tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53340486683548986602024-03-14T07:10:06.371+00:00Donegal WildlifeA regularly updated pictorial narrative of the wildlife around Raphoe, Co. Donegal, Ireland.Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225743105419715015noreply@blogger.comBlogger504125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334048668354898660.post-52269178142925338472017-12-08T11:04:00.000+00:002017-12-08T11:04:31.653+00:00Another update!On <a href="http://donegal-wildlife.blogspot.ie/2014/09/sun.html" target="_blank">14th September 2014</a>, I posted about a Stigmella perpygmaeella leaf mine on Hawthorn with a hymenopteran parasite in the mine. I couldn't get any further with the identification at the time, so left the wasp identification abstract.<br /><br />I have now got a little further with the wasp identification, so here's a little update, with an updated version of the image.<br />
<br />
The original micromoth larva is shown at point A, and is quite
clearly chewed and dead. At point B we have the 'visitor', which has a
distinctive dark gut. I have now
discovered that the intruder is a Eulophid wasp, which is an
ectoparasitoid of the micromoth larva.<br />
<br /> So the sequence of events is as follows:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li> Female micromoth lays her egg on the leaf. </li>
<li> Egg hatches and the larva tunnels through the leaf, getting larger as it feeds, until reaching point A.</li>
<li> Female Eulophid detects the moth larva inside the leaf and deposits her egg on or near the moth larva.</li>
<li> Eulophid egg hatches and the wasp larva consumes the moth larva, leaving just the head capsule and other debris.</li>
<li> Eulophid larva moves off back through the mine where it will pupate at point B.</li>
</ol>
<br />
I wonder if the wasp larva makes its little journey back down the mine
in order to avoid being detected by a potential hyperparasitoid.<br />
<br />
Anyway, here's the picture:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zgap90XmVu8/Wipwx-2P5sI/AAAAAAAAJS0/p7R02_gGGhsr9gTjzSGZ4ignMQGrQlziACLcBGAs/s1600/Eulophid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="800" height="350" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zgap90XmVu8/Wipwx-2P5sI/AAAAAAAAJS0/p7R02_gGGhsr9gTjzSGZ4ignMQGrQlziACLcBGAs/s400/Eulophid.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eulophid larva (B) having consumed Stigmella perpygmaeella larva (A)</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225743105419715015noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334048668354898660.post-36820167716911512962017-11-07T10:08:00.001+00:002017-11-07T10:11:07.937+00:00Out of the blueIn 2004 I photographed a 'caterpillar' that closely resembled the male flowers of Pine, and I assumed that the larva was gaining some protection from mimicry, since the area was covered in fallen flowers. The original page is <a href="http://homepage.eircom.net/~hedgerow4/july27.htm" target="_blank">here</a>, half way down.<br />
I was subsequently informed that the caterpillar had been parasitised, and that it hadn't originally been that colour, so I binned the assumption about mimicry and moved on with my life.<br />
<br />
I have made a composite image of the original images for comparison:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BaHEY94Cx0A/WgF-zXOZpWI/AAAAAAAAJSY/NSB-jgIl0jU9i_LfSCjRzTDmEvfmYRpXgCLcBGAs/s1600/aleiodes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="385" data-original-width="615" height="250" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BaHEY94Cx0A/WgF-zXOZpWI/AAAAAAAAJSY/NSB-jgIl0jU9i_LfSCjRzTDmEvfmYRpXgCLcBGAs/s400/aleiodes.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'mummy' (left) and male pine flower (right) for comparison</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
This morning I was amazed to find a virtually identical image where the
parasitoid was identified as an Aleiodes (Braconid) wasp.<br />
<br />
The Aleiodes lays an egg in the live moth larva and wraps the parasitised larva in a protective shell which results in the mummified appearance shown above. The Aleiodes larva feeds internally on the mummified caterpillar and pupates internally before emerging as an adult. The lifecycle of these Braconids is fascinating and complex, with some species managing to become bivoltine by parasitising different (and often unrelated) univoltine moth species which have mature larvae at different times of the year.<br />
<br />
I suppose the Aleiodes might still gain some protection from mimicry, since there will almost certainly be hyperparasitoid wasps that target the mummies. <br />
<br />
So. Still much research to be done, but it's nice to get even a Genus id after 13 years.<br />
<br />
<br />Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225743105419715015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334048668354898660.post-2723140629315310762017-07-09T14:41:00.001+01:002017-07-09T14:41:15.721+01:00Year endThe last year or so has been spent mostly poring over microscopes and identifying obscure specimens from different parts of Ireland. I also started the Irish Leafmine recording system in conjunction with the National Biodiversty Data Centre, and that initiative has seen a new batch of mine-recorders submitting records for the first time. Here's a shot of the coverage in the first year:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mpLrnSfG97E/WGg1nk33Z-I/AAAAAAAAJJc/Tzwudawy7xU06HQLUG9S-xl3u1z3WjZOACLcB/s1600/miner-map.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mpLrnSfG97E/WGg1nk33Z-I/AAAAAAAAJJc/Tzwudawy7xU06HQLUG9S-xl3u1z3WjZOACLcB/s400/miner-map.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The scheme, which can be accessed <a href="http://www.biodiversityireland.ie/record-biodiversity/surveys/leafminers-survey/" target="_blank">here</a>, necessitated the creation of the first Irish checklist of leafminers, which currently stands at 839 species, and can be accessed <a href="http://www.biodiversityireland.ie/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/Introduction-to-Leaf-Miners-April-2016.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
<br />
I have also been working on an Irish checklist of plant galls in an effort to increase awareness and recording of plant galls in Ireland. Hopefully this new scheme will get under way in 2017. This list currently stands at 1277 species (there are many more types of organism that cause galls than those that mine leaves!).<br />
<br />
Now that I have more or less retired from my computing career, I have devoted more time to my book, which documents the more interesting finds over the last 14 years since I started taking photographs and writing my blogs. I think 2017 might be the year that I try to find a publisher.<br />
<br />
<br />Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225743105419715015noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334048668354898660.post-64274458002086350152016-08-01T19:09:00.003+01:002016-08-01T19:09:27.133+01:00Ness Woods, DerryThe day was organised by Butterfly Conservation (NI) and moth traps had been set the previous night. I went along to lend a hand and see what I could find.<br />
<br />
We had hoped to see Purple Hairstreak, which is associated with old Oak woodland, and it is known to favour tree tops when the temperature has risen in sunlight. The day was rather overcast, with a few rain showers, but the sun did break out at one point. We were observing the tops of Oaks at the time and we did see a couple of blue-tinted fliers at the very top of high trees during the brief sunny period. They might have been Purple Hairstreak, but even those with binoculars couldn't give a firm id. We scouted around and found a few vantage points high in the valley which gave good close views of Oak summits, but at that time the sun had gone. Maybe next time.<br />
<br />
I did, however, find a few interesting mines that were new to me.<br />
<br />
First is Amauromyza labiatarum on Hedge Woundwort:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bTV7hbbJn1c/V5-Lz1UJUHI/AAAAAAAAJIc/woiKwM7fP28qD_JzPVRlCxpyKI8zGxunACEw/s1600/Amauromyza%2Blabiatarum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bTV7hbbJn1c/V5-Lz1UJUHI/AAAAAAAAJIc/woiKwM7fP28qD_JzPVRlCxpyKI8zGxunACEw/s400/Amauromyza%2Blabiatarum.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Amauromyza labiatarum</i> on Hedge Woundwort</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><div>
Then I noticed mines on smaller leaves of Oak which reminded me strongly of the very common <i>Orchestes fagi</i> miner found on Beech. Turns out it's the very closely-related beetle <i>Orchestes quercus</i>:<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DeQ3wc2Gtdw/V5-LxdPWE6I/AAAAAAAAJIc/Wpuo7PUSOEIhMjTsC9VW1_vKhsAxMCrKwCEw/s1600/orchestes-quercus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="368" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DeQ3wc2Gtdw/V5-LxdPWE6I/AAAAAAAAJIc/Wpuo7PUSOEIhMjTsC9VW1_vKhsAxMCrKwCEw/s400/orchestes-quercus.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Orchestes quercus</i> on young Oak leaves</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
The point marked 'A' is the oviposition scar on the underside of the midrib.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The final new mine for me was <i>Phyllonorycter coryli</i> on Hazel: </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Pan4_IkUOio/V5-OO5rrLWI/AAAAAAAAJIk/C5TNkWtVTrIf7U-9Y0jScYWH5ZSaXaiEgCLcB/s1600/phyllonorycter%2Bcoryli.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Pan4_IkUOio/V5-OO5rrLWI/AAAAAAAAJIk/C5TNkWtVTrIf7U-9Y0jScYWH5ZSaXaiEgCLcB/s1600/phyllonorycter%2Bcoryli.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Phyllonorycter coryli</i> on Hazel</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This is quite an atypical mine for a Phyllonorycter: most of the others make a tentiform mine made by creasing the underside of the mine to tighten and shrink it, which buckles the top surface of the mine. An example is shown <a href="http://donegal-wildlife.blogspot.ie/2008/08/august-miscellany.html" target="_blank">here</a>. <div>
<br /></div>
<div>
En route I found plenty of specimens of Sulphur Tuft, so I guess the fungal season is about to kick off:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JNNIoaVc1C0/V5-PFiDHZHI/AAAAAAAAJIo/s-K1SON2a-w7uqw9iMmb2iJAWF3enEiSQCLcB/s1600/sulphur%2Btuft.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JNNIoaVc1C0/V5-PFiDHZHI/AAAAAAAAJIo/s-K1SON2a-w7uqw9iMmb2iJAWF3enEiSQCLcB/s1600/sulphur%2Btuft.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sulphur Tuft on a conifer stump</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /><div>
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225743105419715015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334048668354898660.post-54079732411377675682016-07-26T19:12:00.000+01:002016-07-26T19:12:09.196+01:00More parasitoid behaviourI have written many times about parasitoid wasps and their lifestyle. In summary, the female wasp finds her target host - usually a caterpillar or larva of a sawfly - and deposits an egg inside it. The egg remains dormant until the host larva has grown sufficiently large and then it hatches and the wasp larva eats the host larva. Sometimes the wasp waits until the host larva has pupated, but the outcome is the same: the host dies and the wasp larva pupates and emerges as an adult wasp at a later date.<br />
<br />
There are many variations on the theme: sometimes the host larva is kept alive and it can move away after the wasp larva has emerged. This is thought to be a distraction strategy where the host larva acts as a decoy, attracting secondary parasitoids that would normally target the primary parasitoids using the host as a vector.<br />
<br />
I recently found specimens of the aphid <i>Eucallipterus tiliae</i> on lime and spotted this odd structure under one specimen.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cWsuZmVpr-4/V5ej6bddp1I/AAAAAAAAJH8/GvCXWFZk79wRO7mz7ya8PFsflTlhzes6wCLcB/s1600/parasitised%2Baphid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cWsuZmVpr-4/V5ej6bddp1I/AAAAAAAAJH8/GvCXWFZk79wRO7mz7ya8PFsflTlhzes6wCLcB/s400/parasitised%2Baphid.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
This aphid has been parasitised by the Braconid wasp <i>Praon flavinode</i> which targets mid-instar aphids. The aphid is glued in place, although it can still feed (the specimen above is now an adult) and grow. The braconid feeds inside the aphid and then drops into the 'podium' where it pupates.<br />
<br />
So in addition to using the aphid as a food source, it's also using it as shelter for pupation.<br />
<br />
To give some sense of scale, the 'podium' is about 2 mm. diameter at the base.<br />
<br />
Here's a shot of some of the earlier instar aphids on a leaf:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qhmtca8Q1Yg/V5emesZVwlI/AAAAAAAAJIE/TCby_csoMLIK8BtX08zrLFNgtp7vZPeyACLcB/s1600/aphids-tilia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qhmtca8Q1Yg/V5emesZVwlI/AAAAAAAAJIE/TCby_csoMLIK8BtX08zrLFNgtp7vZPeyACLcB/s1600/aphids-tilia.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;">Eucallipterus tiliae </i><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">aphids on Tilia</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
No matter how much I find out about these wasps, I am constantly surprised by their range of habits and techniques.<br />
<br />
Both species are <span style="color: red;">new to my Species list</span>, and <i>Praon flavinode</i> is a first Irish record.<br />
<br />Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225743105419715015noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334048668354898660.post-41038777175711855822016-05-24T10:13:00.000+01:002016-05-24T10:13:57.121+01:00Cryptic Wood White survey in Craigavon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
It has recently been discovered that Ireland has two species of Wood White butterfly: <i>Leptidea sinapis</i>, which is restricted to the Burren and nearby areas (and is the same species as that found in Great Britain) and the Cryptic Wood White - <i>Leptidea juvernica -</i> which is found in the rest of Ireland, including Northern Ireland, but is absent from GB.<br />
<br />
Resolution of the conflicting and confusing identifications and distributions was temporarily further confused by the suggestion that one of the species was <i>Leptidea reali</i>, which is found in France. It seems that the situation has now been satisfactorily resolved, and it now remains to examine local populations to be sure we have the correct distributions. There is no sure way of separating the species by morphological characters, although differences have been proposed, so the only way to be sure is to sample populations and examine the genitalia.<br />
<br />
The purpose of yesterday's visit to Craigavon was to train recorders in the identification of Cryptic Wood White (CWW) and to demonstrate a recording system for subsequent use in tracking this (and other) species.<br />
