899.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1089" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV99wQcmweLj71gq2n989YPuEEpXeImt8UVvGlJbuGQtjbKuhRkahbPse9Juui7qRt-I1vfIJ2YoNPEUwOR4PPeHR4sGjvxQfuXsrdn2X8YNhiqrNF86qT6P41X0JdrSSHaE-l1C1QOUU/s320/harlequin+ladybird+4B6A8899.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I am not normally an inveterate turner of stones and logs but this is a good thing to do if the shelter is replaced exactly as it was and can reveal a whole suite of things not seen otherwise. This is a nocturnal predatory Ground Beetle, The Black Clock <i>Pterostichus madidus </i>which, as you can see, sometimes has red on the legs as well as rounded rear tips to the carapace and paler tips to the antennae and palps. I have seen it gathered in 10s under logs in some situations. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixjMe9YQz8WEuXv-AbuNQI7lgkncKQkK1eUslgbi-eXAN8hTcioyreKW5s-OgzK6w_FEztqlUktYz1JxdT8wstWK3GhU03GYDs3U6vH22MJUwCf0MMIqqNcbTOdgPgMP2TI2sAq0jvGl0/s1600/pterosticus+madidus+4B6A8985.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="921" data-original-width="1600" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixjMe9YQz8WEuXv-AbuNQI7lgkncKQkK1eUslgbi-eXAN8hTcioyreKW5s-OgzK6w_FEztqlUktYz1JxdT8wstWK3GhU03GYDs3U6vH22MJUwCf0MMIqqNcbTOdgPgMP2TI2sAq0jvGl0/s320/pterosticus+madidus+4B6A8985.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Also common in my garden are centipedes and millipedes (Myriapoda). Centipedes have one pair of legs per segment and millipedes 2. This is a standard centipede of the genus <i>Lithobius</i> which will not key key correctly in my guide so may well be an immature, time will tell.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixTYewYUsuPMtEaI1AL2W9FnKcYtOAQFNwz2dgyPZ2pW_3ahX1WIUChKjrl9mp_BB9aFQW84CsD4ryJasPdtLeLR5EM-hPUqTgXDJr2_CNjfjPTvP-W5kcDgozP1pdTSmhb-T7xxI9CFo/s1600/lithobius+sp+imm+poss+4B6A8953.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixTYewYUsuPMtEaI1AL2W9FnKcYtOAQFNwz2dgyPZ2pW_3ahX1WIUChKjrl9mp_BB9aFQW84CsD4ryJasPdtLeLR5EM-hPUqTgXDJr2_CNjfjPTvP-W5kcDgozP1pdTSmhb-T7xxI9CFo/s320/lithobius+sp+imm+poss+4B6A8953.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is a more fantastical beast called <i>Stigmatogaster subterranea </i>common in the southwest but found up as far north as Scotland. Hard to tell but the head is to the right!</div>
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Centipedes are carnivorous but millipedes are not. This is what I think of as the archetypal millipede, which I cannot identify as I have no guide as yet.</div>
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This is what my centipede guide calls a 'flat backed millipede'. As you can see it has 2 legs per segment and my centipede guide says 'flat backed millipedes such as <i>Polydesmus spp</i>. More work to be done there then when I get a guide...</div>
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ian tewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16500046396210991619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1419651078350989465.post-194538251006159362020-04-10T19:00:00.002+01:002020-05-03T10:01:24.437+01:00first reward from the garden workA number of insects have landed in front of me during the last few days causing a fair bit of eyebrow raising. The first of these was very interesting as the next group I wanted to work on when I had time was the Sawflies: Symphyta, waistless members of the Hymenoptera whose larvae are plant feeders. A shiny bronze metallic member of this group appeared atop the Cherry Laurel hedge allowing one photograph from a poor angle but enough to stimulate interest. I realised it was probably a member of the Cimbicidae because of its size and clubbed antennae. Fortunately I already had enough keys to get it to Genus <i>Abia </i>and a search of the interenet produced a set of online keys which showed me it was <i>lonicerae</i> named because the larvae feed on Honeysuckle <i>Lonicera</i>. A search of my Honeysuckle over the next couple of days revealed a couple of individuals who permitted better photos to be obtained. I felt relieved that, after strenuous efforts last year to remove Honesuckle which was spreading all over my garden and lawn, some survives in one corner which will now not be removed.<br />
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It may well be under recorded but a search of NBN gateway revealed a few scattered dots over much of the british isles. My experience of thinking I've found something new and interesting is often followed by revelations that it is simply under recorded or not yet mapped. I suggest, if you are interested and have some, you check out any Honeysuckle you can currently get at. There is another species of honeysuckle which may be rarer but is black and white....<br />
As you can see here it looks as if this was a female trying to penetrate the leaves with her ovipositor unless I've got a lot more to learn than I think.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzwJm_z-QO6s5wjXZozntnYqCN-UNu-jbI291r5OSF20FdLL-OWs1xG4_WIQdrU-o3VIbrRo0Qjk6-cfbAdw-5Oq_RMgUwX5G8YVLvdaeTQdfaUFMt_0hXrh0_a2g-D5jCn3HkCbpiJUg/s1600/abia+lonicerae+4B6A8943.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1141" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzwJm_z-QO6s5wjXZozntnYqCN-UNu-jbI291r5OSF20FdLL-OWs1xG4_WIQdrU-o3VIbrRo0Qjk6-cfbAdw-5Oq_RMgUwX5G8YVLvdaeTQdfaUFMt_0hXrh0_a2g-D5jCn3HkCbpiJUg/s320/abia+lonicerae+4B6A8943.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Another surprise this week turned up on my house wall. This is The Slender Groundhopper (<i>Tetrix subulata</i>) and lives in waterside areas. Interestingly I have only ever seen it's relative Cepero's Groundhoppr (<i>Tetrix ceperoi</i>) in the Swansea and Gower area and I have no idea why it should turn up on the side of a house in Tycoch.</div>
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On the wall inside the house was a Twenty Plume Moth (<i>Alucita hexadactyla</i>), </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKQ6QieZp30ipduCv6jc-R8YPUmkWWuAaR1wj0o7VUf8gkkIVZnK76lCqsUciKIHtXV_ukFMiJ2tmFqkIEDvjulaEdv9B-lJUCxtEIV7JgFvUyv40VWVCH0eI4jwzGgQm6fjmp2-UZbxg/s1600/twenty+plume+moth+4B6A8883.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKQ6QieZp30ipduCv6jc-R8YPUmkWWuAaR1wj0o7VUf8gkkIVZnK76lCqsUciKIHtXV_ukFMiJ2tmFqkIEDvjulaEdv9B-lJUCxtEIV7JgFvUyv40VWVCH0eI4jwzGgQm6fjmp2-UZbxg/s320/twenty+plume+moth+4B6A8883.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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slightly less surprising and equal in number to an effort at moth trapping on a warm but clear night with winds coming from spain. The only reward in this case was a Hebrew Character (<i>Orthosia gothica</i>).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMpjDPagxvdaH7EQqBCFKOhNrKrYfp6Rc1cR6ChxcSKiDIygb0qvHk5X46TgiI1jv3QUynGhbpR-zKNPXgGupHSvIBRgNqphMhkk5_BPfEjH9Jh8KZuOr2xUieUREMorpWHZPh122RcJc/s1600/hebrew+character+4B6A8727.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1019" data-original-width="1600" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMpjDPagxvdaH7EQqBCFKOhNrKrYfp6Rc1cR6ChxcSKiDIygb0qvHk5X46TgiI1jv3QUynGhbpR-zKNPXgGupHSvIBRgNqphMhkk5_BPfEjH9Jh8KZuOr2xUieUREMorpWHZPh122RcJc/s320/hebrew+character+4B6A8727.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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A type of Blood Bee (<i>Sphecodes sp.) </i>also turned up on the wall but this will not be identifiable from a photograph as identification relies on microscopic features and is quite challenging.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhElbAbiOYnBVV0ptRZQZ_sjlypfxNCqbQNSUSZE99-3Ep0z-9nml_FPIYKVZfpjQ5WKw9yvD3bgv9CBt929c3kz2-ZoXkGfrG6xYqJVZaN9QYrToifuC6Afb3-3XnaJRmhlqYTuRb2a-k/s1600/sphecodes+sp+4B6A8880a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1584" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhElbAbiOYnBVV0ptRZQZ_sjlypfxNCqbQNSUSZE99-3Ep0z-9nml_FPIYKVZfpjQ5WKw9yvD3bgv9CBt929c3kz2-ZoXkGfrG6xYqJVZaN9QYrToifuC6Afb3-3XnaJRmhlqYTuRb2a-k/s320/sphecodes+sp+4B6A8880a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQl0Rr6W_Fr6j79YybhG93nDkMBDgSGmRt9NcGuFP3SS83fcmb7ElipWpuDJRbU7T3XyFnPR_mVNQZts6mG2ODoxLGC7hJqS_aXdgEnbLzNTwaBc8bWoxN295WdW2Man-2OKglJCV_lo4/s1600/sphecodes+sp+4B6A8876a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1486" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQl0Rr6W_Fr6j79YybhG93nDkMBDgSGmRt9NcGuFP3SS83fcmb7ElipWpuDJRbU7T3XyFnPR_mVNQZts6mG2ODoxLGC7hJqS_aXdgEnbLzNTwaBc8bWoxN295WdW2Man-2OKglJCV_lo4/s320/sphecodes+sp+4B6A8876a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
These are cleptoparasites of solitary bees and there are currently 2 species flying in the garden told by size checking out <i>Andrena</i> and <i>Lasioglossum</i> nests in bare soil areas.<br />
The final wall dwellers are common small spiders without english names I can find. The first is a 'Jumping Spider' <i>Salticus scenicus, </i>this is a male with big black chelicerae.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX-JIJYGAz9eGuoctU_RI6DnVYG1JzCyZG7mFBs1SQvgAyQlKvBzT9guVeZ3fCzjQ4OY3d2sPrl3SAa_Yb2rpBq5ydyFJGtGycfH6QJMQYCqW4JDO5GwcglChDiFjjAWNAMv8V6Uw4u30/s1600/salticus+scenicus+4B6A8843.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1227" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX-JIJYGAz9eGuoctU_RI6DnVYG1JzCyZG7mFBs1SQvgAyQlKvBzT9guVeZ3fCzjQ4OY3d2sPrl3SAa_Yb2rpBq5ydyFJGtGycfH6QJMQYCqW4JDO5GwcglChDiFjjAWNAMv8V6Uw4u30/s320/salticus+scenicus+4B6A8843.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPYDQlDTEpJzvjyMj7qCBLvbiZdp1IKCEKnBRW8mirbJZ8dLjruIdIN6Cub1BGyqshgd43_dYDPf4mkshTQhQOXfJvLdYL7kSkXUQOygjvvRRkNGviYo-Rh-yq_rG2XPBe5JpCvHKw2KA/s1600/salticus+scenicus+male+4B6A8818.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1264" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPYDQlDTEpJzvjyMj7qCBLvbiZdp1IKCEKnBRW8mirbJZ8dLjruIdIN6Cub1BGyqshgd43_dYDPf4mkshTQhQOXfJvLdYL7kSkXUQOygjvvRRkNGviYo-Rh-yq_rG2XPBe5JpCvHKw2KA/s320/salticus+scenicus+male+4B6A8818.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The second is also a male, <i>Xysticus cristatus</i> a type of 'Crab Spider'</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjib4a5qu5-iH9AC7fF58oBLniGE6Wa4HNocyoY8Z5KribwwOqkUx_SI0LcZfDbtSHB9iCClm_iUax_FvarKR8GBV_NFxOTiLNWQuYD0VDGre34gp2elKBDng8CPXAtS6Rlbmv2DjEuCxE/s1600/xysticus+cristatus+male+4B6A8908.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1134" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjib4a5qu5-iH9AC7fF58oBLniGE6Wa4HNocyoY8Z5KribwwOqkUx_SI0LcZfDbtSHB9iCClm_iUax_FvarKR8GBV_NFxOTiLNWQuYD0VDGre34gp2elKBDng8CPXAtS6Rlbmv2DjEuCxE/s320/xysticus+cristatus+male+4B6A8908.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The female was found in the rear lawn in bare areas</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPw2k51qXYoXedLD2pjTZUdLrNSmT0cn2VaP9SIpy5efieg9LIz8RqsHCjnVtatRcw4oDwBZlS_ygHBkAsxIGmKGIBxjEgtJDo_IRw7UZbPFNCXTLokuwO9Em-rg6N-0Ea2B6bLAPfbtY/s1600/xysticus+cristatus+female+prob+4B6A8801.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1010" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPw2k51qXYoXedLD2pjTZUdLrNSmT0cn2VaP9SIpy5efieg9LIz8RqsHCjnVtatRcw4oDwBZlS_ygHBkAsxIGmKGIBxjEgtJDo_IRw7UZbPFNCXTLokuwO9Em-rg6N-0Ea2B6bLAPfbtY/s320/xysticus+cristatus+female+prob+4B6A8801.jpg" width="299" /></a></div>