<br />
But me being me, I didn't restrict myself to CWW, and I recorded more or less everything else we encountered.<br />
<br />
First, though, a shot of the courtship behaviour of CWW:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VO_WA4A_WUg/V0P9R4C6h2I/AAAAAAAAJGA/xzwWSvOA2pwSFtAgoDlLdoHzSu8eKcHRgCLcB/s1600/courtship.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VO_WA4A_WUg/V0P9R4C6h2I/AAAAAAAAJGA/xzwWSvOA2pwSFtAgoDlLdoHzSu8eKcHRgCLcB/s400/courtship.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtship behaviour in Cryptic Wood White, <i>Leptidea juvernica</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The male (left) usually sits higher and repeatedly swipes his antennae and proboscis over the face of the female. This courtship can take up to 30 minutes to complete. If the female accepts him, mating takes place. We saw one recently-emerged female being courted by two successive males before her wings had even fully inflated.<br />
<br />
Gorse bushes were very fruitful, and were covered with Gorse Shieldbug:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nq9oxFktFBA/V0QDiHpknII/AAAAAAAAJGQ/12tHTXTEetkMebK5N8PVCAPlcIXrstp5ACLcB/s1600/gorse-shieldbug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nq9oxFktFBA/V0QDiHpknII/AAAAAAAAJGQ/12tHTXTEetkMebK5N8PVCAPlcIXrstp5ACLcB/s400/gorse-shieldbug.jpg" width="287" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gorse Shieldbug</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And their eggs: <div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y1bCn0L82Ko/V0QDtRR8v-I/AAAAAAAAJGU/SzALnE26-IIudQLFhfHHUTQauDGwoCIQACLcB/s1600/gorse-shieldbug-eggs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y1bCn0L82Ko/V0QDtRR8v-I/AAAAAAAAJGU/SzALnE26-IIudQLFhfHHUTQauDGwoCIQACLcB/s400/gorse-shieldbug-eggs.jpg" width="273" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eggs of Gorse Shieldbug</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />I also found many specimens of the minute (3 mm.) Gorse Weevil, <i>Exapion ulicis</i>:<div>
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1Ni2yJWDzcU/V0QELVFrYtI/AAAAAAAAJGc/VxQTsG2JW1kOA-hQrN3S7EisUZpDuO-iACLcB/s1600/exapion-ulicis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1Ni2yJWDzcU/V0QELVFrYtI/AAAAAAAAJGc/VxQTsG2JW1kOA-hQrN3S7EisUZpDuO-iACLcB/s400/exapion-ulicis.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gorse Weevil, <i>Exapion ulicis</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><span style="color: red;">New to my Species List.</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
There were a great many Common Blue damselflies: <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t07MWqS4bgQ/V0QGDA0njLI/AAAAAAAAJGs/2-llgU8eXfcWNK7lSUamMiHOc1_RpakVACLcB/s1600/common-blue-damsel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t07MWqS4bgQ/V0QGDA0njLI/AAAAAAAAJGs/2-llgU8eXfcWNK7lSUamMiHOc1_RpakVACLcB/s400/common-blue-damsel.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Common Blue damselfly (<i>Enallagma cyathigerum</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And a few Blue-tailed damsels:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VzhQBMObl6I/V0QGqnxHuwI/AAAAAAAAJG0/iD6FJW6GzYQZo0nhEjTMjteDV7cPA1h5gCLcB/s1600/blue-tailed-damsel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VzhQBMObl6I/V0QGqnxHuwI/AAAAAAAAJG0/iD6FJW6GzYQZo0nhEjTMjteDV7cPA1h5gCLcB/s400/blue-tailed-damsel.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue-tailed Damsel</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />I found a few galls of the mite <i>Eriophyes pyri</i> quite early on in the walk:<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kD6jIgTOwIE/V0QG9OO63BI/AAAAAAAAJG4/zr6NYv2d9RIwR1CWLpdXaKKe-XZBjWkHwCKgB/s1600/Eriophyes-pyri.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kD6jIgTOwIE/V0QG9OO63BI/AAAAAAAAJG4/zr6NYv2d9RIwR1CWLpdXaKKe-XZBjWkHwCKgB/s400/Eriophyes-pyri.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The gall mite <i>Eriophyes pyri</i> on Rowan.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />This appears to be the first record for NI, with one previous record from Ireland, and <span style="color: red;">new to my Species List</span>.<div>
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<div>
A record shot of the Mirid bug <i>Harpocera thoracica</i>. The male antennae have an interesting 'structure'.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-89OeOUtsUFg/V0QJ9ME2f7I/AAAAAAAAJHI/sbalsRT_LUMiDpO-usp-P42ngbGZYH1tACLcB/s1600/bug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-89OeOUtsUFg/V0QJ9ME2f7I/AAAAAAAAJHI/sbalsRT_LUMiDpO-usp-P42ngbGZYH1tACLcB/s400/bug.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mirid bug <i>Harpocera thoracica</i> (male)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<span style="color: red;">New to my Species List.</span></div>
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<div>
The day-flying Mother Shipton moth caught my eye, and it posed conveniently for a few shots:<br /><div>
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FZI0_UfV8is/V0QLhaFLV-I/AAAAAAAAJHU/QTDzGnT2nyAnkU_WkEN9SE7wimvtLpEugCLcB/s1600/mother-shipton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FZI0_UfV8is/V0QLhaFLV-I/AAAAAAAAJHU/QTDzGnT2nyAnkU_WkEN9SE7wimvtLpEugCLcB/s400/mother-shipton.jpg" width="275" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mother Shipton moth</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I have seen the Lacehopper <i>Tachycixius pilosus</i> quite a few times, but this one seems to have a mite of some kind under the left wing. Mites usually position themselves in places where they can't be scratched off.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8LDfSlS8Lf4/V0QZGho8TGI/AAAAAAAAJHg/39Kq3TKvmDY7sLWec8kFQHN64LDrkSY2ACLcB/s1600/tachycixius.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8LDfSlS8Lf4/V0QZGho8TGI/AAAAAAAAJHg/39Kq3TKvmDY7sLWec8kFQHN64LDrkSY2ACLcB/s400/tachycixius.jpg" width="273" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Lacebug, <i>Tachycixius pilosus</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br />Finally, a Tetragnatha sp. 'Stretch Spider'. There are a couple of these that can't be separated without a microscope:</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Uw0xIrFDsnY/V0QaKlhcHoI/AAAAAAAAJHs/IL8DisgR3PEhJ7GTtqdDobX8YhAOB-5NgCLcB/s1600/tetragnatha.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Uw0xIrFDsnY/V0QaKlhcHoI/AAAAAAAAJHs/IL8DisgR3PEhJ7GTtqdDobX8YhAOB-5NgCLcB/s400/tetragnatha.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tetragnatha sp. 'Stretch Spider'</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Not bad for around 2 hours work, and we did count around 25 CWW. </div>
</div>
Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225743105419715015noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334048668354898660.post-10314528133437185932016-05-16T09:17:00.002+01:002016-05-16T09:28:08.559+01:00Benburb bioblitzThis bioblitz was based around Benburb castle, but also included the grounds of what is now known as Benburb Priory. The 17th century castle is being restored and the priory was formerly a manor house built in the 1880's.<br />
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The underlying geology is limestone and the site slopes downwards towards a river which is extensively engineered with cuts and sluices, and could almost be regarded as a canal. The riverside area has been allowed to run wild and is covered with Giant Hogweed, Bamboo, Japanese knotweed, Laurel and Himalayan Balsam. The grounds closer to the Priory are maintained as a decorative garden, but again, large areas are running wild, with a collapsed victorian greenhouse/orangery attached to outbuildings. This feature runs for some 50 metres and was clearly an important structure in its day. This is a shot of the old glasshouse:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kLeEQNggC18/Vzl2Hc6rRII/AAAAAAAAJEE/BJr7w16bs_wrG-gxy3q_Cezvmje1ewLBwCLcB/s1600/glasshouses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kLeEQNggC18/Vzl2Hc6rRII/AAAAAAAAJEE/BJr7w16bs_wrG-gxy3q_Cezvmje1ewLBwCLcB/s400/glasshouses.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Part of the glasshouse area with priory in the background</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The south-facing glasshouse area contained a mixture of wild and cultivated plants, notably an overgrown herb garden, and attracted a huge number of hoverflies, butterflies, solitary bees and bumblebees.<br />
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Here's a shot of a Holly Blue on the approach path: </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6JDYl8tN3GY/Vzl4ZrUYvMI/AAAAAAAAJEQ/-daXZOyaqBg-bgXUTY5ILOpZufKyJhcGgCLcB/s1600/holly-blue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6JDYl8tN3GY/Vzl4ZrUYvMI/AAAAAAAAJEQ/-daXZOyaqBg-bgXUTY5ILOpZufKyJhcGgCLcB/s1600/holly-blue.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Holly Blue butterfly</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We made a quick survey to see where we should concentrate our efforts and it was clear that the riverside paths would be most productive. When I noticed that the area was limestone, we looked for Garlic Mustard, since this is a host plant for the Orange Tip butterfly and we immediately found an occupied flower:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZAVY5-Jjx38/Vzl5X846lDI/AAAAAAAAJEY/PkvKY1T4b7ApFCaOTBEpmAzFSL8XhOQcwCLcB/s1600/garlic-mustard%2BOT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZAVY5-Jjx38/Vzl5X846lDI/AAAAAAAAJEY/PkvKY1T4b7ApFCaOTBEpmAzFSL8XhOQcwCLcB/s400/garlic-mustard%2BOT.jpg" width="292" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Orange Tip egg on Garlic Mustard</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We saw many Orange Tips, both male and female along the river bank. This female was nectaring on Herb Robert:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_P7hEsRUdZU/Vzl7C63zuRI/AAAAAAAAJEk/YkSiUdKlsoIOvKyBzMgRmZ22vKDdxYB0QCLcB/s1600/orange-tip-female.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_P7hEsRUdZU/Vzl7C63zuRI/AAAAAAAAJEk/YkSiUdKlsoIOvKyBzMgRmZ22vKDdxYB0QCLcB/s1600/orange-tip-female.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Female Orange Tip on Herb Robert</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The same area yielded 14-spot Ladybird:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B0keKk3ILt0/Vzl7Y6WWs7I/AAAAAAAAJEo/rPhteV0krXMfKtA4E1j9txCXlXZHbOsTACLcB/s1600/14-spot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B0keKk3ILt0/Vzl7Y6WWs7I/AAAAAAAAJEo/rPhteV0krXMfKtA4E1j9txCXlXZHbOsTACLcB/s400/14-spot.jpg" width="290" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">14 spot Ladybird</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
And a 10-spot ladybird with the rear spots missing. The 10-spot must be the ladybird with most variation in the spotting:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n-htGEWeo-s/Vzl7uAZh84I/AAAAAAAAJEw/CFirvV4rlD4ZhCdANmGtH4kqn3Uhg6TjgCLcB/s1600/10-spot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n-htGEWeo-s/Vzl7uAZh84I/AAAAAAAAJEw/CFirvV4rlD4ZhCdANmGtH4kqn3Uhg6TjgCLcB/s400/10-spot.jpg" width="303" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">10-spot ladybird</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Also from this area were the hoverfly Leucozona lucorum:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hHOqhKAv20c/Vzl8kToVYKI/AAAAAAAAJE8/TmEpFUgJQnEfNt6Ysdn4gyK_7pvu8mhlACLcB/s1600/leucozona-lucorum-landing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hHOqhKAv20c/Vzl8kToVYKI/AAAAAAAAJE8/TmEpFUgJQnEfNt6Ysdn4gyK_7pvu8mhlACLcB/s400/leucozona-lucorum-landing.jpg" width="297" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The hoverfly <i>Leucozona lucorum</i> landing on Bush Vetch</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
And I caught a glimpse of a huge pond skater down below in the cut next to the river. It's a poor shot, but there is only one pond skater this size. It's <i>Aquarius najas</i>, and is around 5 cm long from front foot to rear foot:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9hfMHMqpPAs/Vzl9pxDT8aI/AAAAAAAAJFI/SwJ8Exo_2H4EgRqXceT7jovKCkKWkUgSQCLcB/s1600/large-pondskater.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="291" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9hfMHMqpPAs/Vzl9pxDT8aI/AAAAAAAAJFI/SwJ8Exo_2H4EgRqXceT7jovKCkKWkUgSQCLcB/s400/large-pondskater.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The River Skater <i>Aquarius najas</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<span style="color: red;">New to my Species List</span>.</div>
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<div>
We found a couple of leaf miners in the wooded area closer to the castle:</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--ffUiVBcfOg/Vzl-rIQyWrI/AAAAAAAAJFU/AfYE9atY83cuGGSYEc8xkOlQWZTISBMdgCLcB/s1600/phytomyza-chaerophylli.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--ffUiVBcfOg/Vzl-rIQyWrI/AAAAAAAAJFU/AfYE9atY83cuGGSYEc8xkOlQWZTISBMdgCLcB/s400/phytomyza-chaerophylli.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Phytomyza chaerophylli</i> on Cow Parsley</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And:</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TjnUH4vaXUc/Vzl_mqZoiGI/AAAAAAAAJFc/9j6jCOwRwyk0X3Qkp0l7bzYHon7XHQypQCLcB/s1600/phytomyza-ranunculi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TjnUH4vaXUc/Vzl_mqZoiGI/AAAAAAAAJFc/9j6jCOwRwyk0X3Qkp0l7bzYHon7XHQypQCLcB/s1600/phytomyza-ranunculi.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Phytomyza ranunculi</i> on Celandine</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<i>Phytomyza ranunculi</i> was also found on Creeping Buttercup.</div>
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Closer to the castle, I found a moth larva grazing on lichen on a fence post. It's Brussels Lace, <i>Cleorodes lichenaria</i>:</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pfzyRRcDXYk/VzmAPAYwJwI/AAAAAAAAJFg/_vuZUsBWAu8rNDsZCL7zQk05R3RDCw8owCLcB/s1600/brussels-lace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pfzyRRcDXYk/VzmAPAYwJwI/AAAAAAAAJFg/_vuZUsBWAu8rNDsZCL7zQk05R3RDCw8owCLcB/s400/brussels-lace.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Larva of the Brussels Lace moth</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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That's a good example of the formal name clearly stating the nature of a species.<br />
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A final shot of Lords-and-Ladies or Cuckoo Pint, which I only ever find on lime:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xTxpVE8j9JM/VzmESyzwc1I/AAAAAAAAJFw/qpoyZB6Q5BgOTq6mRu59cP7XfOPZQmHAgCLcB/s1600/lords-and-ladies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xTxpVE8j9JM/VzmESyzwc1I/AAAAAAAAJFw/qpoyZB6Q5BgOTq6mRu59cP7XfOPZQmHAgCLcB/s1600/lords-and-ladies.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arum maculatum</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Overall we submitted perhaps a hundred species on the day. This is far fewer than I would normally expect on a day's hunting, especially on a bright sunny day, but the habitat is essentially 'cultivated but abandoned', so the biodiversity could be expected to be low.</div>