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Please feel to comment if you disagree with my spider identifications as I am no expertise in this area and am happy to learn.</div>
<i><br /></i>ian tewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16500046396210991619noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1419651078350989465.post-78739222869495044762020-04-06T18:18:00.000+01:002020-05-03T10:03:00.864+01:00Garden WildlifeSince it isn't possible to go out and look for stuff now, I thought it would be fun to look in the garden and see what I could find. Most will be pretty run of the mill stuff but, knowing wildlife, I'm sure some surprises will turn up especially if I can do things with groups I've not bothered with much.<br />
On a familiar note for me, the nice weather has brought out the Bees and Wasps. In fact as you will see it is already too late for the first brood of some species!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjat4UZdN6gsexjqqzns-AUTc0o8DFD74zqCpyCd2eqNbciskd_pIe6LCyBCCl5dO9Z3FZtsRnqC3a23hXxu6ghBk-C3zt9K7omXEPzhMxPlLwr34INrdwzYg97Lm2PkWg7llArflTDNKY/s1600/nomada+fabriciana+female+4B6A8767.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="944" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjat4UZdN6gsexjqqzns-AUTc0o8DFD74zqCpyCd2eqNbciskd_pIe6LCyBCCl5dO9Z3FZtsRnqC3a23hXxu6ghBk-C3zt9K7omXEPzhMxPlLwr34INrdwzYg97Lm2PkWg7llArflTDNKY/s320/nomada+fabriciana+female+4B6A8767.jpg" width="279" /></a></div>
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This is a female of Fabricius' Nomad Bee (<i>Nomada fabriciana</i>) which is searching the areas of bare earth looking for nests into which to lay its eggs. The female antennae are very distinctive used together with the red, black and yellow colours of the abdomen and small size. This species is a cleptoparasite. The female lays her egg in the host burrow and the first instar larva consumes the host larva and then grows up on the host pollen stores. In my garden it probably lays in the nests of Gwynne's Mining Bee (<i>Andrena bicolor</i>) of which there is currently no evidence. Here is a picture taken last year in February high up above Resolven and feeding on Coltsfoot flowers, about the only flowers present at the time.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkMsNneJZ8_ius0e9pAlKTGnOlktiD1nisqJogCeFuJx_LNuaxLsE4vvOug4vXjjgQW4CW5Wmdbdr8UVAWhGqw4sbTzhP7kOYlfgkVsP66w82mYarLqq6eajKtjYxoD-t8-YWxka3cwXg/s1600/andrena+bicolor+female+4B6A0396.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="999" data-original-width="1600" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkMsNneJZ8_ius0e9pAlKTGnOlktiD1nisqJogCeFuJx_LNuaxLsE4vvOug4vXjjgQW4CW5Wmdbdr8UVAWhGqw4sbTzhP7kOYlfgkVsP66w82mYarLqq6eajKtjYxoD-t8-YWxka3cwXg/s320/andrena+bicolor+female+4B6A0396.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The main bees flying currently are Chocolate Mining Bees (<i>Andrena scotica</i>). There is lots of activity along hedge lines with sunbathing on the leaves of Cherry Laurel and Privet. It is amusing to see the males whizz past a female sitting just inside the hedge line, but in the sun, without detecting her. Presumably there is no scent involved? This is the female bee, of Honeybee size:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXsg6MK17i0un9MpA0rJIUiMEUP1VAwGtXPq9_UrsCSd5EpiY0uT9C4URRFR7-XQ6NK-2zhq1uqs9Ka8mTDpAD4EOo6Ekzk9if65akt6lkpyxpuOtBP3MaVgS8B5bKnWO85idOGqLsl4E/s1600/andrena+scotica+female+4B6A8702.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1145" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXsg6MK17i0un9MpA0rJIUiMEUP1VAwGtXPq9_UrsCSd5EpiY0uT9C4URRFR7-XQ6NK-2zhq1uqs9Ka8mTDpAD4EOo6Ekzk9if65akt6lkpyxpuOtBP3MaVgS8B5bKnWO85idOGqLsl4E/s320/andrena+scotica+female+4B6A8702.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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and this is the male bee:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEke7D6gxaNVAuanxnJFlLvoFDcCGW9hExn04O17BEdeDOj0lzv50uz5kmOoE38I613E-vIGHxzfBITWge9Q9dnX4d4OJZ3zPFhTMUxsg4cD7ypTs02Bkz1GJ_-lDpIkKUGaOj8MdwZzg/s1600/andrena+scotica+male+4B6A8715.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="858" data-original-width="1600" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEke7D6gxaNVAuanxnJFlLvoFDcCGW9hExn04O17BEdeDOj0lzv50uz5kmOoE38I613E-vIGHxzfBITWge9Q9dnX4d4OJZ3zPFhTMUxsg4cD7ypTs02Bkz1GJ_-lDpIkKUGaOj8MdwZzg/s320/andrena+scotica+male+4B6A8715.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Click on the image to make it full size and you will see the inserted detail of the antenna which has segment 4 roughly twice as long as segment 3. Afraid this is the kind of detail you need to identify (only some) bees from photographs. This bee visits a wide variety of shrubs and trees, the females to collect pollen for storing to feed the young. Both males and females visit flowers (sometimes different species to those from which the females gather pollen) to sip nectar. Here is a male helping himself to nectar from my Damson flowers and hopefully carrying out some pollination as well.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQOdnx1YCqZDkpdMHeXOoMlfbs7tVgIQK_DO5cEeJrs0wzLGAT3nlU-4KISFOkg7uE0HeFSnr5o3m-HE1Yo90m8OoijhWTP-SI0adHr5juaaoJFwqONPToC6oQdWGxXjogyBL4dkbofNk/s1600/andrena+scotica+male+in+damson+flower+4B6A8784.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="823" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQOdnx1YCqZDkpdMHeXOoMlfbs7tVgIQK_DO5cEeJrs0wzLGAT3nlU-4KISFOkg7uE0HeFSnr5o3m-HE1Yo90m8OoijhWTP-SI0adHr5juaaoJFwqONPToC6oQdWGxXjogyBL4dkbofNk/s320/andrena+scotica+male+in+damson+flower+4B6A8784.jpg" width="243" /></a></div>
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I noticed a couple of individuals with something sticking out between the segments at the end of the abdomen.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU5oL4dIchEUKkwwDur-bAclgaOwK_IwAq3_pDOplpQyFwSfdxFB8LC39L4OlOa4BwxfsAvQfBUSiDVBu7lZroUu6xYIFkTG_aP2_7x27hczWmB-xbAI_Ql6J_KTf-gJtN3G4XOdsx0Jk/s1600/andrena+scotica++female+stylopised+4B6A8753.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1271" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU5oL4dIchEUKkwwDur-bAclgaOwK_IwAq3_pDOplpQyFwSfdxFB8LC39L4OlOa4BwxfsAvQfBUSiDVBu7lZroUu6xYIFkTG_aP2_7x27hczWmB-xbAI_Ql6J_KTf-gJtN3G4XOdsx0Jk/s320/andrena+scotica++female+stylopised+4B6A8753.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is the female pupa of a <i>Stylops</i>, a strepsipteran, thought originally to be parasitic forms of beetles but now placed apart. The adult female produces larvae called triungulins which sit on flowers and attach themselves to visiting bees, get taken back to the nest and develop inside the bee larva. Often this parasitism causes an intersex bee to be produced but I also noticed a male similarly parasitised:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLmzCCPT_DSDPnuNW2eJRJmtK0rKcf8F3nFrYVp2KJBOIMU3wN0dncYX9phsF2ImCNASXuAnBcYMimx35eZLYSb3zWJx5jz1MYCKd10MQxk0el35WD88F-lX8s3vx0DweTg_RPSfDU3CU/s1600/andrena+scotica+male+stylopised+4B6A8779.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="804" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLmzCCPT_DSDPnuNW2eJRJmtK0rKcf8F3nFrYVp2KJBOIMU3wN0dncYX9phsF2ImCNASXuAnBcYMimx35eZLYSb3zWJx5jz1MYCKd10MQxk0el35WD88F-lX8s3vx0DweTg_RPSfDU3CU/s320/andrena+scotica+male+stylopised+4B6A8779.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>
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The male Stylops is very rarely observed so I'll keep and eye out. He can fly and mates with the females by injecting sperm via her neck.</div>
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That's not the only problem for the Chocolate Mining Bee, there is also a cleptoparasitic bee, Marsham's Nomad Bee (<i>Nomada marshamella</i>) laying in its nest:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6q0mYEZVMJSmCIkefLbLGM5EC2An9GiIGE6BvR19AQE7VdrpcrViY8CUsLzHVhQhjCc0w45DvrCw9MdBwHBu318dlTUQ9pMsGLiakW_Zi2haKiJAlSV9hUdk_TtOs1eIfR5R2Hp3Jd6M/s1600/nomada+marshamella+female+4B6A8827.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1400" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6q0mYEZVMJSmCIkefLbLGM5EC2An9GiIGE6BvR19AQE7VdrpcrViY8CUsLzHVhQhjCc0w45DvrCw9MdBwHBu318dlTUQ9pMsGLiakW_Zi2haKiJAlSV9hUdk_TtOs1eIfR5R2Hp3Jd6M/s320/nomada+marshamella+female+4B6A8827.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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More pollination of my fruit was occurring by the Tawny Mining Bee (<i>Andrena fulva</i>) visiting the Gooseberry flowers. Fortunately this one is easily identified: </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMRFLhvUgcaGvydJYt0X6jDh1DMl2h3OII8F14gyy7QBG5PAmKt5wjAYryUZ8erW-PIX1I2uQZTkzywt82X3EFywUwneWgdoSi0Aaiec_H4wNV3G1vY_QEaDRKJw2B1yLhNpa3aKQhZLA/s1600/andrena+fulva+female+4B6A8705.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="928" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMRFLhvUgcaGvydJYt0X6jDh1DMl2h3OII8F14gyy7QBG5PAmKt5wjAYryUZ8erW-PIX1I2uQZTkzywt82X3EFywUwneWgdoSi0Aaiec_H4wNV3G1vY_QEaDRKJw2B1yLhNpa3aKQhZLA/s320/andrena+fulva+female+4B6A8705.jpg" width="274" /></a></div>
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Unlike the males who were patrolling and visiting my Damson flowers:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0brl8jaCpkwo6NiL0IztpXPLmVlVRgR7dZpKyQZmutrGrAAniIkjmf5uichFq_I4EZkmArE6yjNNcfsKQRZL8r3D3wXclxHKMyyzSWAykq9x7AhggZSkzDfm6IT4hSHNElGTqroVQ0hw/s1600/andrena+fulva+male+4B6A8778.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="799" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0brl8jaCpkwo6NiL0IztpXPLmVlVRgR7dZpKyQZmutrGrAAniIkjmf5uichFq_I4EZkmArE6yjNNcfsKQRZL8r3D3wXclxHKMyyzSWAykq9x7AhggZSkzDfm6IT4hSHNElGTqroVQ0hw/s320/andrena+fulva+male+4B6A8778.jpg" width="236" /></a></div>
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Once more if you click on the image you will see the inserted vignette shows the 3rd antennal segment is now about twice as long as the 4th. This species male is also one of those with a large spine sticking down from the mandibles as shown here in an older photograph:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0mPUz6Ne-dzINz1thUJCB5RtPpUZ6_TOGoD6GwQdINKVndHB5YwLi5Zi9puu1cgBXyvbRCsqoxtk5gZ1KBqdZFPzXtG7oqQLVU_E9vjzWK5scj1n_N1LWLlJ8fZC-m7lmuuth6gbNqho/s1600/andrena+fulva+male+IMG_5654.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="677" data-original-width="1285" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0mPUz6Ne-dzINz1thUJCB5RtPpUZ6_TOGoD6GwQdINKVndHB5YwLi5Zi9puu1cgBXyvbRCsqoxtk5gZ1KBqdZFPzXtG7oqQLVU_E9vjzWK5scj1n_N1LWLlJ8fZC-m7lmuuth6gbNqho/s320/andrena+fulva+male+IMG_5654.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Enlarge, look below the eye when you will see the mandible sloping down to the right and the spine coming off the base at right angles to the left.</div>
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A much less numerous bee in my garden is The Buffish Mining Bee (<i>Andrena nigroaenea</i>).The Honey Bee sized females are quite distinctive as they have black hairs at both ends, on the face and final abdominal segment and brownish all the way in between.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-BPde1fBZHWLHiZOmaK9dCqtMMK65hfa-BOUM7zL0fs2uQEL2lfEmd5XAtgw6cxYnF9JAMioqQVZGWrK1t6pijCf_BlcfpBVm8jjmZFYDuFyRkoyH1NvmqNQU9BRK2eLTv0XoIASfHdc/s1600/andrena+nigroaenea+female+4B6A8817.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1389" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-BPde1fBZHWLHiZOmaK9dCqtMMK65hfa-BOUM7zL0fs2uQEL2lfEmd5XAtgw6cxYnF9JAMioqQVZGWrK1t6pijCf_BlcfpBVm8jjmZFYDuFyRkoyH1NvmqNQU9BRK2eLTv0XoIASfHdc/s320/andrena+nigroaenea+female+4B6A8817.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The less distinctive male was also present patrolling the Cherry Laurel hedge:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN0Rf4x4RBQzwXh1Kiwm4tgCi4UvGSjg37G1w_5TeQHK3_0IQhiJ0vejrnqmZZ8EpzgOSMTk-pfHD3QLku13tRN_iBtJir5R7aZrnXwsW9G1dDitXzJlQsoClAClQYP_9uVsW2Faw0rcE/s1600/andrena+nigroaenea+male+4B6A8830.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="969" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN0Rf4x4RBQzwXh1Kiwm4tgCi4UvGSjg37G1w_5TeQHK3_0IQhiJ0vejrnqmZZ8EpzgOSMTk-pfHD3QLku13tRN_iBtJir5R7aZrnXwsW9G1dDitXzJlQsoClAClQYP_9uVsW2Faw0rcE/s320/andrena+nigroaenea+male+4B6A8830.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This one is older and somewhat faded, they can be quite a rich orange brown. Marsham's Nomad Bee will also parasitise this species.</div>
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A volcano of soil in lawns or, in this case, at the base of a wall reveals the presence of The Common Furrow Bee (<i>Lasioglossum calceatum</i>) most probably, because it has a related but less common bee <i>Lasioglossum albipes</i> which is very hard to tell it from even with the aid of a specimen and microscope.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0B2U2w1UDY6NvpuoH69ELjcreUJtYzYdfU_BE0k9L1QMlgi9yafN4P_j8w3lETVINLhpfb6W6Kas-v5F9GVVx32cXnRuhNJyH751iQyhyqDmbjzaMwRVNguIOO2h2yV13IEobt7sc3-o/s1600/Lasioglossum+calceatum+or+albipes+nest+mound+4B6A8771.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0B2U2w1UDY6NvpuoH69ELjcreUJtYzYdfU_BE0k9L1QMlgi9yafN4P_j8w3lETVINLhpfb6W6Kas-v5F9GVVx32cXnRuhNJyH751iQyhyqDmbjzaMwRVNguIOO2h2yV13IEobt7sc3-o/s320/Lasioglossum+calceatum+or+albipes+nest+mound+4B6A8771.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh17rAcvkJfM5HXGGNPCcIfDgcEK-H1EBbg0lJ2jd5ZjD06KnGyT3Jy30uvCJ3wSD-XOwBdxwkt7wSqCynPplxySdYzjTPdTkk0N6mt5v3Nvd8JY6E4xYiph066G5mpbMrgoAApH6HwrS4/s1600/Lasioglossum+calceatum+or+albipes+on+nest+mound+4B6A8768.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1597" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh17rAcvkJfM5HXGGNPCcIfDgcEK-H1EBbg0lJ2jd5ZjD06KnGyT3Jy30uvCJ3wSD-XOwBdxwkt7wSqCynPplxySdYzjTPdTkk0N6mt5v3Nvd8JY6E4xYiph066G5mpbMrgoAApH6HwrS4/s320/Lasioglossum+calceatum+or+albipes+on+nest+mound+4B6A8768.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWcfkk9SbJ70hBJm95k0t6wTNljNFUiopSjx5FHyki4TEQA7GUR3Zn1acat2BTrqH8dOHlZ0QtwYxGrjZdnJkuU81mcKkJFeL99wdLfzNQBONZJfJo6h1pC4Paea2a0hcMq9syVHsr5yk/s1600/lasioglossum+calceatum+or+albipes+female+4B6A8729.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="928" data-original-width="1600" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWcfkk9SbJ70hBJm95k0t6wTNljNFUiopSjx5FHyki4TEQA7GUR3Zn1acat2BTrqH8dOHlZ0QtwYxGrjZdnJkuU81mcKkJFeL99wdLfzNQBONZJfJo6h1pC4Paea2a0hcMq9syVHsr5yk/s320/lasioglossum+calceatum+or+albipes+female+4B6A8729.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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In the bottom photograph, when enlarged, by the single white dot you can see the basal vein suddenly curves and meets the longitudinal vein at about 90 degrees unlike the Andrenas above where the two veins meet at a shallow angle. At the 2 white dots you can see the hairs emerge from under the previous segment, a way to tell this genus from another called <i>Halictus</i>. The common name of Furrow Bees comes from the fact that the final dorsal abdominal segment of the females has a furrow.</div>
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The final Bee to mention in this post is a bit of a nuisance around the house because it nests in holes which is only a problem when they are the drainage holes in doors and windows, particularly wooden ones as they encourage damp and rot. Nevertheless, it is a very attractive bee and a pleasure to see:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZnSqJ_ms31akfctFmtjpfDXlt13PKu6w9aczzlqbvTmDueIfXKmSjJ9uhXYqbJR05QifkEfu1Tk9Gclmc1iLZDncFw1XvP03Vrw5jBuVtJhOyRtl7qvkXxeUn2TWFpnR6cEviYzbSwR8/s1600/osmia+bicornis+male+4B6A8814.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="904" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZnSqJ_ms31akfctFmtjpfDXlt13PKu6w9aczzlqbvTmDueIfXKmSjJ9uhXYqbJR05QifkEfu1Tk9Gclmc1iLZDncFw1XvP03Vrw5jBuVtJhOyRtl7qvkXxeUn2TWFpnR6cEviYzbSwR8/s320/osmia+bicornis+male+4B6A8814.jpg" width="267" /></a></div>
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This is the male of the Red Mason Bee (<i>Osmia bicornis</i>) and like all males is very busy patrolling and checking out all the local holes for females. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpdqNikdtv39hF6M4CN0M2JSSmBSVMBMmWqt9nK4YtGpzUFH4dIHH2DFV0haQHFNLGFJFGahOS6JFwINg34AyjrPvycP6bosbqTHBCWOL6qGOfsEWKkm6JYJHAJ8agAu8Lne2eKwM-v0Q/s1600/osmia+bicornis+male+4B6A8824.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="848" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpdqNikdtv39hF6M4CN0M2JSSmBSVMBMmWqt9nK4YtGpzUFH4dIHH2DFV0haQHFNLGFJFGahOS6JFwINg34AyjrPvycP6bosbqTHBCWOL6qGOfsEWKkm6JYJHAJ8agAu8Lne2eKwM-v0Q/s320/osmia+bicornis+male+4B6A8824.jpg" width="251" /></a></div>
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The name bicornis comes from the two horns found on the female face, used for handling the mud from which individual cells are built for each young and its food. Here is an old picture of the female face: </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo08lqOmyrDjDCWGgMuRHpbJ8evQjfP_LcL1STTzIBHdTg9fec3LjM3xjUJCKeJAQhMEK7cs_OY3r7fySonXiNuIEg994VNwZWjDHcxweTPi0WZZw0wJvJlQ6tDkAGPnHgOc-vqUdrEdE/s1600/osmia+bicornis+female+face+4B6A8834.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="879" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo08lqOmyrDjDCWGgMuRHpbJ8evQjfP_LcL1STTzIBHdTg9fec3LjM3xjUJCKeJAQhMEK7cs_OY3r7fySonXiNuIEg994VNwZWjDHcxweTPi0WZZw0wJvJlQ6tDkAGPnHgOc-vqUdrEdE/s320/osmia+bicornis+female+face+4B6A8834.jpg" width="260" /></a></div>
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Two horns indicated by arrows.</div>
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ian tewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16500046396210991619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1419651078350989465.post-39362975529755333572020-03-06T22:11:00.002+00:002020-03-06T22:11:31.146+00:00Horn Stalkball<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq9qdLFfUvxVrFesl17e9EmaL0qpKP8Xr0DDzeOOyEtROwULYvqRhg0Sxe3Y5adYyyeSQ-o8Ii1IdJVMk9V799bXUy4u5zvX-NMkcdE1Sq4KofVU0Fcrjc09L5V9QvX0x0IjNf7LSqpew/s1600/Onygena+equina+on+ram%2527s+horn+Resolven+March+2020+lowres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq9qdLFfUvxVrFesl17e9EmaL0qpKP8Xr0DDzeOOyEtROwULYvqRhg0Sxe3Y5adYyyeSQ-o8Ii1IdJVMk9V799bXUy4u5zvX-NMkcdE1Sq4KofVU0Fcrjc09L5V9QvX0x0IjNf7LSqpew/s640/Onygena+equina+on+ram%2527s+horn+Resolven+March+2020+lowres.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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We came across this ram's skull on a walk in Nant-y-gleisiad Wood, near Resolfen. The decaying horns were covered in Horn Stalkball (<i>Onygena equina</i>), an ascomycete belonging to a specialised family called the Onygenacea. Both horns were covered completely in a creamy-white mycelium which had given rise to hundreds of stalked fruiting bodies, like little puffballs. In fact it used to be called Horn Puffball although it is not even closely related to the puffballs, which are basidiomycetes.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbOhYo0PsGQQCFgWAQZbmarObipQMCFVZSfcSzp0qxeJUeF20dKtX1liRLaGLuc5aS6f_5sYgdgFyiGwm3wpHc-HQugtDnz9h459TPXtXApb8ri30bDcLLUQEdUbJsBJU2tWLcOQ4Poik/s1600/Onygena+equina+Resolven+6+lowres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1105" data-original-width="1600" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbOhYo0PsGQQCFgWAQZbmarObipQMCFVZSfcSzp0qxeJUeF20dKtX1liRLaGLuc5aS6f_5sYgdgFyiGwm3wpHc-HQugtDnz9h459TPXtXApb8ri30bDcLLUQEdUbJsBJU2tWLcOQ4Poik/s640/Onygena+equina+Resolven+6+lowres.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The rounded heads of the young fruiting bodies are white and covered with masses of chlamydospores while ascospores are produced from within. As the fruiting body matures it cracks and turns brown, releasing the ascospores.<br />
What is strikingly obvious is that the fungus is confined to the horns and does not grow on the bony tissue of the skull. Horns are not made of bone but are built out of keratin, a structural protein found in hair, nails, hoofs, skin, spines and feathers. Fungi like <i>Onygena equina</i> are able to break down keratin to amino acids which are excellent organic nutrients, rich in nitrogen. It will also grow on decaying hoofs and this is perhaps where it got the species name <i>equina.</i><br />
<i>Onygena equina</i> is not common. Most records of it originate from Scotland but there are very few recent records from Wales. As far as I can tell, this is the first record of this species in Glamorgan (VC41).<br />
<i>Onygena corvin</i>a is another rare species found in Britain which grows on feathers.Charles Hipkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06830879011782542534noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1419651078350989465.post-78507506379283799812019-11-17T22:14:00.001+00:002019-11-17T22:14:09.095+00:00Castell du<br />