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</div>
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Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225743105419715015noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334048668354898660.post-85264103237891124312016-04-28T12:19:00.001+01:002016-04-28T12:19:28.463+01:00SawfliesSawflies (Symphyta) are a very understudied group of insects. They belong to the Hymenoptera, which includes Wasps, Bees and Ants, but the female has a saw instead of a sting, hence the common name. The saw is used to cut slots in leaves, and she then lays her eggs into the slots as an anchor to hold them in place, often laying many eggs on a single leaf. The larvae look very much like the caterpillars of moths and butterflies, but they have more prolegs and are generally more tapered, with wider 'shoulders' and narrower rear ends. They also have very simple ocelli on the larger eyes, only a single dot rather than multiple dots as found on moth larvae.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t-rIgs85eKk/VyHuyuiJUSI/AAAAAAAAJDo/UU6x_RvZSKkAtvnmJb705btB0gRwaPaLwCLcB/s1600/arge-gracilicornis-web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t-rIgs85eKk/VyHuyuiJUSI/AAAAAAAAJDo/UU6x_RvZSKkAtvnmJb705btB0gRwaPaLwCLcB/s1600/arge-gracilicornis-web.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Larva of <i>Arge gracilicornis</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The eggs are laid on particular plants, sometimes a single species of plant, but often within a closely-related family of plants. Some species are leaf miners and some others make galls, although the majority of larvae are free-ranging.<br />
<br />
I'm not quite sure why Sawflies are so studiously ignored by many entomologists. True, there are many species and many are very similar to each other, often requiring a specimen and a microscope to identify accurately, but other groups are like this, so I'm not quite sure why they are seen as 'difficult'. I suppose it must be a lack of literature: there is very little out there: the main key (Benson in 3 volumes) is now over 60 years old, but I have found the key to be no more difficult than other groups such as beetles or flies. One difficulty is the larvae: they go through a series of moults (instars) as they grow, and can vary their colour pattern quite substantially when they do so. So in order to identify the larvae we need to know all the variations for each species. Cameron's four-volume monograph, written in the late 19th century, includes coloured drawings of some larvae. A further difficulty is that we don't yet have a full knowledge of which larvae turn into which adults. With moths and butterflies, the match is more or less complete, since a great deal of work has been done with them and they are relatively easy to breed through in captivity, but with sawflies the life cycle can sometimes be a bit more complex, and many attempts to raise them in controlled conditions have failed. So we have a situation where some larvae are as yet unidentified, and the larvae of some of the adults are unknown. Clearly, much work needs to be done here.<br />
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Adult sawflies can be difficult to distinguish from other groups, but they always have a thick waist like bees, rather than a narrow one like wasps. The thorax is often strongly sculptured.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vqMEHaa4Wcw/Vx6HLFnK7DI/AAAAAAAAJDE/KfS9WCSvmnAP7xoLscOLaZX6eHzqOfMiQCLcB/s1600/tenthredopsis-nassata-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="394" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vqMEHaa4Wcw/Vx6HLFnK7DI/AAAAAAAAJDE/KfS9WCSvmnAP7xoLscOLaZX6eHzqOfMiQCLcB/s400/tenthredopsis-nassata-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Tenthredopsis nassata</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LoOGLZkECQ0/VyHxO-fR_3I/AAAAAAAAJD0/b6vKUMeJCaI5lJ-Pr_3PxBYNPX2gegj_gCKgB/s1600/tenthredo-livida-male.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LoOGLZkECQ0/VyHxO-fR_3I/AAAAAAAAJD0/b6vKUMeJCaI5lJ-Pr_3PxBYNPX2gegj_gCKgB/s1600/tenthredo-livida-male.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Tenthredo livida</i>, male</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Larvae often adopt a tail-up stance when disturbed. The movement is quite sudden, and I have seen parasitoids being propelled through the air if they approach too closely. This is the larva of <i>Nematus pavidus</i>, which is a common Willow feeder:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H4hJg7mjhIU/Vx6IXbp3hFI/AAAAAAAAJDQ/-N6eYe7y7Y8pC7KURXrAWFm8_6jAFtyoQCLcB/s1600/nematus-pavidus-web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H4hJg7mjhIU/Vx6IXbp3hFI/AAAAAAAAJDQ/-N6eYe7y7Y8pC7KURXrAWFm8_6jAFtyoQCLcB/s1600/nematus-pavidus-web.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Larva of <i>Nematus pavidus</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The differences between species are often microscopic, and we need to examine a specimen under magnification. With some species we need to see further details, such as the shape of the teeth on the saw. This is the (2 mm,) saw of a Tenthredo:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G_6pWLHcNHo/Vx6KfylFArI/AAAAAAAAJDc/a0CPQjwpWFsx7Lytfq3cFYkmSqD9sfLlQCLcB/s1600/sawfly-saw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G_6pWLHcNHo/Vx6KfylFArI/AAAAAAAAJDc/a0CPQjwpWFsx7Lytfq3cFYkmSqD9sfLlQCLcB/s400/sawfly-saw.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saw of a female<i> Tenthredo sp.</i> Sawfly</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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A few years ago I studied a series of colonies of <i>Nematus pavidus</i> on my local Willow and it is documented <a href="http://homepage.eircom.net/~hedgerow26/nematus-pavidus-parasitoids.htm" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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Sawflies certainly need attention, and I intend to focus on them this year.<br />
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Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225743105419715015noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334048668354898660.post-74530299295541272802016-04-18T13:52:00.001+01:002016-04-18T13:52:28.651+01:00Leaf-miner recording scheme for IrelandLast week the National Biodiversity Data Centre in Waterford launched a national recording scheme for leaf miners. I have been working on a national checklist for miners for several months and the scheme allows recorders to enter records of leafminers and upload images for verification.<br />
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Leaf-miners are a largely ignored group of insects from four groups: micromoths, flies, sawflies and beetles, and hopefully the scheme will raise awareness and produce many records for these groups and perhaps result in some new species for Ireland.<br />
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I also produced an introduction to leaf miners which will help people to identify their finds. The introduction and checklist can both be downloaded from <a href="http://www.biodiversityireland.ie/record-biodiversity/surveys/leafminers-survey/" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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Leaf miners are the larvae of insects, and they can be detected by the track they make as they feed inside the leaf. Since they spend all of their larval life inside a leaf, they are very small: some of the adults are only 2-3 mm long.<br />
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Mines are identified primarily by knowing the host plant: many miners feed on a single plant or family of plants, so knowing the host plant immediately reduces the number of miners to be considered. Once we know the host plant, then further identification relies on shape of the mine, pattern of the frass (dung) in the mine and perhaps details of the larva or pupa.<br />
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Here's a shot I took of the fly miner <i>Phytomyza ranunculi</i> on Lesser Celandine:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-48sP0kt72Cs/VxTWGZNlbwI/AAAAAAAAJCo/qRgW5ZEcaoUoF0PmKvzgbqNAgKyBqj1DwCLcB/s1600/phytomyza-ranunculi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-48sP0kt72Cs/VxTWGZNlbwI/AAAAAAAAJCo/qRgW5ZEcaoUoF0PmKvzgbqNAgKyBqj1DwCLcB/s400/phytomyza-ranunculi.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Phytomyza ranuncul</i>i on Lesser Celandine</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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There are two main possibilities for this mine, the other being <i>Phytomyza ranunculivora</i>, which has the frass in more discrete lumps:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qd366sYOsO0/VxTXsIKx-8I/AAAAAAAAJC0/4kSK2mxhTrg-NJIIJNP0wBMwcZIW-eqZACLcB/s1600/phytomyza-ranunculivora-400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qd366sYOsO0/VxTXsIKx-8I/AAAAAAAAJC0/4kSK2mxhTrg-NJIIJNP0wBMwcZIW-eqZACLcB/s1600/phytomyza-ranunculivora-400.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Phytomyza ranunculivora</i> on Creeping Buttercup</td></tr>
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Although <i>Phytomyza ranunculivora</i> hasn't been found in Celandine in UK or Ireland, it does use that plant in other parts of Europe, so it's always wise to check in case we can add a new foodplant for that species. The photograph above shows it on Creeping Buttercup, which is closely related to the Celandine, and was the first (and still only!) Irish record when I found it in 2010.<br />
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<br />Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225743105419715015noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334048668354898660.post-13873130604306495972016-01-15T09:56:00.003+00:002016-01-15T09:56:44.232+00:0010 years for an idBack in <a href="http://homepage.eircom.net/~hedgerow11/dec28.htm" target="_blank">December 2005</a>, I encountered a hair-like ice formation on grounded twigs in Steeple wood. I thought it might be related to some kind of fungus, since the twigs were clearly rotted to some extent, but I couldn't get an id. In July 2015, Swiss scientists discovered that the 'Hair Ice' is caused by the crusting fungus <i>Exidiopsis effusa</i>, but only when a precise set of conditions is met.<br />
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It seems that water is drawn into the twig, saturating it, and the crust fungus exudes the water through pores. When the temperature, humidity and air are exactly right, the extruded water freezes and forms the hair-like structures we see in these photographs.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CS-zjw2xJPw/Vpi_BjR8N6I/AAAAAAAAJCA/R13OKK5ywYQ/s1600/fungal-ice-web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CS-zjw2xJPw/Vpi_BjR8N6I/AAAAAAAAJCA/R13OKK5ywYQ/s1600/fungal-ice-web.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Hair Ice' caused by <i>Exidiopsis effusa </i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xcZLgR5K6JE/Vpi_EvKMgTI/AAAAAAAAJCI/zkpRg4H4MMg/s1600/fungal-ice-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xcZLgR5K6JE/Vpi_EvKMgTI/AAAAAAAAJCI/zkpRg4H4MMg/s1600/fungal-ice-2.JPG" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">'Hair Ice' caused by </span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Exidiopsis effusa </i></div>
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There is one previous record of the fungus from Ireland, made in 1993, but I suppose that must have been the original crust, rather than the 'Hair Ice'. So I have to settle for a second Irish record, with a Donegal first.<br />
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10 years for an id isn't too bad I suppose.<br />
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Coincidentally, we are experiencing the first cold snap of the winter, with lying snow and sub-zero temperatures. This was the view from my front window this morning as the sun rose behind falling snow:<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XsD-mvAPnEg/VpjCMzsTtNI/AAAAAAAAJCU/unBTLwCpVU8/s1600/sunrise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XsD-mvAPnEg/VpjCMzsTtNI/AAAAAAAAJCU/unBTLwCpVU8/s400/sunrise.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225743105419715015noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334048668354898660.post-5059063370887776652015-10-14T09:33:00.001+01:002015-10-14T09:33:40.380+01:00Sunflower (part two)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The Sunflower continues to attract butterflies. This Red Admiral is the third species I have seen nectaring after the Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock last week. A passing Speckled Wood didn't seem so interested. I have seen this butterfly on the flower for three consecutive days, now.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0m8YXNrZ9x0/Vh4MQYhDNBI/AAAAAAAAJBo/FODd4fyER04/s1600/red-admiral.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="277" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0m8YXNrZ9x0/Vh4MQYhDNBI/AAAAAAAAJBo/FODd4fyER04/s400/red-admiral.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red Admiral on the Sunflower</td></tr>
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Red Admirals have two generations each year. The first generation is migrant from France (or perhaps even further south) in springtime, and their offspring feed on nettles, emerging from late August to October and then heading south. In recent years, however, adults have been found overwintering in the south of Ireland (and England), So, as warming takes hold, we're seeing a transition from solely migrant to partially resident populations.<div>
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Phenology has also changed in some moths. Some species were described by their flying (or emerging) dates. So we have August Thorn, September Thorn, Winter Moth, November Moth, December Moth, etc. But in the couple of hundred years since they were named, weather patterns have changed, and their names are not so accurate nowadays. This August Thorn is a new species for my list, and can be separated from the September Thorn by the kink in the rear band of the forewing (arrowed).<br /><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tlp4fQ0e1zM/Vh4MU0Z0GbI/AAAAAAAAJBw/LiuBVdle3fM/s1600/august-thorn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tlp4fQ0e1zM/Vh4MU0Z0GbI/AAAAAAAAJBw/LiuBVdle3fM/s400/august-thorn.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">August Thorn moth</td></tr>