Water pipit at Castell du late afternoon. Kingfisher and green sandpiper also<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8XKAQR7LJ0JGOSv2_b8JhJH3p6j9OTQguaJ-iZ0Nh75HX7zs5ax4-5BI4jvEW5NjYcNDTBMJ19qLEvp7H0-SV_9ABm9DdK2Lt5clWgVpBqd5AIOPX0bEfqN7z6oXTfYFilFyz2t5UQCw/s1600/977E43A8-4DA0-4CE0-9A1A-DC294DEFFA32.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8XKAQR7LJ0JGOSv2_b8JhJH3p6j9OTQguaJ-iZ0Nh75HX7zs5ax4-5BI4jvEW5NjYcNDTBMJ19qLEvp7H0-SV_9ABm9DdK2Lt5clWgVpBqd5AIOPX0bEfqN7z6oXTfYFilFyz2t5UQCw/s320/977E43A8-4DA0-4CE0-9A1A-DC294DEFFA32.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15573234339451596842noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1419651078350989465.post-17245620463411903182019-11-16T16:00:00.001+00:002019-11-16T16:00:41.327+00:00Unsurprisingly for the time of year, a Firecrest in the Querus ilex near the mast atop Mumbles Hill.ian tewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16500046396210991619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1419651078350989465.post-40575133014456305492019-10-17T21:24:00.001+01:002019-10-17T21:24:42.368+01:00Whooper swans7 adult whooper swans by the mound at Wernffrwd at high water this am<span id="goog_542441793"></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsJpxDOZaaEMa6xV8F9iE10FWaWcbs7Rmxd9gwlD5V4LE4JW-IXM-niLyb6mtyh6c5U5EtJyrYyU8Z4lS4vXkhJQlKEBjdoUTqWsWOfoH1ppiOCUA_k15awwChcZ3PqQek3CF4B67MTrE/s1600/DSC_0106+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="850" data-original-width="1600" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsJpxDOZaaEMa6xV8F9iE10FWaWcbs7Rmxd9gwlD5V4LE4JW-IXM-niLyb6mtyh6c5U5EtJyrYyU8Z4lS4vXkhJQlKEBjdoUTqWsWOfoH1ppiOCUA_k15awwChcZ3PqQek3CF4B67MTrE/s320/DSC_0106+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span id="goog_542441792"></span>Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15573234339451596842noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1419651078350989465.post-5365704957573170182019-04-18T09:55:00.002+01:002019-04-25T15:20:28.893+01:00off inlandThe bees started early this year, with a break for the cold snap. My first excursion inland away from Gower found <i>Andrena bicolor</i> working blooms of <i>Tussilago farfara</i> on the hillside opposite Resolven on 26th Feb.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnYaSS_8I7Kjqb0V-pP4YFRQyJusIYwj9Y01i6-Mb6my4OdMjxd7VCj29RTZYbnaxVi-BbIxgGr8YGUzc35PSDLBTQKBUicRLVKE_8UvwAgoetN8BUM1pkOwZpbrK1SeOXHqKVwztzNXE/s1600/andrena+bicolor+female+4B6A0396.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="999" data-original-width="1600" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnYaSS_8I7Kjqb0V-pP4YFRQyJusIYwj9Y01i6-Mb6my4OdMjxd7VCj29RTZYbnaxVi-BbIxgGr8YGUzc35PSDLBTQKBUicRLVKE_8UvwAgoetN8BUM1pkOwZpbrK1SeOXHqKVwztzNXE/s320/andrena+bicolor+female+4B6A0396.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Due to the aforementioned cold period, my next excursion was on 6th April to the area around Gellionen Chapel, partly to get a few records in a square (SN705055) where SEWBREC (in their newsletter) say there are no records recently. Bit early for much but I saw<i> Andrena scotica</i> there:</div>
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and found <i>Andrena clarkella</i> next to the chapel:</div>
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I decided many years ago, when time permitted, to look for good patches of Bilberry hoping to find <i>Andrena lapponica</i>, a bilberry specialist I never found on the Gower. I also saw a tweet from Liam Olds about having found it at Blackmill near Bridgend. A visit to Cwm Clydach RSPB reserve, on 10th, turned up <i>Andrena praecox</i>, a bee I never found on the Gower during my 5 years looking there, surprising as it is a Willow feeder.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy48t0sp22oBksYYE5vD_1wlTJC_TzKFtm9OhY1sLqppCQ6Xm7oNXoQSxa7_86Y83Jvdnd3xIzxePVLF9gtLoRdWE76iWKksHI4LR0VVBftLmVowBTQ3MTeTHrwN4u3XobRhJ8YgsWQmw/s1600/andrena+praecox+male+4B6A0745.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy48t0sp22oBksYYE5vD_1wlTJC_TzKFtm9OhY1sLqppCQ6Xm7oNXoQSxa7_86Y83Jvdnd3xIzxePVLF9gtLoRdWE76iWKksHI4LR0VVBftLmVowBTQ3MTeTHrwN4u3XobRhJ8YgsWQmw/s320/andrena+praecox+male+4B6A0745.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Wandering the roads by car looking for Bilberry not grazed to within an inch of its life eventually brought me to a female <i>Andrena lapponica</i> at the roadside near Rhyd-y-fro:</div>
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A dim memory from many years ago took me to woods above Glais (marked Graig Ola on the map) on 13th and I found a superb oakwood/moorland covered in mature and ungrazed bilberry. I found one more <i>Andrena lapponica</i> there and <i>Andrena fulva</i> females (hooray a mining bee it is easy to identify for sure!) also visiting Bilberry along with several <i>Bombus spp</i>. A few other mining bees were on the go, prettiest of which was <i>Andrena ovatula, </i>a species it is absolutely not easy to identify because there is another very similar, <i>wilkella </i>and, of course, <i>Halictus rubicundus </i>also looks very similar:</div>
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Looks like a place worth revisiting as the year progresses, (does an NRW sign on a fence mean it is a reserve); it will certainly have a good heather moor community at the end of the summer. I'd be very interested in knowing of any other good sites for a lot of mature Bilberry inland in the far west of Glamorgan (say Swansea valley or westwards) and even on the Gower. Remember maps? This area is a nuisance to work as it lies on the corners of 3 OS maps but I paid for them and am determined to use them!</div>
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<br />ian tewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16500046396210991619noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1419651078350989465.post-73555075048821325712018-11-11T15:15:00.000+00:002018-11-20T16:05:15.467+00:00A few more fungiMost people will agree that this has been a good autumn for mushrooms and toadstools with some of the common species being particularly abundant. I don't think I've ever seen so much White Saddle (<i>Helvella crispa</i>) along roadsides and woodland paths.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrnVGJ9O0foE-RyEj5OrJ19R8u_WOpvStAwlJUoSP22D_TplMq6kGWO8xCx_rXfrs5VleVAhDI062vq2mD9xS4tN8lfzk73vkRg_xCrH09_eZEBYUwAp4Kezc_JmGTrSsLHhWlcAxQ2Cs/s1600/Helvella+crispa+Ton+Mawr+lowres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrnVGJ9O0foE-RyEj5OrJ19R8u_WOpvStAwlJUoSP22D_TplMq6kGWO8xCx_rXfrs5VleVAhDI062vq2mD9xS4tN8lfzk73vkRg_xCrH09_eZEBYUwAp4Kezc_JmGTrSsLHhWlcAxQ2Cs/s640/Helvella+crispa+Ton+Mawr+lowres.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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White Saddle (<i>Helvella crispa</i>) at side of forest road, Pelenna Forest, Ton Mawr</div>
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Elfin Saddle <i>(Helvella lacunosa</i>), which is usually described as a common species, is much less common in my opinion but has been turning up too, as has Elastic Saddle (<i>Helvella elastica</i>).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe8KAq9uyslitk6QuAC7debtUgF2DbqPImTy_mTtsL3ofjNifDECQsu3waft0KyElifxEAirEhCf38rnuGTG7PFsNmW9hdCMi4HaIlYEBPn7CSIAacS97snGWnBu6VBVwKGxAg4lJZ3bE/s1600/Helvella+lacunosa+Red+Jacket+lowres+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe8KAq9uyslitk6QuAC7debtUgF2DbqPImTy_mTtsL3ofjNifDECQsu3waft0KyElifxEAirEhCf38rnuGTG7PFsNmW9hdCMi4HaIlYEBPn7CSIAacS97snGWnBu6VBVwKGxAg4lJZ3bE/s640/Helvella+lacunosa+Red+Jacket+lowres+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Elfin Saddle (<i>Helvella lacunosa</i>) Pant y Saes</div>
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There was a large amount of Sulphur Knight (<i>Tricholoma sulphureum</i>) along the edges of Earlswood Golf Course a few weeks ago. One of the really distinctive characteristics of this specie is the strong smell of the fruiting bodies. Most books describe it as 'gas tar' but it reminds me of naphthalene (moth balls).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL8qmLEGdiZxUrksFUHxqiewyMfVbCoo9TVsBV6a539e_fpbrIU0XpQivxCGUF9j72sHPCFcvgVEI3-7yj1pDd0ecq8mGzv_kZQzzJE9mLobqEY-Wp0Wqgy249TcK3dXroky3cW3SOOL4/s1600/Tricholoma+sulphureum+Jersey+Marine+Golf+Course+lowres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL8qmLEGdiZxUrksFUHxqiewyMfVbCoo9TVsBV6a539e_fpbrIU0XpQivxCGUF9j72sHPCFcvgVEI3-7yj1pDd0ecq8mGzv_kZQzzJE9mLobqEY-Wp0Wqgy249TcK3dXroky3cW3SOOL4/s640/Tricholoma+sulphureum+Jersey+Marine+Golf+Course+lowres.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Sulphur Knight (<i>Tricholoma sulphureum)</i>, Earlswood Golf Course</div>
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While walking along the Coastal Path near the Quays, Hilary spotted a group of tan coloured caps under a planted shrubbery (mostly Hazel and Birch). As is often the case in such places there was a significant amount wood mulch, possibly coniferous in origin. I originally thought the fungus was a Funnel (<i>Clitocybe</i> sp.), and fixed in that conviction I later (and wrongly) identified it as <i>Clitocybe vermiculari</i>s<i>. </i>The tan colour of the cap, the lack of any noticeable smell and the small spores (5 x 3 microns) led in me that direction fairly unambiguously using the keys in Funga Nordica However, after preparing a spore print, several days later, I examined the spores under high magnification (x1000) - see photo below. It is fairly clear that the spores are warty/spiny (verrucose) and that rules out <i>Clitocybe</i>, which I hadn't noticed in my preliminary examination at lower magnification. It is, in fact, Tawny Funnel, <i>Lepista flaccida</i> (formally called <i>Clitocybe inverse</i>), which is fairly common and widespread in southern Britain</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUMktbbBtdk7G5oaqoNtgk-QtHbrVopIpRXgvSjqoYqQUXkOlY_gxXJIClwuRJMrT_azlVMnHPE_7fXPE3p1onLQY1K1dVKY12ZXSmzZPPj1rPvuiEb_S2WIn1BIT9pqh4xOtduxNdMfs/s1600/Clitocybe+vermicularis+Brunel+Dock+Quays+lowres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUMktbbBtdk7G5oaqoNtgk-QtHbrVopIpRXgvSjqoYqQUXkOlY_gxXJIClwuRJMrT_azlVMnHPE_7fXPE3p1onLQY1K1dVKY12ZXSmzZPPj1rPvuiEb_S2WIn1BIT9pqh4xOtduxNdMfs/s640/Clitocybe+vermicularis+Brunel+Dock+Quays+lowres.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Lepista flaccida,</i> The Quays</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitWltnrmavfHoL-3Pyep8iyBgwrW3iED0xYwHsSU7TEmt1Q8lcRF_UiwlHo6HMMs9BQ1Erz9S8_kHj0yZYMKWD_wHvuhU9WMkIfRDu9s4hcbVOHKQrY1INWTkgP2FHQBVoBrTmUUiGZMM/s1600/Clitocybe+vermicularis+Coastal+Path+Quays+2+lowres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitWltnrmavfHoL-3Pyep8iyBgwrW3iED0xYwHsSU7TEmt1Q8lcRF_UiwlHo6HMMs9BQ1Erz9S8_kHj0yZYMKWD_wHvuhU9WMkIfRDu9s4hcbVOHKQrY1INWTkgP2FHQBVoBrTmUUiGZMM/s640/Clitocybe+vermicularis+Coastal+Path+Quays+2+lowres.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Lepista flaccida</i>, The Quays</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFggXaY_PRzipLuDI16_ULSDTJg8Bcyx0fJuFcHRSj_EFSYpqRfNRpwkW0_YLyVGMbsCMtyu7oxrBad_SMqVLxCuQH9ad3OwmXC_8-RYLAnv39rhucG_zpU9Og5YWm1qmZ5rT0m9hI7zk/s1600/Lepista+falccida+spores+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="913" data-original-width="1141" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFggXaY_PRzipLuDI16_ULSDTJg8Bcyx0fJuFcHRSj_EFSYpqRfNRpwkW0_YLyVGMbsCMtyu7oxrBad_SMqVLxCuQH9ad3OwmXC_8-RYLAnv39rhucG_zpU9Og5YWm1qmZ5rT0m9hI7zk/s640/Lepista+falccida+spores+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Verrucose spores of<i> Lepista flaccida </i>(from spore print of Quays specimen)</div>