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This is a locally common moth, feeding on larger broad-leaved trees.<br />
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I suppose it's worth pointing out that the season for September Moth often starts earlier than the August Moth! Of course, it isn't just moths that are altering emergence and migration patterns. Birds like the Redstart and Fieldfare that used to arrive as winter visitors have become very scarce nowadays, since they stay in situ and overwinter further north. Flowering plants are also extending their flowering season. Have a look in plant books from a few decades ago, and their 'flowering seasons' will surprise you.</div>
Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225743105419715015noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334048668354898660.post-87684687287659865942015-10-02T09:34:00.000+01:002015-10-02T09:35:15.524+01:00Sun!Our summer has been one long stream of anticyclones coming in over the Atlantic, bringing high winds and rain for almost four months. As a result, flying insects have been far less frequent than usual, with hedgerows and verges almost deserted for much of the year. Flowering plants don't seem to suffer quite as much, but perhaps the number of blossoms is down.<br />
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Late September and early October have seen the arrival of a high-pressure system that has 'stuck' in place over the UK and Ireland, bringing dry days and colder nights. The circulating wind has brought warm southerly air to Ireland, leading to an influx of European species to supplement the meagre numbers of locals. At one point last week I had 7 specimens of Silver Y moth in my greenhouse.<br />
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By a strange coincidence, this is the time of year for the second generation some of our native butterflies to emerge and prepare for hibernation. A large Sunflower which I grew this year has been very attractive to Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock butterflies:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2mNdpQ_Gu6o/Vg4984yGlVI/AAAAAAAAJBA/je_8EHcOLMo/s1600/tortoiseshell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="287" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2mNdpQ_Gu6o/Vg4984yGlVI/AAAAAAAAJBA/je_8EHcOLMo/s400/tortoiseshell.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Small Tortoiseshell</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AZsw-eU4_P8/Vg49-IbfG6I/AAAAAAAAJBI/-WwZMCPIqL8/s1600/peacock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AZsw-eU4_P8/Vg49-IbfG6I/AAAAAAAAJBI/-WwZMCPIqL8/s400/peacock.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peacock</td></tr>
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These will hibernate until March or April next year, when they will emerge to lay eggs, and the first 2016 generation will start. Both of these species use Nettles as their sole foodplant.<br />
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This is the first year for my new greenhouse and I tried different plants to see how they got on. I noticed after a while that pollination was largely being performed by a single male <i>Episyrphus balteatus</i> hoverfly:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZsPLFoWYFoU/Vg5AcQDB8eI/AAAAAAAAJBU/Ln2YxqFbBXs/s1600/episyrphus-balteatus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZsPLFoWYFoU/Vg5AcQDB8eI/AAAAAAAAJBU/Ln2YxqFbBXs/s400/episyrphus-balteatus.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Male <i>Episyrphus balteatus</i></td></tr>
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He was seen most days for perhaps 3 weeks, and made no attempt to escape through open vents or doors. Seems he was content to have a monopoly of the tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and melons.Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225743105419715015noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334048668354898660.post-79878857590062518082015-08-16T00:00:00.000+01:002015-08-16T00:00:39.724+01:00Tattynure bioblitzA return trip to one of my favourite locations. The land is being very sympathetically 'encouraged' for support of wildlife, and it's showing. The site is yielding either first Irish, first Northern Irish or scarce species in good numbers, and I always expect to find something new.<br />
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One particular area is very good for leaf miners. I found the micromoth <i>Stigmella magdalenae</i>, which is the second NI record, and the first since 1995:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LsQZsR_qRJ0/Vc-_an7NNfI/AAAAAAAAJAA/1XRF5o1nU3Q/s1600/stigmella-magdalenae.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="285" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LsQZsR_qRJ0/Vc-_an7NNfI/AAAAAAAAJAA/1XRF5o1nU3Q/s400/stigmella-magdalenae.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mine of the micromoth <i>Stigmella magdalenae</i> on Rowan</td></tr>
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On the same tree I also found <i>Stigmella nyrandriella</i>:</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ibDSg1NQ_oE/Vc_AAj73jlI/AAAAAAAAJAI/Hf8uRsPrcRc/s1600/stigmella-nylandriella.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ibDSg1NQ_oE/Vc_AAj73jlI/AAAAAAAAJAI/Hf8uRsPrcRc/s400/stigmella-nylandriella.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mine of <i>Stigmella nyrandriella</i> on Rowan</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="text-align: left;">The main difference between these two species is the frass pattern: very narrow in magdalenae and more dispersed in nyrandriella.</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red;">Both new to my <a href="http://homepage.eircom.net/~hedgerow26/species_index.htm" target="_blank">Species Index</a>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">Some leaves on Bog Myrtle are very small, but I noticed mines on even the smallest leaves. It's <i>Stigmella salicis</i>, which mines Willows and Bog Myrtle:</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7XsgpuoqZ00/Vc_BQMl3KWI/AAAAAAAAJAU/Nm8GOxdlZ50/s1600/stigmella-salicis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="261" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7XsgpuoqZ00/Vc_BQMl3KWI/AAAAAAAAJAU/Nm8GOxdlZ50/s400/stigmella-salicis.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mine of <i>Stigmella salicis</i> on Bog Myrtle</td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: left;">I deliberately left my fingers in the shot for scale: the mine is around 15 mm. from left to right, and the adult moth is 4-6 mm. wingspan.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="text-align: left;">Also new to my </span> </span><a href="http://homepage.eircom.net/~hedgerow26/species_index.htm" target="_blank">Species Index</a>.</div>
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<span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">Another stunner is the parasitic fly <i>Tachina grossa</i>. This fly is one of the largest flies in Europe, and is larger than most queen bumblebees. These parasitise larger moth larvae: the host must be large enough to support multiple larvae of this huge insect.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5zg7NOQq3g8/Vc_CpwFRhNI/AAAAAAAAJAg/NrC9Upgy7eU/s1600/tachina-grossa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="305" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5zg7NOQq3g8/Vc_CpwFRhNI/AAAAAAAAJAg/NrC9Upgy7eU/s400/tachina-grossa.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The parasitoid fly <i>Tachina grossa</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="color: red;">Also new to my </span> <a href="http://homepage.eircom.net/~hedgerow26/species_index.htm" target="_blank">Species Index</a>.</div>
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I'm not quite sure if the epithet 'grossa' refers to its size or its appearance.</div>
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As an aside, I'll mention that the fungal season has well and truly started in Northern Ireland. We found several mature fungi in good condition.</div>
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Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225743105419715015noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334048668354898660.post-1087966790144745902015-07-08T13:06:00.000+01:002015-07-08T13:06:17.418+01:00More from MurloughBioblitz at Murlough:<br />
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I had set people the task of bringing back any leaf galls that they found, and my workbench was soon loaded down with specimens.<br />
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The first specimen brought in was <i>Aceria pseudoplatani</i> made by a gall mite on Sycamore:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R6-I3bERLx0/VZzoxPVYVvI/AAAAAAAAI8k/2OOFaUbh_Nk/s1600/aceria-pseudoplatani.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R6-I3bERLx0/VZzoxPVYVvI/AAAAAAAAI8k/2OOFaUbh_Nk/s400/aceria-pseudoplatani.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Aceria pseudoplatani</i> on Sycamore</td></tr>
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The gall is on the underside of the leaf, but is visible from the top as a yellow depression which makes it quite obvious. There is one previous record from Dublin last year. Murlough is also on the east coast, so I suspect it might just be newly colonising from the UK.<br />
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This <i>Phanacis hypochoeridis</i> (wasp) gall on Catsear was locally very common: I saw it in a couple of separate locations and almost every plant seemed to be galled. It's described as rare, so it must be very local. First Irish record was submitted last week after I identified the specimen! Each gall is a series of chambers, each one containing a yellow larva.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FaqwjLTvHxU/VZzpC6EF2pI/AAAAAAAAI9M/zLo6Yp_IlXg/s1600/phanacis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FaqwjLTvHxU/VZzpC6EF2pI/AAAAAAAAI9M/zLo6Yp_IlXg/s400/phanacis.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Phanacis hypochoeridis</i> on Catsear </td></tr>
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<span style="color: red;">New to my Species List</span></div>
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<i>Bombus lapidarius</i> - Red-tailed Bumblebee isn't rare, but I have never seen it on my patch. Here it is gathering pollen on a new flower for me: Restharrow<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IfbjH6vY3Fc/VZ0NYA4nVgI/AAAAAAAAI9s/NNBW255nsD0/s1600/lapidarius-harrow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IfbjH6vY3Fc/VZ0NYA4nVgI/AAAAAAAAI9s/NNBW255nsD0/s400/lapidarius-harrow.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Bombus lapidarius</i> on Restharrow</td></tr>
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<br /><span style="color: red;">Both new to my Species list</span></div>
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This Yellow Shell moth flew over my shoulder and hid under a stile step. So this shot is taken with me lying on my back facing upwards at the underside of the step. Flash used. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oMGWA7QOSXs/VZ0NAUGidUI/AAAAAAAAI9o/errHGS1iEXE/s1600/yellow-shell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="303" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oMGWA7QOSXs/VZ0NAUGidUI/AAAAAAAAI9o/errHGS1iEXE/s400/yellow-shell.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow Shell moth</td></tr>
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<span style="color: red;">New to my Species List</span> (which is badly in need of an update now!)</div>
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I'm getting lots of reports of the excellent hoverfly <i>Volucella pellucens</i> at the moment:</div>
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This was also taken at Murlough:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h72NyPmZKGo/VZ0PpJnknUI/AAAAAAAAI94/xbknonXF_Vo/s1600/vp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="316" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h72NyPmZKGo/VZ0PpJnknUI/AAAAAAAAI94/xbknonXF_Vo/s400/vp.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The hoverfly <i>Volucella pellucens</i></td></tr>
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<br />This Cixiid landed on my recording sheet and I managed to get a couple of shots rattled off before it flew. It isn't the much more common <i>Cixius nervosus</i>, and seems to match <i>Cixius cunicularius</i> very closely.<br /><div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mOAHuel-dYc/VZ0QKVxVz7I/AAAAAAAAI-I/DUgfvqS0P5c/s1600/cixius1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="382" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mOAHuel-dYc/VZ0QKVxVz7I/AAAAAAAAI-I/DUgfvqS0P5c/s400/cixius1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Cixius cf. cuniculariu</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cixius cf. cunicularius</td></tr>
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I can't find any previous records for this local species in Ireland.</div>
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I think my personal species tally for Murlogh was around 200, with 2-3 new records for NI and perhaps one new species for Ireland. I'm awaiting confirmation of id's before I report fully.</div>
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Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225743105419715015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334048668354898660.post-49226395863074731942015-07-07T10:01:00.001+01:002015-07-07T10:01:24.366+01:00SaltmarshI participated in a coastal Bioblitz at Murlough in Northern Ireland at the weekend. This SSSI has a wonderful mix of coastal habitats as well as some woodland just inshore. There is also a patch of saltmarsh, which is a habitat type that I haven't encountered before and yielded many species that were new to me. Every step seemed to contain a plant, insect or some other invert that I didn't know existed.<br />
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The most obvious species in the saltmarsh were the plants, many of which were succulent (and tasted strongly of salt: I tasted them). We were lucky enough to find two Sea-Spurreys side by side: Greater Sea Spurrey:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Vl5icQi7F00/VZuNaf5DLEI/AAAAAAAAI7k/8YwMKApnYFc/s1600/greater-sea-spurrey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Vl5icQi7F00/VZuNaf5DLEI/AAAAAAAAI7k/8YwMKApnYFc/s400/greater-sea-spurrey.jpg" width="275" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Greater Sea-Spurrey - <i>Spergularia media</i></td></tr>