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Charles Hipkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06830879011782542534noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1419651078350989465.post-57420773764468133712018-10-29T19:21:00.000+00:002018-10-29T19:59:03.526+00:00Fairwood flush<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbIy4uc843Ya0GkepsXcTBP6IEtCDkxWl-pusuGkpzz5E2kGdIkP8YhpBsCshI9vIDeszg3X25Damjy1opM1qZfghdlddVtKXB8K8-FjMKH_zypKv24B1w7aVDPvfNoy8a0KYCOWp0qEA/s1600/20181027_140807.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbIy4uc843Ya0GkepsXcTBP6IEtCDkxWl-pusuGkpzz5E2kGdIkP8YhpBsCshI9vIDeszg3X25Damjy1opM1qZfghdlddVtKXB8K8-FjMKH_zypKv24B1w7aVDPvfNoy8a0KYCOWp0qEA/s640/20181027_140807.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Much of Fairwood Common is vegetated by flora that characteristic of acid soils, however, occasional flushes can be found that support species more typically associated with mild base enrichment. Sometimes the differences in vegetation are subtle, when the base state can be better detected by changes in the dominant bryophytes. Rigid Bog-moss <i>Sphagnum teres </i>(above), is a good indicator of such base-enrichment and was found to be frequent throughout a 1500m2 area on a flushed bank. Bottle Sedge <i>Carex rostrata </i>was closely associated with <i>S. teres </i>in these areas along with some nice quality vascular plants that included Marsh Cinquefoil <i>Comarum palustre</i>, Petty Whin <i>Genista anglica </i>(bottom photo), Bogbean <i>Menyanthes trifoliata</i>, Bog Asphodel <i>Narthecium ossifragum</i>, Devil's-bit Scabious <i>Succisa pratensis</i> and Cranberry <i>Vaccinium oxycoccos </i>(below), with the latter two species in good quantity.<br />
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Invertebrate interest was limited but did include the weevil <i>Hypera rumicis</i>.</div>
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Barry Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12080358305675651314noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1419651078350989465.post-16187028082458933542018-10-08T20:48:00.000+01:002018-10-08T20:48:58.464+01:00'Stanley's' Fleabane in Burry Port<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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With no formally adopted vernacular, I've taken the liberty to create one myself of an interesting hybrid encountered whilst surveying an area of crushed concrete at the former Carmarthen Bay Power Station, immediately east of Burry Port Harbour. Initially it appeared to me to be <i>Conyza</i>, but not a species I could name using standard keys, so I sent photographs to a number of eminent local botanists, including Tim Rich who came to the fore and said it was a generic hybrid between <i>Erigeron acris</i> (Blue Fleabane) and <i>Conyza floribunda</i> (Bilbao's Fleabane). It eventually transpired this taxon was only recently described as <i><b>X Conyzigeron x stanleyi</b> </i>by Tony Mundell, who named it after the finder Paul Stanley, adding that '<i>Paul sent me
a note saying he felt honoured by the new name and
added that his wife Steph thought it appropriate ‘being
a scruffy plant of unglamorous locations</i>’'. It seems likely this reasonably distinctive hybrid is not as rare as the handful of records might indicate, especially as<i> C. floribunda</i> is now so widespread and abundant, including many areas where it crosses swords with <i>E.acris</i>. So it is one to look wherever both parents are present. The dark pink heads and larger size of the hybrid are likely to attracted attention, although the intermediate characters are perhaps more subtle. The sterile seeds are a key indicator that should be examined, these looking withered and without substance.<br />
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One final note, in the upcoming fourth edition of Stace, the genus <i>Conyza</i> has been re-amalgamated with <i>Erigeron</i> so the hybrid now becomes <i><b>Erigeron x stanleyi</b>.</i><br />
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Barry Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12080358305675651314noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1419651078350989465.post-7290980945698007172018-10-01T22:19:00.002+01:002018-10-01T22:19:45.281+01:00FungiA fairly wet August following an exceptionally hot and dry July created ideal conditions for mushrooms and toadstools. Sure enough, by the end of August many people were reporting all manner of fungi in woods and fields. The first half of September, with its almost monsoonal rains, saw a continuation of good conditions for autumn fungi with boletes and brittlegills appearing everywhere. A number of Cep (<i>Boletus edulis</i>) foragers took advantage of the exceptional year for this most edible of toadstools in our local woodlands and large numbers appeared in the Neath Valley this year.<br />
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The Penny Bun Fungus, or Cep (<i>Boletus edulis</i>), in a Neath Valley beechwood</div>
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But I have been particularly impressed by the abundance of Brittlegills (<i>Russula</i> species) in the last month or so. Local beech woods have had spectacular amounts of Blackening Brittlegill (<i>Russula nigricans</i>)<i> </i>and Geranium Brittlegill (<i>Russula fellea</i>). The latter could be confused with Ochre Brittlegill (<i>Russula fellea</i>), which is probably the most common brittlegill in our area, but it is more honey yellow than ochre yellow, it has a faint smell of Pelargonium and it is only found in beechwoods.</div>
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Geranium Brittlegill (<i>Russula fellea</i>) in Briton Ferry Woods</div>
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Other brittlegills that have been conspicuous include the very common Charcoal Burner (<i>Russula cyanoxantha), </i>Purple Brittlegill (<i>Russula atropurpurea</i>) and Bitter Almond Brittlegill (<i>Russula laurocerasi</i>). The latter is a large, chunky brittlegill with a distinctive smell of bitter almond or marzipan.</div>
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Charcoal Burner (<i>Russula cyanoxantha)</i>, beechwood in Glyncastle Forest</div>
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Purple Brittlegill (<i>Russula atropurpurea</i>) Briton Ferry Woods</div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"> Bitter Almond Brittlegill </span><span style="text-align: center;">(</span><i style="text-align: center;">Russula laurocerasi</i><span style="text-align: center;">), Gnoll Park beechwoods</span></div>
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Yellowing Brittlegill (<i>Russula puellaris</i>) has been abundant in some mixed deciduous woodlands this autumn. Perhaps its most obvious feature is its tendency to discolour to yellow, particularly in its stem and gills.</div>
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Yellowing Brittlegill (<i>Russula puellaris</i>), mixed woodland near Resolven</div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">Birch Brittlegill (</span><i style="text-align: left;">Russula betularum</i><span style="text-align: left;">) has certainly been one of the most common fungi in birchwoods this year. It is fairly small and fragile with a pale pink cap. A useful identification feature is that the skin on the cap (the cuticle) will peel almost entirely - most brittlegills have a cuticle that peels from quarter to halfway across the cap.</span></div>
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Birch Brittlegill (<i>Russula betularum</i>), birchwood near Resolven</div>
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Two rather similar brittlegills, <i>Russula amoenolens</i> and <i>Russula praetervisa</i> appeared in fairly large numbers in a scrubby oakwood near Jersey Marine in early September. They are both rather similar brownish fungi which require careful microscopic examination and chemical tests for accurate identification. <i>Russula amoenolens</i> has an incredibly peppery taste that Geoffrey Kibby describes as painful - and he's not wrong!</div>
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<i>Russula amoenolens</i>, oak wood near Jersey Marine</div>
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A birch and willow woodland near Jersey Marine had a very large population of <i>Russula persicina</i>, this year. It is not a common species, but it seems to like growing with willows in coastal habitats in south Wales. Notably, it can also be found growing with Creeping Willow (<i>Salix repens</i>) on Kenfig Burrows.</div>
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<i>Russula persicina</i>, with Grey Willows near Jersey Marine</div>
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In the Corsican Pine plantations of Pembrey, Whiteford and Margam, there have been good crops of Crab Brittlegill (<i>Russula xerampelina</i>). The strong, fishy smell of crab is a good identification feature. Another good id feature is very dark green reaction on the stem when it is rubbed with iron salts (see photo below).</div>
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Crab Bittergill (Russula xerampelina), Corsican Pine plantation, Margam Moors - note the very dark green stain on the stem after rubbing with ferrous sulphate crystals</div>
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And finally, a nationally rare species, <i>Russula torulosa,</i> which is usually associated with coastal plantations of Corsican Pine, was found growing with Lodgepole Pine on a coal tip near Banwen. It is a beautiful brittlegill with a striking, pink stem. It could be confused with <i>Russula fuscorubroides</i> which is also found locally, but that species grows with spruce (usually Sitka Spruce) and not pine.</div>
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<i>Russula torulosa</i> with Lodgepole Pine on coal tip near Banwen</div>
Charles Hipkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06830879011782542534noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1419651078350989465.post-24988380493275376152018-07-02T22:49:00.000+01:002018-07-03T11:20:42.831+01:00ShoreweedShoreweed (<i>Littorella uniflora</i>) is an interesting, but rather nondescript amphibious plant. It usually occurs submerged along the shallow margins of reservoirs, lakes and pools and it is easy to miss or overlook. It is probably under recorded in South Wales. However, during prolonged dry periods in summer lakes and pools dry up and their margins recede. When this happens, large populations of Shoreweed may be revealed. Summers like the one we are experiencing this year are good times to look for this plant.<br />
Llyn Fawr is a disused reservoir, now used mostly for recreation and fishing. It is situated under the imposing north-facing walls of Craig y Llyn, near Rhigos. As a result of the prolonged hot, dry weather we've had for the last several weeks, the shores of the reservoir have receded significantly to expose large turfs of Shoreweed. From a distance it looks like a grassy lawn.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6YdXlmvRu5TSt9DfZYRvIHbCNoalJxtxno_mz0lQxKOU_axsu2ZrLVQBq3Pm0EztZ5JsgRqOiFVgPAtJoX8jbPRGr2pnCwg8i2Pjmmq_WRtdZsbetflMN-wZm3PVkt_LH_iQP3__enWQ/s1600/Littorella+uniflora+Llyn+Fawr+lowres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6YdXlmvRu5TSt9DfZYRvIHbCNoalJxtxno_mz0lQxKOU_axsu2ZrLVQBq3Pm0EztZ5JsgRqOiFVgPAtJoX8jbPRGr2pnCwg8i2Pjmmq_WRtdZsbetflMN-wZm3PVkt_LH_iQP3__enWQ/s640/Littorella+uniflora+Llyn+Fawr+lowres.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Extensive turf of Shoreweed along shore of Llyn Mawr</div>
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Shoreweed doesn't flower when it is submerged, but it produces stolons that give rise to rosettes of leaves and allow the plant to build dense colonies by vegetative means. Out of water each plant may produce a single male flower and one or a few female flowers (i.e. it is monoecious). The male flower, which produce 4 stamens with long, stringy filaments, is fairly obvious. The female flowers are produced lower down on the stem (see photos below). Shoreweed is a member of the Plantain family (Plantaginaceae) and like the more common plantains it is wind pollinated.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEMYjh-d7zDqu_WknJc7xfMbQmsP4zDHAHqLred4BRrjPm7fHXIU-hi1pe7F8ZSANjbP0tJXEFbin7dWy1kUXKGJatfzt2BAMECdCUSfR79xMQDGLA8Awwv-Y50dgEOmQTZCZAzsEsSyg/s1600/Littorella+uniflora+Llyn+Fawr+9+lowres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1103" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEMYjh-d7zDqu_WknJc7xfMbQmsP4zDHAHqLred4BRrjPm7fHXIU-hi1pe7F8ZSANjbP0tJXEFbin7dWy1kUXKGJatfzt2BAMECdCUSfR79xMQDGLA8Awwv-Y50dgEOmQTZCZAzsEsSyg/s640/Littorella+uniflora+Llyn+Fawr+9+lowres.jpg" width="440" /></a></div>
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Male and female flowers of Shoreweed (<i>Littorella uniflora</i>)</div>
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The four, long stringy stamens of Shoreweed male flower</div>
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When submerged, the spongy rosettes of Shoreweed resemble those of Quillworts (e.g. <i>Isoetes lacustris</i>) and Water Lobelia (<i>Lobelia dortmanna</i>), with which it often grows. These species exhibit what is called an isoetid growth form and they share similar physiological traits too; all 3 of these species grow in Llyn Fach, the smaller lake that occurs next to Llyn Fawr under the western extension of Craig y Llyn. Unlike terrestrial plants, where the carbon dioxide for photosynthesis diffuses into the leaves from the atmosphere, isoetids obtain most of their carbon dioxide via their roots from the muddy, lake-bottom sediments in which they grow. The carbon dioxide then diffuses from the roots to the spongy, air-filled leaves which have hollow lacunae to facilitate diffusion.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1wu0Neh9nmwgp5lq0NNRjUsstz01dgzG5JZ7xvIBmUfvDeNLg_F1iNH325aru89UU2wTZukyRuhlOZ6R2AV_AQNYnwxgFPpxoZJnaJ0F0qdw7mXryEP7TvDV5Cg17nkjFQcoUsHdHl_0/s1600/Litorella+uniflora+leaf+anatomy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1105" data-original-width="1587" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1wu0Neh9nmwgp5lq0NNRjUsstz01dgzG5JZ7xvIBmUfvDeNLg_F1iNH325aru89UU2wTZukyRuhlOZ6R2AV_AQNYnwxgFPpxoZJnaJ0F0qdw7mXryEP7TvDV5Cg17nkjFQcoUsHdHl_0/s640/Litorella+uniflora+leaf+anatomy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Section of Shoreweed leaf showing the network of hollow lacunae</div>
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The isoetid strategy is a remarkable example of convergent evolution, where plants that belong to unrelated taxa have evolved similar morphological and physiological traits to adapt to a particular habitat or environment. For example, Water Lobelia is a member of the Bellflower family (Campanulaceae) and is not closely related to Shoreweed while Quillworts, which are related to ferns, are not even flowering plants.</div>
Charles Hipkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06830879011782542534noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1419651078350989465.post-54792134273128785572018-05-02T13:09:00.000+01:002018-05-02T13:09:26.678+01:00Colletes Cunicularius at Whiteford Burrows
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I spent some
time watching a colony of Colletes Cunicularius at Whiteford 2 weeks ago. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I was
curious to find out why some of the males 2 or 3 at a time, were digging at one
particular place in the sand for maybe 5-10 minutes and then as if bored of
doing so flew away to some other places. I took a twig and started to dig
where these males had started a tiny hole. After reaching a couple of centimeters
down, a fully grown and emerging bee would come out and all
those observed (I dug 3 holes) were males. I concluded from these observations
that the digging males had detected an emerging bee at first but then must have
found out (via pheromones?) that it was a male not a female and had given up
digging as a result. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I also
observed some females being mated by the stronger of the fighting males. Some
males would try to push the stronger males out of the way but failed. When the
act was over, the male would fly away and the mated female was ignored by other
males. Somehow, the female had become unreceptive. </span></span></span><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">I have attached a couple of pictures below. One shows several males waiting for a female to emerge, note the smaller male behind the bigger males on the bottom left of the picture. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Sylvie Herault </span></span><br />
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Sylvie Heraulthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13401235050612940163noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1419651078350989465.post-65232256395290628712018-03-20T08:09:00.002+00:002018-03-26T18:54:07.149+01:00Swansea Vale Sand Martin colony restored<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIXVlFG5nnxKy89-des_U9NQZvT5pOQkrV6gDHXVVL0xdQMOmDfenoLHmILOoESQB6rhaFglXhWkieooyf0iWoPPFmEZczIfQ6U5ku30iGntt-LQDrB0h8RhAZ56-_ZsEa4EkQLxs7byw/s1600/Sand+Martin+06may08+%25284%2529a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIXVlFG5nnxKy89-des_U9NQZvT5pOQkrV6gDHXVVL0xdQMOmDfenoLHmILOoESQB6rhaFglXhWkieooyf0iWoPPFmEZczIfQ6U5ku30iGntt-LQDrB0h8RhAZ56-_ZsEa4EkQLxs7byw/s400/Sand+Martin+06may08+%25284%2529a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Sean Hathaway, Environment Officer for Swansea Council, led works to restore the Sand Martin colony at Swansea Vale over the winter period. The site has been used since about 1996, the year after the holes were installed by the council when the road/embankment went in, directly opposite an eroding sand bank they previously used to nest in. This artificial urban site (which comprises three groups of holes totalling 47) was in serious risk of being completely overgrown by willows and brambles. These were cleared in October 2017 to provide the martins a clear flight path into the nest holes and to reduce the risk from predators. Further works carried out in February 2018 included the removal of old sand and debris, treatment with an insecticide to rid the nest chambers of parasites, which were then refilled with clean sand. </div>
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Despite the freezing weather, the first Sand Martins have already arrived in the county and hopefully this urban colony will benefit from the excellent work undertaken by Sean and his team. Excellent views of what will hopefully be a busy colony can be enjoyed from the Swansea Vale footpath at SS67589877. Also keep an eye open for Goosanders and Dippers which are also frequent here.Barry Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12080358305675651314noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1419651078350989465.post-38582050627163697172018-02-03T12:55:00.001+00:002018-02-03T12:55:25.143+00:00Magnificent Micro-moths<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A sneak preview of this month's BAY Bugs for anyone who doesn't get the BAY magazine!</span><br />
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Dr ICBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14792677578391123102noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1419651078350989465.post-71348756418434760092018-01-26T19:31:00.002+00:002018-01-26T19:31:17.111+00:00Booted Knight (Tricholoma focale)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7CPnkQajLNv9ACXUrl2eJ-39aDQVTWRAXDaReFTwiIfLl42dhGnYansrYUWbWeQPcjiSxlEJfWjwhqNWDbPARevYu5CINQaB02-Nnwylp3pL0eUdQTlt5Wekzyy9-hozh86yGrWIUBaE/s1600/Tricholoma+focale+Rhigos+lowres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7CPnkQajLNv9ACXUrl2eJ-39aDQVTWRAXDaReFTwiIfLl42dhGnYansrYUWbWeQPcjiSxlEJfWjwhqNWDbPARevYu5CINQaB02-Nnwylp3pL0eUdQTlt5Wekzyy9-hozh86yGrWIUBaE/s640/Tricholoma+focale+Rhigos+lowres.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Tricoloma focale </i>in a conifer plantation near Rhigos (14/11/16)</div>
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I tentatively identified these fruiting bodies in 2016 as <i>Tricholoma focale,</i> but sent a dried specimen, some photographs and a spore print to Martyn Ainsworth in Kew for DNA sequencing. Martyn informed me today that the DNA from my samples matches that obtained from the neotype of <i>Tricholoma focale </i>(Heilmann-Clausen (2017): <i>Persoonia</i>, <b>38</b>: 38-57), which is great news. <i>Tricholoma focale</i> is very rare in Britain and largely confined to Pine Woods in Scotland and was believed to be extinct in England and Wales There have been a few records for South Wales recently, but this is the first that has been confirmed by molecular analysis and, as such, has been accessioned into the Kew collection. It is a very notable addition the mycoflora of our conifer plantations.</div>
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Many thanks again to Martyn and his team at Kew who do an amazing job.</div>
Charles Hipkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06830879011782542534noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1419651078350989465.post-45022955473431827112018-01-22T07:54:00.000+00:002018-01-22T07:54:02.489+00:00Leopard-spotted Ginkgos<div style="text-align: left;">
The Glamorgan Fungus Group Facebook pages recently highlighted the occurrence of the small and easily overlooked fungus <i>Bartheletia paradoxa</i>, which occurs on fallen leaves of the Maidenhair-tree <i>Ginkgo biloba</i>. As we happened to be 'sort of passing' a tree I remembered seeing in Swansea Univerity Botanic Gardens, I couldn’t resist stopping to gather a few leaves in yesterday's downpour. Back home, once dried out, many leaves displayed an attractive leopard-spotted pattern with associated tiny fruiting bodies. </div>
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In addition to the university tree I have only ever recorded the three other trees in the Swansea area:<br />
Singleton Park (2.22m gbh) SS6313192143<br />
Singleton Park (2.02m gbh) SS6294992415<br />
St James Gardens, Swansea SS643930<br />