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And Lesser Sea-Spurrey:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x8jxayxV2xU/VZuNgeED-BI/AAAAAAAAI7s/5xShAdPNtl0/s1600/lesser-sea-spurrey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x8jxayxV2xU/VZuNgeED-BI/AAAAAAAAI7s/5xShAdPNtl0/s400/lesser-sea-spurrey.jpg" width="277" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lesser Sea Spurrey - <i>Spergularia marina</i></td></tr>
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I have tried to crop the images so that the relative sizes of the flowers are maintained. Notice the thick, succulent leaves, especially on the Lesser.</div>
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<span style="color: red;">Both new to my species list</span>.</div>
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Also new is Lax-flowered Sea-lavender:</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lseLl4-Z_gU/VZuRSExJtvI/AAAAAAAAI74/vfH2iGOnQoc/s1600/limonium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="286" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lseLl4-Z_gU/VZuRSExJtvI/AAAAAAAAI74/vfH2iGOnQoc/s400/limonium.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lax-flowered Sea-lavender -<i> Limonium humile</i></td></tr>
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This is apparently quite scarce.<div>
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<span style="color: red;">New to my Species List.</span></div>
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Sea Arrowgrass was growing just on the slightly dryer upper edges of the saltmarsh, almost under the trees:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--zPNaPtK_bw/VZuSeqhKq5I/AAAAAAAAI8E/UOjd2P8P4_U/s1600/sea-arrow-grass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--zPNaPtK_bw/VZuSeqhKq5I/AAAAAAAAI8E/UOjd2P8P4_U/s400/sea-arrow-grass.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sea Arrowgrass - <i>Triglochin maritima</i></td></tr>
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Individual flowers are between 2 and 3 mm diameter.<div>
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Yet another new plant was Portland Spurge - <i>Euphorbia portlandica</i>:</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gcqha2tsi9s/VZuUZKuoYwI/AAAAAAAAI8Q/fAzHCD_OW84/s1600/euphorbia-portlandica.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gcqha2tsi9s/VZuUZKuoYwI/AAAAAAAAI8Q/fAzHCD_OW84/s400/euphorbia-portlandica.jpg" width="277" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Portland Spurge - <i>Euphorbia portlandica</i></span></td></tr>
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Identification was made mostly from the double horn-shape of the yellow petals.<div>
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<span style="color: red;">New to my Species List.</span></div>
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Other plant species included Samphire and Sea Beet.</div>
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I'll add leaf-miners, galls and other inverts to the next post.<br /><div>
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Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225743105419715015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334048668354898660.post-47964825245041328832015-06-14T12:37:00.001+01:002015-06-15T13:52:38.545+01:00Butterfly day at SheskinmoreThe annual Donegal Butterfly Day was led by Bob Aldwell, co-author (with Frank Smyth) of "The butterflies of Donegal":<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_VcUuWaWRm0/VX1jS22JOgI/AAAAAAAAI6U/qyvERf23sn4/s1600/butterflies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_VcUuWaWRm0/VX1jS22JOgI/AAAAAAAAI6U/qyvERf23sn4/s400/butterflies.jpg" width="279" /></a></div>
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This excellent new book has species descriptions and images of all of the Donegal butterflies plus habitat descriptions. It also includes aberrations. It also includes several of my images.</div>
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The day started off dull and cold and the first hour yielded no butterflies, but I did find a Cinnabar moth:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kg7dcNzG3F8/VX1kGc_dkGI/AAAAAAAAI6c/a_IG8XWuNRE/s1600/cinnabar-moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="314" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kg7dcNzG3F8/VX1kGc_dkGI/AAAAAAAAI6c/a_IG8XWuNRE/s400/cinnabar-moth.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cinnabar moth</td></tr>
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And a new gall on Blackthorn - <i>Taphrina pruni</i>:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nep6ZbQeJk4/VX1kiAuOFQI/AAAAAAAAI6k/BfI2Al4BqL4/s1600/taphrina-pruni.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="268" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nep6ZbQeJk4/VX1kiAuOFQI/AAAAAAAAI6k/BfI2Al4BqL4/s400/taphrina-pruni.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Taphrina pruni</i> on Blackthorn</td></tr>
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This fungal gall infects the fruit, converting its growth pattern to maximise the area for spore dispersal.<br />
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<span style="color: red;">New to my Species List</span>.</div>
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There were also many specimens of Northern Marsh Orchid and the more scarce Early Marsh Orchid - <i>Dactylorhiza incarnata</i>, which appears in many colours:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JSOyW20lrzk/VX1l3xWighI/AAAAAAAAI6w/yySpRWuwCxo/s1600/emo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JSOyW20lrzk/VX1l3xWighI/AAAAAAAAI6w/yySpRWuwCxo/s400/emo.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Early Marsh Orchid</td></tr>
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Just as we arrived at a known hot spot for butterflies, the clouds parted and we found ourselves surrounded by Marsh Fritillaries, Small Blues, Small Copper, Speckled Wood and Dingy Skippers. The Marsh Fritillary is under severe pressure in Europe due to extensive harvesting of peat bogs, and Ireland is really the last hope for this wonderful species:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6RHdmegghmQ/VX1mtIbUNQI/AAAAAAAAI64/H3WTh_odnPE/s1600/marsh-frit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="272" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6RHdmegghmQ/VX1mtIbUNQI/AAAAAAAAI64/H3WTh_odnPE/s400/marsh-frit.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marsh Fritillary</td></tr>
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This is a female currently in cop (you can just see the male at the bottom of the image).<br />
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Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225743105419715015noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334048668354898660.post-81939764764365060842015-06-14T08:58:00.000+01:002015-06-15T14:53:51.581+01:00Bioblitz workshop in Merlin WoodsOn Tuesday, I ran a workshop on Bioblitzing in Merlin Woods, Galway. A dozen or so of us surveyed two areas of woodland and associated meadows, recording plants, insects, birds and lichens. The woodland is clearly ancient, and sits on limestone with areas of limestone pavement, leading to a wide biodiversity.<br />
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The workshop was arranged by the Friends of Merlin Woods, who are working very hard to reverse years of encroachment, and are preserving this wonderful resource for the future.<br />
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My personal list for the day reached around 200 species and this post shows some of the highlights.<br />
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I entrusted my net to two lads who were happy to chase down particular specimens on request, and we were able to photograph two specimens of the 4-spotted Chaser:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dmC1R8SbigU/VXk9kCCWhyI/AAAAAAAAI5E/Dy5EsJI385Q/s1600/4-spot-chaser.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="293" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dmC1R8SbigU/VXk9kCCWhyI/AAAAAAAAI5E/Dy5EsJI385Q/s400/4-spot-chaser.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">4-spotted Chaser</td></tr>
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Since the woodland is on limestone and is a good deal further south than the area I usually survey, I had hoped to find species new to my list. One welcome addition is the Gorse Shieldbug. These are rather skittish and quickly run out of sight. You really need to wait until they think you're gone in order to get a decent shot:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WPNtqOIJol8/VXk9mBPBGrI/AAAAAAAAI5M/d22A9UX3zbI/s1600/gorse-shieldbug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WPNtqOIJol8/VXk9mBPBGrI/AAAAAAAAI5M/d22A9UX3zbI/s400/gorse-shieldbug.jpg" width="305" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gorse Shieldbug. On Gorse.</td></tr>
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<span style="color: red;">New to my species list.</span><br />
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Oak trees are host to hundreds of species of insect and fungi, so are always worth a look. I spotted a new miner, which has now been identified and confirmed as the micromoth <i>Acrocercops brongniardella</i> which is rather scarce with just a handful of records in the country:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k-TQYBNurME/VXk9r2YcNJI/AAAAAAAAI5U/DV645oOpWQ4/s1600/oak-miner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k-TQYBNurME/VXk9r2YcNJI/AAAAAAAAI5U/DV645oOpWQ4/s400/oak-miner.jpg" width="346" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mines of the micromoth <i>Acrocercops brongniardella</i> on oak</td></tr>
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<span style="color: red;">New to my species list.</span><br />
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At first I thought this was the common jumping spider <i>Salticus scenicus</i>, but when the images were blown up I realised that it was quite different. The dayglow yellow palps and striped legs leads us to <i>Heliophana cupreus</i>. About 6mm long.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eYH5RgAmFGc/VXk9t8LaigI/AAAAAAAAI5c/rMSRLDy8pm8/s1600/spider.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="290" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eYH5RgAmFGc/VXk9t8LaigI/AAAAAAAAI5c/rMSRLDy8pm8/s400/spider.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The jumping Spider <i>Heliophanus cupreus</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: red;">New to my species list.</span><br />
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A dark area of woodland contained countless specimens of Birds-nest Orchid:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_O89eHVuJ7M/VXlHLmE8LYI/AAAAAAAAI5s/weEa7GnvO1o/s1600/birds-nest-orchid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_O89eHVuJ7M/VXlHLmE8LYI/AAAAAAAAI5s/weEa7GnvO1o/s640/birds-nest-orchid.jpg" width="409" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Birds Nest Orchid</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: red;">New to my species list.</span><br />
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The woodland has some unusual trees, with interesting specimens cropping up in unexpected places. One Whitebeam had leaf galls which immediately attracted my attention, since the tree is scarce and galls are largely overlooked. It keys straight to the mite <i>Eriophyes arianus</i>, and I can find no previous records for Ireland.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RioWqgykhkw/VXlJ_ilIGHI/AAAAAAAAI6E/j7anm52MUBI/s1600/Eriophyes-arianus-top.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="345" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RioWqgykhkw/VXlJ_ilIGHI/AAAAAAAAI6E/j7anm52MUBI/s400/Eriophyes-arianus-top.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Eriophyes arianus</i>, top view</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QvPICyyVN4w/VXlJ_qLqXwI/AAAAAAAAI6A/X8-txNGFDOY/s1600/eriophyes-arianus-under.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="322" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QvPICyyVN4w/VXlJ_qLqXwI/AAAAAAAAI6A/X8-txNGFDOY/s400/eriophyes-arianus-under.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Eriophyes arianus</i>, underside</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="color: red;">New to my species list, and probably first Irish record.</span></div>
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Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225743105419715015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334048668354898660.post-79998087861622619462015-04-01T16:10:00.000+01:002015-04-01T16:10:03.356+01:00SpringSpring is very late this year. I currently have Lesser Celandine, Barren Strawberry and Wood Sorrel in flower, but little else apart from Daisy and Dandelion, which are in flower here all year round. Willow catkins have just opened and I have seen a few queen bumblebees foraging for pollen to start their nests. First hoverfly was a female <i>Eristalis tenax</i>, as is usual every year.<br />
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February and March were very cold, with waves of snow and rain for around 6 weeks non-stop, and the wind is still very cold, so very few insects are around outside.<br />
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Inside, however, we have plenty of spiders. This is a female Amaurobius sp., probably A similis due to location, but there's a slight possibility of A. fenestralis:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rph9qymIEDc/VRwHFImYbEI/AAAAAAAAI4I/LaJWO8Rfbsc/s1600/amaurobius-similis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rph9qymIEDc/VRwHFImYbEI/AAAAAAAAI4I/LaJWO8Rfbsc/s1600/amaurobius-similis.jpg" height="260" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Female <i>Amaurobius c.f. similis</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Those jaws are fearsome. Amaurobius species are called Lace-web spiders, since they make a lattice web with a central tunnel where the spider lurks. Females are larger than the males, reaching some 16mm. in body length, and can readily be identified by the narrow ends to the palps and their larger abdomen.<div>
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<span style="color: red;">New to my species list.</span></div>
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Another new species was a bit of a surprise. The micromoth <i>Diurnea fagella</i> is very common, but it's around the 250th moth species that I have recorded. The larvae feed on a wide range of broadleaf trees, so I should have seen it long before this.</div>