If anyone knows of additonal Maidenhair-trees in our area, please do let me know and/or check for this fungus.Barry Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12080358305675651314noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1419651078350989465.post-49302759661933306112018-01-21T14:56:00.001+00:002018-01-21T14:59:33.210+00:00Snakeskin Brownie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitL0U8eSyYFDtMAt7z7bA4fcRnGCygmhU6zjqOjm6f0bKODkwcDGL7ArBGrpzRFXjeYvj4YC5fah-GHzaBhK3W8d3K8a3RW3qUdxVU6_yWioIgP2XkMc80YMhRiRCrnNksrSsq1PXwRhs/s1600/Hypholoma+marginatum+Bwlch+Sitka+Spruce+copy+lowres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitL0U8eSyYFDtMAt7z7bA4fcRnGCygmhU6zjqOjm6f0bKODkwcDGL7ArBGrpzRFXjeYvj4YC5fah-GHzaBhK3W8d3K8a3RW3qUdxVU6_yWioIgP2XkMc80YMhRiRCrnNksrSsq1PXwRhs/s640/Hypholoma+marginatum+Bwlch+Sitka+Spruce+copy+lowres.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Snakeskin Brownie (<i>Hypholoma marginatum</i>, also known as <i>Hypholoma dispersum</i>) is a fairly common toadstool in local Sitka Spruce plantations although it is generally uncommon in Europe as a whole. It gets its fabulous common name from the characteristic snakeskin pattern on the stipe. Given its preferred habitat, often growing on buried wood litter or wood debris among mosses, and its characteristic morphology, it is not usually difficult to identify.<br />
In the autumn of 2016 Hilary and I came across 3 populations of a fairly distinctive toadstool in Neath Port Talbot and Rhondda Cynon Taff composed of fruiting bodies clustered in large numbers on conifer wood debris or wood chips. All were in conifer plantations at the side of forest roads but outside the forest. A photograph of part of one population growing on Sitka wood chips in the Maerdy Plantation (RCT) is shown below.<br />
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I couldn't identify this species at the time, but after microscopic examination of specimens I was convinced that it was something in the Strophariacea, a large family of brown-spored species that includes a number of well known genera such as <i>Stropharia</i>, <i>Psilocybe</i>, <i>Hypholoma</i>, <i>Pholiota</i> and <i>Kuehneromyces</i>. Given the number of species new to Britain that have been found growing on wood mulch in the last few decades, I was excited. Eventually I contacted Martyn Ainsworth at Kew who suggested that the only way to resolve this was to look at the DNA profile of the specimens, so I sent him some photos plus dry specimens from two of the populations and a spore print. I was delighted to hear from Martyn about 2 weeks ago when he informed me that the DNA profiles indicated that the specimens were actually Snakeskin Brownie - the material has now been accessioned into the Kew collection and DNA database for future reference.<br />
I didn't even consider Snakeskin Brownie at the time, mainly because I was so used to seeing it in its characteristic form, as shown in the upper photograph. Looking at both photographs now, I can see a resemblance that can be accommodated in terms of the enormous morphological plasticity that fungal fruiting bodies often exhibit. However, if you flick through a gallery of photographs of species in the Strophariaceae you will understand the dilemma. This also illustrates how unsafe it can be to identify some fungi from photographs, something that Martyn constantly reminds people about.<br />
My thanks to Martyn Ainsworth and his team at Kew for resolving this.Charles Hipkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06830879011782542534noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1419651078350989465.post-58093782345070958902017-11-01T13:58:00.000+00:002017-11-01T13:58:18.075+00:00some local birdsA few days out and about getting used to the bird camera again, not much signs of migration unlike some other areas of the country, mostly the same old in the usual places:<br />
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A Rock Pipit at Mumbles<br />
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A female/imm Black Redstart, same place</div>
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A Med Gull at Bracelet Bay</div>
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and even the odd Black-Headed Gull among them!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifuMhKtypTkCmx-xaAJwz5lTDVbARjYQraX2lN4S_H1w8ly1EEHhqtP1b6zJLPmBGYr8A0zSoyGWjyfnuou3u1s_X-hhsw__2HxTV8kfXBlbfV_KXXyPSVA0EwjC9cPCDLJuoOnh9oR7I/s1600/4B6A2879.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1331" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifuMhKtypTkCmx-xaAJwz5lTDVbARjYQraX2lN4S_H1w8ly1EEHhqtP1b6zJLPmBGYr8A0zSoyGWjyfnuou3u1s_X-hhsw__2HxTV8kfXBlbfV_KXXyPSVA0EwjC9cPCDLJuoOnh9oR7I/s320/4B6A2879.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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A Little Egret on The Burry, a very common sight these days</div>
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Then my reward for some days of persistence, this GN Diver off Knab Rock eating a flatfish picked off the newly flooded sand at high tide.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVFeB8OrZNhQQnOs4HNCM6dRO9btTLNCbi3y33o3UpnE4I65KpExdETvDxAJ4kOnrasO-XQrsXPOSCt4zFPZoTgHZu8tVSMpqmn3Qb4UcsCg6R6wrRkrYPM61XBQzZSnHnNnwow59bcxM/s1600/4B6A2972.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1229" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVFeB8OrZNhQQnOs4HNCM6dRO9btTLNCbi3y33o3UpnE4I65KpExdETvDxAJ4kOnrasO-XQrsXPOSCt4zFPZoTgHZu8tVSMpqmn3Qb4UcsCg6R6wrRkrYPM61XBQzZSnHnNnwow59bcxM/s320/4B6A2972.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Much choking and changes to positioning of the fish in the mouth, pity birds didn't evolve arms, but they found a better use for that appendage.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0__FhCf-KxJ0Na1ZNsdMQ-ibO3fg_n6p3JIrCQwIi5IULUABNAE4nxWchYI8W36FQD_lilypnIQ9YaIqkk5S1jnx8bwat0UXZbZhNoSofo0PNGiFrpqCXpz8cJhYQf6KZYKVUdCeuSuc/s1600/4B6A2976.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1045" data-original-width="1600" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0__FhCf-KxJ0Na1ZNsdMQ-ibO3fg_n6p3JIrCQwIi5IULUABNAE4nxWchYI8W36FQD_lilypnIQ9YaIqkk5S1jnx8bwat0UXZbZhNoSofo0PNGiFrpqCXpz8cJhYQf6KZYKVUdCeuSuc/s320/4B6A2976.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Also found several crabs to eat and seemed to shake and bite off the legs before swallowing.</div>
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In the nicer weather a few insects were still around, <i>Sympetrun striolatum</i> and some Ivy Bee, <i>Colletes hederae </i>and a few butterflies.</div>
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<br />ian tewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16500046396210991619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1419651078350989465.post-31182566590728750792017-10-28T21:28:00.000+01:002017-10-28T21:31:00.601+01:00Fungi on Baglan Energy ParkBaglan Energy Park is one of the best brownfield sites in Wales, particularly in terms of the notable vascular plants, bryophytes and invertebrates that have been recorded there. It is, in fact, a biodiversity hot-spot and one of the most species-rich areas in Glamorgan. At the moment we know much less about the macro-fungi there, but recent, preliminary surveys indicate that there is a good diversity of species, many of which (not surprisingly) are typical coastal (sand dune) species such as <i>Clitocybe barbularum</i>, <i>C. rivulosa</i>, <i>Melanoleuca cinereifolia</i>, and <i>Inocybe agardhii.</i> A few more are shown in photos below:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbWXYovB9JVfSdqiSnQfdxSrAf2B_M2rhiMJpURSTimvgUDTwGexPkvzLK0NbCZzTGMiJRKGIw2QTLV57ocBUqqg1RKaEX2pUFh4BfbBYtJ4srZDyR8IMpuLBGLX-zsXPLuFS58wNTCFY/s1600/Lepiota+alba+Baglan+Bay+lowres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbWXYovB9JVfSdqiSnQfdxSrAf2B_M2rhiMJpURSTimvgUDTwGexPkvzLK0NbCZzTGMiJRKGIw2QTLV57ocBUqqg1RKaEX2pUFh4BfbBYtJ4srZDyR8IMpuLBGLX-zsXPLuFS58wNTCFY/s640/Lepiota+alba+Baglan+Bay+lowres.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Lepiota alba</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwHhB1r_7cO9PfzY7-84uyB09sY43zxEFB07hlV97HMwmvg8RWZocHtC4I_i0nalq4BXg2bXRzuFUN9fQhFHrzq9oZm5kNE-9tYThyphenhyphenHWufWOuYtGRTQ-Zt-FC2CRoC3KqnvS5L2HDmrPo/s1600/Hygrocybe+persistens+BEP+lowres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwHhB1r_7cO9PfzY7-84uyB09sY43zxEFB07hlV97HMwmvg8RWZocHtC4I_i0nalq4BXg2bXRzuFUN9fQhFHrzq9oZm5kNE-9tYThyphenhyphenHWufWOuYtGRTQ-Zt-FC2CRoC3KqnvS5L2HDmrPo/s640/Hygrocybe+persistens+BEP+lowres.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Hygrocybe persistens</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgccFUmSLe_OOMVe7re1xu-r68a8YjMc7lsYf98ROIi-oREJ_YhKqlB6wFcp8s10pQ7LIbg2cKU46_o5ygSMtOBH1xfRN3g2kPYEUOF9RvteHeDu6Kvq9HDlow2_FjImWcPQcJ3JgZMUZo/s1600/Hygrocybe+conica+lowres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgccFUmSLe_OOMVe7re1xu-r68a8YjMc7lsYf98ROIi-oREJ_YhKqlB6wFcp8s10pQ7LIbg2cKU46_o5ygSMtOBH1xfRN3g2kPYEUOF9RvteHeDu6Kvq9HDlow2_FjImWcPQcJ3JgZMUZo/s640/Hygrocybe+conica+lowres.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Hygrocybe conica</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi69aGEbls_VCQiBNK2oOtSw4gqQxZeQRejW-jpgBeCXaUS-PQMlnR5vh6kwf9eAiRDfQsQf1r88cUqXvPNhWOpZdxo2LPXPcJcs0cIt8idTWXVPYtbZ8l_8gPTQ9F82s547yrYoH0FAec/s1600/Hygrocybe+virginea+var+virginea+copy+lowres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi69aGEbls_VCQiBNK2oOtSw4gqQxZeQRejW-jpgBeCXaUS-PQMlnR5vh6kwf9eAiRDfQsQf1r88cUqXvPNhWOpZdxo2LPXPcJcs0cIt8idTWXVPYtbZ8l_8gPTQ9F82s547yrYoH0FAec/s640/Hygrocybe+virginea+var+virginea+copy+lowres.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Hygrocybe virginea</i> var. <i>virginea</i></div>
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<i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1hgYgGXUxuIJiranxxISkosGAR4-SZQm87GuEtGZPd1Ic_36MylDAfOrrWgKiyY5Dc1ClG28gOqYjZRrdBymBWlI8xJkbEkXSz4u6_-33sHJ3B2j8YVoeHTfjrJZ6ZW76-7fay3KrK0I/s1600/Hygrocybe+virginea+var+ochraceopallida+Baglan+Dunes+lowres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1hgYgGXUxuIJiranxxISkosGAR4-SZQm87GuEtGZPd1Ic_36MylDAfOrrWgKiyY5Dc1ClG28gOqYjZRrdBymBWlI8xJkbEkXSz4u6_-33sHJ3B2j8YVoeHTfjrJZ6ZW76-7fay3KrK0I/s640/Hygrocybe+virginea+var+ochraceopallida+Baglan+Dunes+lowres.jpg" width="640" /></a></i></div>
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<i>Hygrocybe virginea</i> var. <i>ochraceopallida</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgueVeOAIx0dYq_GBL_2kaJ05mSV63mxRegmCwzBhiftGe_Bf0tZcgrtYPGBkzyjg0AS24kO8d_PGMQwQH8Qd88kbqBxns3vkaOAESmE3RbV8B6_3DfwrGhN3ry_c8cN7Jnn-9ZBtFCzcs/s1600/Galerina+vittaeformis+lowres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgueVeOAIx0dYq_GBL_2kaJ05mSV63mxRegmCwzBhiftGe_Bf0tZcgrtYPGBkzyjg0AS24kO8d_PGMQwQH8Qd88kbqBxns3vkaOAESmE3RbV8B6_3DfwrGhN3ry_c8cN7Jnn-9ZBtFCzcs/s640/Galerina+vittaeformis+lowres.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Galerina vittiformis</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitf-neZmZ1EjqwGKJQj9OgDgnKOKr36OVb5Ht0QfJ-Q8vRt4fBxdGE9ato-7lBKjHzE24TTeza_FDWG2XeN-Bs3eMX20pzn-H3g7Kz1RCj4ikVx4at0lsTMRZi8BqvLLTezj5vCu2zDFY/s1600/Omphalina+pyxidata+lowres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1039" data-original-width="1600" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitf-neZmZ1EjqwGKJQj9OgDgnKOKr36OVb5Ht0QfJ-Q8vRt4fBxdGE9ato-7lBKjHzE24TTeza_FDWG2XeN-Bs3eMX20pzn-H3g7Kz1RCj4ikVx4at0lsTMRZi8BqvLLTezj5vCu2zDFY/s640/Omphalina+pyxidata+lowres.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Omphalina pyxidata</i></div>
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Charles Hipkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06830879011782542534noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1419651078350989465.post-83285460428819603532017-10-14T20:18:00.001+01:002017-10-14T20:18:57.360+01:00Fungi on Llansamlet Enterprise ParkLlansamlet Enterprise Park has lots of wooded groves and drive-by observation indicates that some of them have lots of fungi fruiting in them. One that I stopped (very briefly) to look at near the Go Outdoors outlet had some nice groups of Matt Knight (T<i>richoloma imbricatum</i>) and Bloody Brittlegill (<i>Russula sanguinaria</i>) associated with pine, and large amount of Clustered Toughshank (<i>Gymnopus confluens</i>).<br />
I suspect that there is a large, unrecorded diversity of fungi here.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivKITySTxKe704SriPq2QY2c7KiZjZ7dVidiq1RnNKR8im0E0ATxGlFMQGcVPbdnlnLvsYkX2QP9_r4jKfW93y_uDf6H5JdQPBnSEA84bdIx-0EgILNAurFx_FPBiQS1U4GoI0yjux4iQ/s1600/Tricholoma+inbricatum+Llansamlet+lowres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivKITySTxKe704SriPq2QY2c7KiZjZ7dVidiq1RnNKR8im0E0ATxGlFMQGcVPbdnlnLvsYkX2QP9_r4jKfW93y_uDf6H5JdQPBnSEA84bdIx-0EgILNAurFx_FPBiQS1U4GoI0yjux4iQ/s640/Tricholoma+inbricatum+Llansamlet+lowres.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Matt Knight (<i>Tricholoma imbricatum</i>)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDFNAL3Snxj2frwxyXZeO-h6y90UJjbyUKGjUmYkSlc7gl6ODGnrjoz3cuGNna62lrM0wpNBi407Y5yzU-NxvhLLrYHHBeiCAZiwN6_J4JJllakV6NLMBNLTrgKXB6QpjUZjrCXk7EJmw/s1600/Russula+sanguinaria+lowres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDFNAL3Snxj2frwxyXZeO-h6y90UJjbyUKGjUmYkSlc7gl6ODGnrjoz3cuGNna62lrM0wpNBi407Y5yzU-NxvhLLrYHHBeiCAZiwN6_J4JJllakV6NLMBNLTrgKXB6QpjUZjrCXk7EJmw/s640/Russula+sanguinaria+lowres.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Bloody Brittlegill (<i>Russula sanguinaria</i>)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh064eyvXgW4ST58YuKZeMAajlEkTkp5I6QgsxiygP16Nlf5GeWrHw9gNc6uHf1hBt5ivBrdrihcqaznSyIeXYsS0OuktWOKzTGDtDu3TfQzQ6j29s2UPfbiliLfOP8NxHuz5Vo9VoJQso/s1600/Collybia+confluens+lowres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh064eyvXgW4ST58YuKZeMAajlEkTkp5I6QgsxiygP16Nlf5GeWrHw9gNc6uHf1hBt5ivBrdrihcqaznSyIeXYsS0OuktWOKzTGDtDu3TfQzQ6j29s2UPfbiliLfOP8NxHuz5Vo9VoJQso/s640/Collybia+confluens+lowres.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Clustered Toughshank (<i>Gymnopus</i> <i>confluens</i>)</div>
Charles Hipkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06830879011782542534noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1419651078350989465.post-48646366033101022182017-09-25T21:43:00.001+01:002017-09-27T07:33:05.907+01:00Welsh Mānuka<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK9Mc4CKMv7_IhvusbTgOqUmLcBI_YLSvO1YQu34iXrR1gXXNIc26BKWqPGaXxxblX8P7Q2YK_9jP3yqyTuylPJ9Pecu7giQo-qNhWKxjtBEH9wDRPZvv-rtXGxIM1rQS69yAr17LQeq4/s1600/20170923_152308.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK9Mc4CKMv7_IhvusbTgOqUmLcBI_YLSvO1YQu34iXrR1gXXNIc26BKWqPGaXxxblX8P7Q2YK_9jP3yqyTuylPJ9Pecu7giQo-qNhWKxjtBEH9wDRPZvv-rtXGxIM1rQS69yAr17LQeq4/s640/20170923_152308.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
An internet search last weekend finally enabled me to identify a mystery shrub that first saw at Duffryn Rhondda (SS838957) in 2011, but which we happened to pass again over the weekend. Known also as Broom Tea-tree <i>Leptospermum scoparium</i>, Mānuka utilised by bees in New Zealand produce honey famed for its medicinal properties. I'm sure the local bees enjoy the sweetness of this single shrub, though I doubt Welsh Mānuka honey is a viable business proposition! The presence of a row of <i>Eucalyptus</i> trees nearby indicates an Antipodean influence in the local planting scheme, but the location of the scrub amongst natural scrub indicates the possibility that the plant could have resulted from self-seeding - although no search for a parent plant was made in local gardens. I'd be interested to hear if anyone else has encountered this distinctive species elsewhere locally?<br />
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Barry Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12080358305675651314noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1419651078350989465.post-18365992098743080972017-09-22T23:09:00.000+01:002017-09-23T19:51:23.888+01:00Bonnets in Local Sitka Spruce Plantations <i>Mycena </i>species are commonly known as Bonnets. Most of them are small mushrooms that are found in woodland, although a few occur in grassland habitats, including sand dunes. They are particularly common in our local conifer forests where you might find about 15 species in a good year. They are saprotrophic species which grow on woodland litter and play a crucial role in the woodland floor recycling process. Sitka Spruce plantations in the Neath and Afan Valleys are good places to look for Bonnets, where <i>Mycena filopes </i>(Iodine Bonnet), <i>Mycena metata</i>, <i>Mycena sanguinolenta</i> (Bleeding Bonnet), <i>Mycena leptocephala </i>(Nitrous Bonnet) and <i>Mycena galopus </i>(Milking Bonnet) are probably the most evident species.<br />
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<i>Mycena filopes</i> (left) and <i>Mycena metata</i> (right) - Bryn Forest</div>
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<i>Mycena metata</i> - Glyncorrwg Forest</div>
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<i>Mycena filopes</i> and <i>Mycena metata</i> are very similar and both smell of iodoform (the typical medicine cabinet smell). However, <i>Mycena metata</i> has distinctive pinkish hues (often subtle) and microscopic characteristics which help to identify it. Also, in my experience, the iodoform smell is much stronger with<i> Mycena filopes, </i>which also has silvery streaking on its cap that is more easily observed in drying specimens. <i>Mycena sanguinolenta</i> is an attractive species which bleeds a reddish fluid when cut and its gills have a red-brown edge.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtzy3HBVhr01fbm4YcxLdDGlUN4VTCILAmkzb7_PtpacVn9Cp2gCSQkY9xup82tQm67Ps504JOLzhLbSQ4pq5E17t5xtTTkdi2bSnWUJ1aPz0cu5dnMPkDivMs1voU_TY3FGSI0AiasdE/s1600/Mycena+sanguinolenta+Ton+Mawr+lowres+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1418" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtzy3HBVhr01fbm4YcxLdDGlUN4VTCILAmkzb7_PtpacVn9Cp2gCSQkY9xup82tQm67Ps504JOLzhLbSQ4pq5E17t5xtTTkdi2bSnWUJ1aPz0cu5dnMPkDivMs1voU_TY3FGSI0AiasdE/s640/Mycena+sanguinolenta+Ton+Mawr+lowres+2.jpg" width="566" /></a></div>
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<i>Mycena sanguinolenta</i> - Glyncastle Forest, Resolven</div>
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<i>Mycena galopus</i> and <i>Mycena leptocephala</i> are very common species in all types of woodland and often occur in large groups in Sitka Spruce forests. <i>Mycena galopus </i>can often be identified instantly because the broken stem exudes a milky fluid, hence its common name - no other British Bonnet does this. Also, unlike <i>Mycena leptocephala</i>, which has an acrid nitrous smell (often faint and fleeting), <i>Mycena galopus</i> doesn't have a characteristic smell. When young, <i>Mycena leptocephala</i> is quite dark in colour but it becomes more grey with age as the cap expands.</div>
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<i>Mycena galopus </i>- Afan Forest Park</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhIkF9B5k7ozEPCFBlw_VuHS4gkE7a5koEV1XILEcROeZsMB_7klqtD9PbvIlhBqtcwoZ-xA7o0TE4-L3NcADSPrxGtrA2UrepOANeahfRZXs_q6UflSh7XcxwtsvrioQAu7XGV-LMTSY/s1600/Mycena+leptocephala+lowres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhIkF9B5k7ozEPCFBlw_VuHS4gkE7a5koEV1XILEcROeZsMB_7klqtD9PbvIlhBqtcwoZ-xA7o0TE4-L3NcADSPrxGtrA2UrepOANeahfRZXs_q6UflSh7XcxwtsvrioQAu7XGV-LMTSY/s640/Mycena+leptocephala+lowres.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Mycena leptocephala </i>- Glyncastle Forest, Resolven</div>
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<i>Mycena pura</i> (Lilac Bonnet) and <i>Mycena pelianthina</i> (Blackedge Bonnet) are larger, very attractive Bonnets which are occasionally found in Sitka Spruce plantations. Both have fairly strong raphanoid (radish-like) smells and lilac or pinkish-brown hues. <i>Mycena pearsoniana</i> is a similar but less common species which I have seen in two local Sitka plantations this autumn.</div>
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<i>Mycena pura </i>- Pentrclwydau Forest</div>
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<i>Mycena pelianthina</i> - Bryn Forest</div>
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Less conspicuous, but often abundant, there are a number of tiny Bonnets that grow on spruce needles and twigs. The most common is <i>Mycena rorida</i> (Dripping Bonnet), which is only about a centimetre high and has a stem which is covered in a viscous, slimy fluid. I've recorded it in all the main Sitka plantations in Neath Port Talbot in the last two months.</div>
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<i>Mycena rorida - </i>Briton Ferry Woods</div>
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Other small Bonnets that grow on spruce needles are <i>Mycena stylobates</i> (Bulbous Bonnet), which has a distinctive basal disc and <i>Mycena aciculata </i>which has a conspicuously hairy cap and stem. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpfP1pGezfhxclQkX8uzHxrqIvcdidRd1q3FkOgNXPkapwp0waGDdijWN1JMu67D2v0MgzRUjixjZwpDqn3mjhhy5gmxzidkbjXhWUrwlcgN9eZ9krv_gdeFpvcMhyjEJpkrE9DRAm8Qo/s1600/Mycena+stylobates+2+lowres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1318" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpfP1pGezfhxclQkX8uzHxrqIvcdidRd1q3FkOgNXPkapwp0waGDdijWN1JMu67D2v0MgzRUjixjZwpDqn3mjhhy5gmxzidkbjXhWUrwlcgN9eZ9krv_gdeFpvcMhyjEJpkrE9DRAm8Qo/s640/Mycena+stylobates+2+lowres.jpg" width="526" /></a></div>
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<i>Mycena stylobates</i> - Afan Forest Park</div>
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<i>Mycena aciculata</i> - Rhigos</div>
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One of the smallest species is <i>Mycena tenerrima.</i> It looks like a tiny white pin with icing sugar sprinkled on its head.</div>
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<i>Mycena tenerrima</i> - Abergarwed Forest</div>
Charles Hipkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06830879011782542534noreply@blogger.com5