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Pretty beast, anyway, and about 15 mm. long.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RhKVUaIai6I/VRwI8eYCAAI/AAAAAAAAI4U/rZKuQrpKZbQ/s1600/diurnea-fagella.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RhKVUaIai6I/VRwI8eYCAAI/AAAAAAAAI4U/rZKuQrpKZbQ/s1600/diurnea-fagella.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The micromoth <i>Diurnea fagella</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The specimen in the photograph is a male, since it has fully-developed wings. The female has smaller, stunted wings, which makes me think it's heading towards the flightless females of many other winter/spring species.</div>
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<span style="color: red;">New to my species list.</span></div>
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Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225743105419715015noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334048668354898660.post-78924129251955079782015-03-03T13:39:00.001+00:002015-03-03T13:39:11.117+00:00The story so farIt is now 12 years since I started blogging about the wildlife in my local patch, and I think it would be worthwhile to summarise the findings to date.<br />
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I started off in 2003 with my first digital camera, a Fuji 2800z, and began to photograph and identify the local plants on a particular hedgerow here: <a href="http://homepage.eircom.net/~hedgerow">http://homepage.eircom.net/~hedgerow</a><br />
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My first discoveries were:<br />
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<ul>
<li>that there were more plants than I anticipated (around 90 species).</li>
<li>what I had previously thought was a single species was sometimes actually 2, 3, or more different species.</li>
</ul>
So in the first year, I discovered that I had a rich local environment but also that I had much to learn.<br />
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In the second year, I began to look at the insects as well as the plants, and I took notice of some of the larger fungi as well. I also began to extend the area of survey to include mixed woodland and a river system. I also got my second camera, a Fuji s7000, which enabled me to get much more detailed images of insects.<br />
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This extended geographic area is documented in <a href="http://homepage.eircom.net/~hedgerow2">http://homepage.eircom.net/~hedgerow2</a> and this blog ran until 2008, when I switched to the current format on blogspot.<br />
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My main discoveries during this time were:<br />
<ul>
<li>different habitats contain different species</li>
<li>species interact in many different ways</li>
<li>there is a lot we don't know about our wildlife</li>
<li>wildlife is important for our survival</li>
<li>documentation to assist with identifications can be out of date, incomplete or hard to find</li>
<li>there is some uncertainty about the identity of some species</li>
<li>things are changing over time</li>
<li>soil type governs which species can be found in a particular place</li>
<li>it's complex out there</li>
<li>I could, and did, add species to the Irish list</li>
</ul>
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Some of this all seems so trivial now, but during this time I was building up an understanding of the complex network of species that go to make up our wildlife. I also learned that this complexity is not widely understood, and that this lack of understanding is a serious problem for the survival of our wildlife, and ultimately for us as a species.</div>
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As a generalist recorder, I try to identify everything that I find. I was constantly told by specialists that I must find my niche and focus on particular groups, since nobody can do it all. But I find everything interesting, and if I ignore a particular group, then I'm leaving gaps in my knowledge. It is true that specialisation is the key to gaining full understanding of a group, but I like the fact that I can delve into flowering plants or wasps or fungi or spiders or whatever group as and when I like. I thrive on variety and switching my focus keeps things fresh for me. An additional benefit of my 'pan-group' recording is the overview that I get: specialists have a detailed view of their own group, but can be quite unaware of related events in others.</div>
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At first, I published my blogs as an information resource to show what was out there (a kind of scrapbook), but I quickly realised (or was forced to realise) that formal recording is important: we need to know what's out there. So I began to join various recording schemes and I submit data to these. (I am still creating retrospective formal records from the days before I started to make them, so older records will continue to surface as time permits). But I began to realise that my information was also being used as an educational resource, and I switched the emphasis of much of my text away from formal fact towards a more educational and instructive format.</div>
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The internet has been vital in a number of ways. First of all, it's a place to store my text and images in a place where anyone has access to them. Secondly, there are many on-line forums where experts gather together to discuss various groups. So it is relatively easy to find experts and get help with identifications. Thirdly, I can email images to people anywhere at the press of a button. Communication has never been easier. Central databases of national records are also available, and this lets us see distribution maps for species. This can be helpful in determining whether a potential identification is reasonable, or if further work (validation) needs to be done before a record would be acceptable.<br />
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Records are maintained in a single, central, database per country (I submit records to both Ireland and Northern Ireland) and submitted records need to be validated before being added to the reference database and being made publicly available. Validators are people who can assess the likelihood of a submitted record being correct, or whether further evidence (photograph or perhaps a specimen) is required. Validators tend to specialise in one or more groups, such as flies, fungi, bryophytes, flowering plants, spiders or beetles and basically act as filters to increase the reliability of data. On a couple of occasions, I have contacted data centres to ask who the validator is for a particular group only to be told "actually, that would be you". It is almost frightening to realise that some of the top-level expertise is held by absolute amateurs like myself, but this is actually a reflection of the lack of investment (actually, reduction in investment) by governments in professionals to hold positions where this expertise would naturally reside. This short-sightedness is another indicator that the importance of our wildlife is not understood.<br />
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I suppose one of the most surprising discoveries that I have made over the years is that there is still a degree of uncertainty no matter in which direction you choose to look. The vast majority of specimens can be readily identified from reasonably easy to obtain reference books, but I have found that when it comes to identification of some specimens I inevitably end up looking for an obscure paper from some journal or other. Once the paper has been secured, and I look for further advice or expertise, I can find that the number of people who can assist me further can be counted on the fingers of one hand. This is alarming, and might sound like a complaint, but it simply shows that we are walking a tightrope: our wildlife is complex and we don't have sufficient interest or resources to be competent enough to understand that complexity. Sometimes, we are left with 'opinions': an identification depends on who you decide to follow or believe.<br />
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So why the worry? Putting it simply, we are constantly making decisions about whether to build houses and businesses on green-field sites, brown-field sites, woodland, sites of special scientific interest, bog and so on and we are basing these decisions on incomplete information. We don't know enough about our wildlife, and we are certainly not competent enough to know that we are making the correct decisions. Pressure from industry, agriculture, building development and lack of understanding (or even basic interest) by politicians is putting us in a place that fills me with dread.<br />
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The simple fact is that our wildlife species interact with each other in complex, critical and fascinating ways. In turn, our wildlife interacts with us in complex and vital ways: we are just one species in the web. Until we fully understand our dependency on wildlife, we will continue to blunder down a badly-lit path towards something that frightens me.<br />
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So what can we do?<br />
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I intend to continue my research into the relationships between organisms: this is the area that interests me most. So I will continue to look at parasitica, fungi, leaf-miners and galls in particular. These are all good examples of species interactions, and are all areas which need further study.<br />
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I have very much enjoyed participating in the Heritage Council's Heritage in Schools program, which brings heritage experts into schools, exposing pupils to a wider range of information and, hopefully, stimulating long-term interest and involvement.<br />
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My intention is to share as much of my work as possible (budget and equipment permitting) and I aim to participate in as many field trips as I can squeeze into the workable part of the year. The winter months will be used for research and 'back-office' work whilst our wildlife is hiding away.<br />
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I had no idea where I was going when I started to write this piece. But it seems this is where I ended up. Please keep looking in.</div>
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<br />Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225743105419715015noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334048668354898660.post-67487718438141643802014-12-07T15:28:00.001+00:002014-12-07T15:28:59.051+00:00Another trip to ArdsA prolonged period of heavy rain suggested that a final trip to Ards for 2014 would be productive, so we went along to see what was around. It was suggested that we try an area that we hadn't visited before (Ards is huge!), so we chose a direction at random and set forth. The first part of the loop passed through an area that had fairly recently been disturbed due to clear-felling of Spruce (yay!), so that was rather unproductive, but we soon arrived at a high area that was undisturbed ancient Oak and Beech, with Birch at the fringes. It is clear that this area is not one that is visited by mushroom hunters, since we found a good number of very large Ceps (Boletus edulis) that had been left to decay:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ARroqzFfWjA/VIAxLsyhl_I/AAAAAAAAI0U/-l2qpX_-pyo/s1600/cep-web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ARroqzFfWjA/VIAxLsyhl_I/AAAAAAAAI0U/-l2qpX_-pyo/s1600/cep-web.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cep - <i>Boletus edulis</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And another specimen:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-476Vt4_UnQ0/VIAxMw0xvlI/AAAAAAAAI0k/-mrqCy1fRJs/s1600/cep1-web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-476Vt4_UnQ0/VIAxMw0xvlI/AAAAAAAAI0k/-mrqCy1fRJs/s1600/cep1-web.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cep - <i>Boletus edulis</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
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In the more well-trodden areas of the forest, these would have been gathered long before they reached this stage. Sadly, they were just too far gone to accompany our dinner that evening. I'd say there was possibly a kilo of Cep in those two.<br />
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Nearby we also found quite a few specimens of the Fly Agaric, <i>Amanita muscaria</i>:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-edMNNMr518Y/VIAxLaRKN3I/AAAAAAAAI0g/1rSVk_eaerQ/s1600/amanita-muscaria-web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-edMNNMr518Y/VIAxLaRKN3I/AAAAAAAAI0g/1rSVk_eaerQ/s1600/amanita-muscaria-web.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A very fresh <i>Amanita muscaria</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The books always say that these are associated exclusively with Birch, and there was plenty of Birch in this area, but I have found specimens where no Birch has existed for decades. Perhaps they can survive on very old buried roots, etc., since it is well known that other Amanita species can be found in the middle of ploughed fields or meadows and indicate the previous existence of woodland at those locations.</div>
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A definite Birch associate is the Birch Polypore (<i>Piptoporus betulinus</i>):</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_nELFGJxTiI/VIAxLdfAynI/AAAAAAAAI0Q/Off3pXyNmVY/s1600/birch-polypore-web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_nELFGJxTiI/VIAxLdfAynI/AAAAAAAAI0Q/Off3pXyNmVY/s1600/birch-polypore-web.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Birch Polypore (<i>Piptoporus betulinus</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
The upper surface of these is brown, with a white porous underside that produces the spores. But this bizarre specimen has an extra fruit-body growing upside-down on its top surface. Most odd. Odd shapes like this are usually caused by the substrate (in this case dead Birch) being moved, but this tree was still upright in situ. Maybe it got damaged in an early part of its development, and this could effectively be scar tissue.<br />
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Another area had been cleared some time ago and was a mixture of young Birch with heath. There was plenty of Greater Woodrush still around, so we thought we might as well try for the extremely rare leaf-miner <i>Cerodontha silvatica</i>, and it was found almost immediately. This is the third location in all of Ireland and the first Donegal record since 2005:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ynFgxOXYHro/VIRrNvchRNI/AAAAAAAAI1o/HjIjq1MZCZY/s1600/cerodontha-puparium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ynFgxOXYHro/VIRrNvchRNI/AAAAAAAAI1o/HjIjq1MZCZY/s1600/cerodontha-puparium.jpg" height="237" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Cerodontha silvatica</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There was a very small area almost covered with this Saxifrage of some kind. I'll have to go back next summer when it's in flower to find out what species it is.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZA7YpMoe0XQ/VIRraCmHgDI/AAAAAAAAI2M/ocAyRmNvMgs/s1600/saxifrage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZA7YpMoe0XQ/VIRraCmHgDI/AAAAAAAAI2M/ocAyRmNvMgs/s1600/saxifrage.jpg" height="320" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saxifrage 'x'</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I spotted this minute (3-4 mm.) leaf-hopper on Hazel as I was checking for leaf-mines:</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jLUnNj3DY8Q/VIRrXgVJsCI/AAAAAAAAI10/TMzxVwMb3PU/s1600/edwardsiana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jLUnNj3DY8Q/VIRrXgVJsCI/AAAAAAAAI10/TMzxVwMb3PU/s1600/edwardsiana.jpg" height="400" width="260" /></a></div>
<div>
<br />It's probably <i>Edwardsiana rosae</i>, but these cannot be done to species without a specimen under a microscope.</div>
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There were plenty of galls of <i>Hartigola annulipes</i> on fallen Beech leaves:<br /><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JMLQcP-cSPE/VIRrXcI5RrI/AAAAAAAAI1w/2qRPL5e4Uc4/s1600/hartigiola-annulipes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JMLQcP-cSPE/VIRrXcI5RrI/AAAAAAAAI1w/2qRPL5e4Uc4/s1600/hartigiola-annulipes.jpg" height="262" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Hartigola annulipes</i> on Beech</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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This is the first time I have noticed that they seem to create 'green islands' in the same way as Ectoedemia micromoths do on Oak. I can't see a definite benefit from the chlorophyll, since the midges feed on the interior of the gall. Maybe it's an accidental by-product of their gall creation process.<br />
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Towards the end of the walk we found a few specimens of this spindle-shaped fungus growing under Beech:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-85of3dzHQtk/VIRrZnTzjZI/AAAAAAAAI2I/56xxY5b3OVs/s1600/spindle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-85of3dzHQtk/VIRrZnTzjZI/AAAAAAAAI2I/56xxY5b3OVs/s1600/spindle.jpg" height="400" width="261" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Macrotyphula fistulosa</i> var. fistulosa</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There are quite a few records from Northern Ireland, but this appears to be a first Irish record. About 8 cm. tall. New to my species list.</div>
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Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225743105419715015noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334048668354898660.post-88226459983433495152014-11-20T10:43:00.000+00:002014-11-20T10:43:29.886+00:00Stacking!I have been promising myself that I would do some image stacking to see how I get on with it. Image stacking is a technique that is used to produce a macro image where everything is in focus. With macro photography, the depth of field of a single shot is tiny, often less than 1mm. This means that anything over 1mm. wide will have some parts out of focus. Here's an example:<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JCuNCdPkh1M/VG3ATo4cf6I/AAAAAAAAIz0/9IDE9a7WBKw/s1600/cordyceps-side.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JCuNCdPkh1M/VG3ATo4cf6I/AAAAAAAAIz0/9IDE9a7WBKw/s1600/cordyceps-side.jpg" height="230" width="320" /></a></div>
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That shot isn't bad, but although the front-to-middle part of the shot is sharp, the rear part of the image is out of focus and blurred.<br />
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With image stacking, we take a number of shots from the same position, but with the focus point moved slightly further back each time. In order to get the stability required, we need to use a tripod and use manual focussing. The depth of the subject above is around 5mm., so I took 5 shots, each focussing around 1mm further away. The images are then fed into software which fine-tunes the positioning of each image to make sure they overlap precisely, and then it corrects for slight differences in perspective due to the refocussing. Finally, the software selects the sharp parts from each image and creates a single image which is sharp from front to back:<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6uMApfNzCAo/VG3CMSgWNjI/AAAAAAAAI0A/5sY8a1CKk3M/s1600/stacked-cordyceps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6uMApfNzCAo/VG3CMSgWNjI/AAAAAAAAI0A/5sY8a1CKk3M/s1600/stacked-cordyceps.jpg" height="232" width="320" /></a></div>
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The entire procedure from shot-taking to final image took perhaps 30 minutes, but I'll be faster next time. I suspect it could all be done in perhaps 15 minutes.<br />
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"So what's the image?" I hear you ask.<br />
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It's a moth which has been killed by the parasitic fungus <i>Cordyceps tuberculata</i>, which is an extremely rare species, on the RDB list as Vulnerable D2. This specimen was found in Co. Cork and is the <span style="color: red;">first Irish record</span>. There are only 23 other records in the Fungal Records database and they are mostly from the east of England. I rather suspect this is a continental species, since most records are coastal, and it's possible that the victims were migrants. This is, however, pure speculation on my part.<br />
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The specimen has been sent to Kew for analysis, since they would like to eliminate the possibility that it's something even rarer.<br />
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Acknowledgements to Clare Heardman for finding the specimen and sending it to me for analysis.Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225743105419715015noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334048668354898660.post-72349563089661164142014-10-14T11:34:00.000+01:002014-10-14T16:39:46.976+01:00Dry weather continuesI postponed my proposed trip to Ards since the dry weather continued and there wasn't much sign of fungal activity. But the 'lure of the west' called me and since I had also agreed to make a radio piece about foraying, the trip eventually went ahead.<br />
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As I have mentioned before, Ards peninsula is a rocky outcrop jutting into the Atlantic, so it is a unique environment with ancient forest inland, surrounded by sea, dunes and grassland at its boundaries. This wide range of habitats in such close proximity leads to a biodiversity which never ceases to produce something new on every trip.<br />
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As expected, the overall number of fungal bodies was very low, but there was still the usual great variety of species.<br />
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We decided to start the trip with a walk around part of the coastal boundary to see what grassland species we could find, and found <i>Hygrocybe pratensis</i> - the field waxcap - in the usual places, but little else of a fungal nature.<br />
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Several specimens of this snail were found:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DzXauEbSewg/VDzfTNlBAWI/AAAAAAAAIyc/Vhw0-whSTLY/s1600/helicella-itala.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DzXauEbSewg/VDzfTNlBAWI/AAAAAAAAIyc/Vhw0-whSTLY/s1600/helicella-itala.jpg" height="275" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Helicella itala</i></td></tr>
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Keying it out was fairly straightforward: Low spire>large umbilicus>no keel>no lip. It is described as a dune species, so that seems fine.</div>
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<span style="color: red;">New to my Species List.</span></div>
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We also found many specimens of the very handsome caterpillar of the Fox Moth:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iXuH6NsOY44/VDzvLxau-LI/AAAAAAAAIys/6PJXzgAaDWs/s1600/fox-moth-web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iXuH6NsOY44/VDzvLxau-LI/AAAAAAAAIys/6PJXzgAaDWs/s1600/fox-moth-web.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Larva of Fox Moth - <i>Macrothylacia rubi</i></td></tr>
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Fox Moth larvae are being found in huge numbers all over Ireland this year, and I rather suspect that the very warm summer we had last year is at least partly the reason.</div>
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One further grassland fungus was found. This is <i>Clavulinopsis fusiformis</i>, identified by the acute tips to the fruitbodies: </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Clavulinopsis fusiformis</i></td></tr>
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<span style="color: red;">Surprisingly, new to my Species List.</span></div>
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We passed the location where I found Thyme Broomrape a few years ago, but none was seen. Not to be outdone, however, as we reached the boundary of the forest, I saw this specimen in the undergrowth:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xjk838F1DCw/VDzzbX2mR_I/AAAAAAAAIzI/u2lg-S6P_qk/s1600/broomrape-web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xjk838F1DCw/VDzzbX2mR_I/AAAAAAAAIzI/u2lg-S6P_qk/s1600/broomrape-web.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ivy Broomrape</td></tr>
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It was surrounded by many plant species, so it was quite impossible to determine its host, and it is beyond recognition from the flowers. Based purely on the surrounding vegetation I will make a stab at Common Broomrape and will have to visit it again next summer when the flowers will be fresh. No Thyme was found nearby (and the habitat was wrong).</div>
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<span style="color: red;">Update: our local botany recorder has just informed me that this is a known location for Ivy Broomrape.</span></div>
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Back inside the forest, we found the Blackening Waxcap, <i>Hygrocybe nigricans</i>, doing what it does best: going black.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iE6nWl5DMOM/VDzyKdXh77I/AAAAAAAAIzA/5fnIphGVgQo/s1600/hygrocybe-nigrescens-web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iE6nWl5DMOM/VDzyKdXh77I/AAAAAAAAIzA/5fnIphGVgQo/s1600/hygrocybe-nigrescens-web.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Blackening Waxcap, <i>Hygrocybe nigricans</i></td></tr>
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A grass verge had quite a few species, including <i>Helvella crispa</i> and the closely-related <i>Helvella lacunosa</i>:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wJYl1TUiuM4/VDz0rTWqUQI/AAAAAAAAIzY/xDd9Q5JQ1WY/s1600/helvella-lacunosa-web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wJYl1TUiuM4/VDz0rTWqUQI/AAAAAAAAIzY/xDd9Q5JQ1WY/s1600/helvella-lacunosa-web.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Helvella lacunosa</i></td></tr>
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We found a few fresh specimens of the Tawny Funnel Cap,<i> Lepista inversa</i>:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sieRAQGmnLU/VDz1uCQEyVI/AAAAAAAAIzg/HPCTPlXecns/s1600/tawny-funnel-cap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sieRAQGmnLU/VDz1uCQEyVI/AAAAAAAAIzg/HPCTPlXecns/s1600/tawny-funnel-cap.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tawny Funnel Cap, <i>Lepista inversa</i></td></tr>
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Other species found: Destroying Angel (again), Birch Polypore, Beechwood Sickener, Chanterelle, and two specimens of what I'm sure was the Miller (which is edible and delicious), but couldn't trust myself to take home due to its similarity to <i>Clitocybe dealbata</i> (which is deadly poisonous).<br />
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Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225743105419715015noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334048668354898660.post-30888789237383718852014-09-26T09:06:00.000+01:002014-09-26T09:06:20.803+01:00Catching upOur unexpected spell of dry weather has continued, and has most certainly delayed the usual glut of fungi that would normally appear at this time of year. Last week, during the practical photography session on a macro course, we encountered dozens of mushrooms that were completely dried up, with the spores lying underneath them on the ground:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y1tY7NXd4CU/VCUTqMaF6uI/AAAAAAAAIxY/XRbniVLFzU8/s1600/dry-fungi-web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y1tY7NXd4CU/VCUTqMaF6uI/AAAAAAAAIxY/XRbniVLFzU8/s1600/dry-fungi-web.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dried fungi with spores underneath and on the cap</td></tr>
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Spores are usually wind-borne, but these have simply dropped down onto the grass due to the complete calm. The actual fungi shouldn't suffer, since they are deeply buried inside wood or soil, and persist for years, but there will be little reproduction this year. Note that the caps are also covered in spores. Most spores are produced by the gills underneath, but some species are also able to produce spores via the upper surface of the cap and that looks to be what has happened here.</div>
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During a school trip this week, one of the pupils brought me a dead branch with fruitbodies of <i>Chlorociboria aeruginascens</i>: </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g09l2uXIG-0/VCUWtWCtz8I/AAAAAAAAIxk/JBT0OASB6os/s1600/chlorociboria-aeruginascens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g09l2uXIG-0/VCUWtWCtz8I/AAAAAAAAIxk/JBT0OASB6os/s1600/chlorociboria-aeruginascens.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-size: medium; text-align: left;">Chlorociboria aeruginascens </i><span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;">on dead Oak</span></td></tr>
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This fungus lives on dead Oak and Beech, and isn't too rare, but the fruitbodies seem to appear very rarely; this is the first time I have photographed them. Individual fruitbodies are around 3 - 5 mm. across the cap.<div>
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Now that I have the literature on spiders and harvestmen, I'm looking at them much more closely. This is the harvestman <i>Leiobunum blackwalli</i>:<br /><div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nJMOUlMQ1WY/VCUY6J6eVYI/AAAAAAAAIxw/VMEcnp6jvzE/s1600/leiobunum-blackwalli.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nJMOUlMQ1WY/VCUY6J6eVYI/AAAAAAAAIxw/VMEcnp6jvzE/s1600/leiobunum-blackwalli.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Leiobunum blackwalli</i> (female)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nTQXzf5a4UU/VCUY8uaHvvI/AAAAAAAAIx4/duEWPaFJSDQ/s1600/leiobunum-blackwalli-close.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nTQXzf5a4UU/VCUY8uaHvvI/AAAAAAAAIx4/duEWPaFJSDQ/s1600/leiobunum-blackwalli-close.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Leiobunum blackwalli</i> (female)</td></tr>
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Harvestmen don't make webs, but sit on or under leaves waiting for some prey to walk past. I love the way the white-lined eyes are up on stalks (called a 'turret').</div>
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<span style="color: red;">New to my Species List.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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In 2007 I found a gall on Oak which puzzled me:<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_PU2O0kRRuM/VCUahzSJ8eI/AAAAAAAAIyM/4ywu-WV-A1w/s1600/neuroterus-anthracinus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_PU2O0kRRuM/VCUahzSJ8eI/AAAAAAAAIyM/4ywu-WV-A1w/s1600/neuroterus-anthracinus.jpg" /></a></div>
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Individual galls are secured by flaps of tissue on veins of the leaf, but are able to detach and fall to the ground. It didn't appear in references, and I couldn't get a name for it despite hours of searching. The new edition of Redfern and Shirley says it's very common, but I hadn't seen it before, and I haven't seen it since. It's made by the Cynipid wasp <i>Neuroterus anthracinus</i>. </div>
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<span style="color: red;">New to my Species List.</span></div>
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Most leaf miners stick to a very small set of plants, sometimes just one species, but some are a little more flexible and use a number of plants. This can make identifications tricky, since their appearance can be quite different on different hosts. I struggled a little with this mine of <i>Agromyza idaeiana</i>, which I often find on Raspberry or Meadowsweet, but this specimen was on Bramble:</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The leaf miner <i>Agromyza idaeiana</i> on Bramble</td></tr>
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The blotch at the end of the mine is much wider than I usually see, since it isn't constrained between veins like it is on the other plants.</div>
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Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225743105419715015noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334048668354898660.post-58072315444441048192014-09-11T09:57:00.000+01:002014-09-11T09:57:00.679+01:00Sun!This week has been a bit of a surprise: mist in the early morning followed by absolutely clear blue skies all day. Quite delightful, really.<br />
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I have been examining my local Hawthorns for miners and came up with this rather interesting specimen:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TsN7EPRVwYw/VBFdTYaKbrI/AAAAAAAAIwY/VWiNvwNLXdI/s1600/stigmella-perpygmaeela-web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TsN7EPRVwYw/VBFdTYaKbrI/AAAAAAAAIwY/VWiNvwNLXdI/s1600/stigmella-perpygmaeela-web.jpg" height="400" width="372" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Stigmella perpygmaeella</i> mine on Hawthorn</td></tr>
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<br />It's the mine of the micromoth <i>Stigmella perpygmaeella</i>, which is <span style="color: red;">new to my species list</span>. At point A (the head of the mine) we can see the miner (yellow larva with oval head). But at point B we can see another, different, larva. This second larva has the look of a hymenopteran about it (round shoulders, tapering body) so it will be either a sawfly larva or a wasp larva of some sort. It is clearly heading towards the miner, so it looks like we have a predatory larva in the mine. I knew that miners could be parasitised by Braconid or Chalcid wasps, but this is an entirely new relationship. More research....<div>
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While I was working the Hawthorn, I found a few nymphs of the Hawthorn Shieldbug:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z9t_RPGypK4/VBFdWp-YYVI/AAAAAAAAIwg/syl5t2qm9nk/s1600/hawthorn-shieldbug-web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z9t_RPGypK4/VBFdWp-YYVI/AAAAAAAAIwg/syl5t2qm9nk/s1600/hawthorn-shieldbug-web.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Final instar nymph of Hawthorn Shieldbug</td></tr>
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This is the fifth and final stage of the nymph: at the next metamorphosis it will be the adult.<div>
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Capitalising on the good light, I went up to the local heath to see what I could find. Devils-bit Scabious is one of the latest plants to flower, and the path was lined in purple.</div>
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First to catch my eye was this pale pink variant:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mn1zRjNQq5w/VBFddtSZSYI/AAAAAAAAIw4/19kRAJ9xyNM/s1600/pink-dbs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mn1zRjNQq5w/VBFddtSZSYI/AAAAAAAAIw4/19kRAJ9xyNM/s1600/pink-dbs.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pink Devils-bit Scabious</td></tr>
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I have seen this sport before, but it seemed there more around than usual this year. It looks like the pale colour doesn't put off the pollinators.<div>
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This shot shows another oddity which I see from time to time:<br /><div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FtEJLMIGkMo/VBFdcnjGA7I/AAAAAAAAIwo/_VK8AggfK7s/s1600/dbs-viviparous.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FtEJLMIGkMo/VBFdcnjGA7I/AAAAAAAAIwo/_VK8AggfK7s/s1600/dbs-viviparous.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Viviparous flower of Devils-bit Scabious</td></tr>
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The bud at the top is a viviparous flower growing out of the flower below it. It isn't a branch, because the stem arises from inside the lower flower. Not quite sure why this happens.</div>
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Here's a shot of the hoverfly <i>Episyrphus balteatus</i> on a normal flower:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OKUqk23VoR0/VBFdcw8HN2I/AAAAAAAAIws/Xr2KveG3k0g/s1600/episyrphus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OKUqk23VoR0/VBFdcw8HN2I/AAAAAAAAIws/Xr2KveG3k0g/s1600/episyrphus.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Episyrphus balteatus</i> on Devils-bit Scabious</td></tr>
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I noticed this cluster of Russulas from the path side and immediately thought "<i>Russula mairei</i>", which is common everywhere around here, but then I realised there were no Beeches around:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZphsK40738c/VBFdfEktqgI/AAAAAAAAIxI/68F5MAUzCVs/s1600/russula-emetica-web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZphsK40738c/VBFdfEktqgI/AAAAAAAAIxI/68F5MAUzCVs/s1600/russula-emetica-web.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Russula emetica</i> - The Sickener</td></tr>
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The trees above are Fir and Pine and the mushrooms are growing through Sphagnum. This is classic habitat for <i>Russula emetica</i>, which I have been hunting for perhaps 10 years. This habitat is perfect for it, so I wonder why it has taken so long to get here. <span style="color: red;">New to my species list,</span> at last.<div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rcMrsAOEp1M/VBFdevX06YI/AAAAAAAAIxA/bagMui6JYOA/s1600/russula-emetica-close.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rcMrsAOEp1M/VBFdevX06YI/AAAAAAAAIxA/bagMui6JYOA/s1600/russula-emetica-close.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Russula emetica</i> - The Sickener</td></tr>
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<i>Russula mairei</i> is known as the Beechwood Sickener, but <i>Russula emetica</i> is known as The Sickener, as you might guess from its specific name.</div>
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Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225743105419715015noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5334048668354898660.post-77812230145913899142014-08-29T10:57:00.000+01:002014-08-29T10:57:07.154+01:00PollinatorsThis week I was giving a talk as part of an international conference about pollinators. If you mention pollinators most people immediately think of bees, and bees are certainly extremely important plant pollinators. Other groups of insects, however, are also important in the pollination process, and I was covering hoverflies. I spoke to the other speakers on non-bee pollination (one discussing beetles, another covering butterflies and moths and a third talking about ants), and it was clear that there is actually very little scientific literature out there that discusses and compares the contributions made by these other groups.<br />
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I made the case that since there are more species of hoverfly than bee in Ireland, and there are clearly more hoverfly specimens than bee specimens, that hoverflies are obviously an important player in plant reproduction. Yes, bees are 'busier', visiting more plants per minute than a hoverfly, but bees also take pollen back to their nests to feed their young. This takes pollen OUT of the plant reproduction process, rather than assisting. Further, there are bees that short-circuit the nectar-taking process by cutting into the rear of flowers, thereby bypassing the pollen-gathering part of the arrangement. This is theft.<br />
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I then went on to discuss the lifecycle of hoverflies, and pointed out that some species of hoverfly lay their eggs in bee nests. Their larvae eat the detritus in the nests, keeping them healthier and more productive. So hoverflies are assisting some bees. Lastly, I discussed the fact that some hoverfly larvae feed exclusively on aphids: yet another beneficial aspect to this group.<br />
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The beetle and ant speakers struggled to find any evidence of plant pollination other than incidental or accidental transfers as they moved from plant to plant. The one saving grace as far as ants are concerned is that they 'farm' aphids, thereby providing a food source for the hoverfly larvae!<br />
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After the talk we went on a tour around the excellent conference site (Oxford Island at Lough Neagh) and I took the camera with me.<br />
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The following shots show how things are progressing with the new 70D camera.<br />
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This is the original shot (reduced in size!) of the hoverfly <i>Eristalis pertinax</i>:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ViGh_z_MWC0/VABJHXqCo8I/AAAAAAAAIv4/BuscHirqPNI/s1600/original-horticola-400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ViGh_z_MWC0/VABJHXqCo8I/AAAAAAAAIv4/BuscHirqPNI/s1600/original-horticola-400.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eristalis pertinax - original full-frame shot</td></tr>
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This is the same image cropped to show the whole insect:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EcOfA6TaKqA/VABJFM_FtkI/AAAAAAAAIvo/DyJfHcuxd-4/s1600/horticola-400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EcOfA6TaKqA/VABJFM_FtkI/AAAAAAAAIvo/DyJfHcuxd-4/s1600/horticola-400.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Original image cropped to the insect </td></tr>
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<br />And this is a crop to just the wing veins:<div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-71Qv2GgvsjM/VABJFdDZ9hI/AAAAAAAAIvs/wPFWJHYqXFo/s1600/horticola-wing-400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-71Qv2GgvsjM/VABJFdDZ9hI/AAAAAAAAIvs/wPFWJHYqXFo/s1600/horticola-wing-400.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crop showing just the wing veins</td></tr>
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These three images were all taken from the same original. This camera continues to astound me with its performance.<div>
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The image is also instructive in another way: In the field I initially identified this as <i>Eristalis pertinax</i>. But when I blew it up on the computer I noticed the dark wing shade and the yellow margins to the abdominal tergites. The only species <i>on my patch </i>that looks like that is <i>Eristalis horticola</i>, so I changed my identification without any further thought.</div>
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I showed the images around and was informed that this was indeed <i>Eristalis pertinax</i>, and that occasionally it can have a dark wing shade! Lesson learned: although I can safely identify my local set of species, I need to take into account variations that might occur outside my immediate geographical area.</div>
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Someone found this mine on Wood Avens and brought it for me to look at:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P_h6YYKSYqI/VABJKNtZxkI/AAAAAAAAIwI/NhdQ6aRiBqg/s1600/stigmella-aurella.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P_h6YYKSYqI/VABJKNtZxkI/AAAAAAAAIwI/NhdQ6aRiBqg/s1600/stigmella-aurella.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mine of <i>Stigmella aurella</i> on Geum</td></tr>
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I immediately recognised this as a Stigmella mine (central frass in a corridor mine), but didn't know which species of Stigmella mines Geum. So I took the images and went back to the office to check the internet. Turns out it's the very common <i>Stigmella aurella</i>, which I have often shown on Bramble. Bramble and Geum are both members of the Rosaceae, so they're quite closely related. It's nice to get confirmation from details like this that the plant taxonomists were right!</div>
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Finally, I found a few pristine specimens of the Parasol Mushroom, <i>Lepiota procera</i>:</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Lepiota procera</i> - Parasol Mushroom</td></tr>
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I think I'll have a fungal foray to Ards on Sunday.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225743105419715015noreply@blogger.com1