Cyathus Striatus, Streaked Bird's-Nest

Day 29: Bird's-nest fungi fascinate me, and this discovery gave me the opportunity to add a new species to my growing list of photo submissions to the WTU Herbarium. It is Cyathus striatus, variously known as Streaked Bird's-nest, Fluted Bird's-nest, Ribbed Splash Cup and a host of other common names. It is relatively easy to identify (at least here in the Pacific Northwest) by the combination of two distinctive features: the striations in the interior of the cup and the fluted "nest." It is somewhat shaggy (tomentose) on the exterior when fresh and not waterlogged, and young specimens may exhibit a pale "lid" on the cup. Once the lid opens, the peridioles are revealed. These lentil-shaped "eggs" hold the spores, and in this species, they are attached to the "nest" by a fine cord. This prevents the peridioles from being washed any distance from the parent, so the "nests" are frequently found in groupings such as this.

Multicoloured Asian Ladybird, Harmonia Axyridis

Day 206: Harmonia axyridis has more common names than it has spot patterns, notably "Hallowe'en ladybug," "harlequin lady beetle," "multicoloured Asian ladybird" and assorted variations on those and other themes. It can appear in an entirely red or orange form, or it can have as many as 22 spots on its shell. The identifying feature which sorts it out in the field is its size. It is quite possibly the largest ladybug you'll see in the Pacific Northwest. A typical specimen (i.e., one which shows numerous distinctive markings) will have a white pronotum marked with black, as is the case here.

Introduced to the US to help control aphids and scale insects, these ladybirds frequently appear in large numbers during the spring and fall. Despite their abundance, they are not considered an invasive species, although anyone who's ever picked 38 of them off their shower walls before having a wash as I once did might disagree with that assessment.

Schizophyllum Commune, Split-Gill Fungus

Day 43: Geocache aside, my best find from yesterday's exploits was Schizophyllum commune. Arguably the "world's most common fungus," I had never observed this species until a few years ago when a friend found it on her property and invited me over to identify it. Yesterday's discovery was only the second location in which I've seen it in full fruit. These specimens were a little rain-worn and not as pinkish as they would have been otherwise.

Known also as "split-gill fungus," this species' common name reflects a characteristic unusual in fungi. If you look closely, you can see that some of the ribs are split lengthwise. These "gills" open in response to wet conditions, releasing basidiospores when conditions are optimal for propagation. They close again during dry periods. New Split-Gills erupt only in the autumn; older specimens will dry out during the summer months and then rehydrate when the rainy season begins. Dry, they will resemble small grey polypores (shelf fungi), but examination of the underside with a hand lens will reveal their true identity.

OptOutside

Day 42: You don't have to twist my arm to get me to #OptOutside on Black Friday or any other day, for that matter. However, I do prefer to go when the rain isn't coming down in buckets, so I postponed this adventure until this morning when I thought I could squeeze the hike in between downpours. That's not to say I wasn't anticipating an abundance of water en route. That was unavoidable, given the amount of rain we've had this week. Consequently, I went prepared with waders, a trekking pole, and of course the camera and tripod. I had four crossings to make to reach a geocache, and this (the second one) was the deepest. The fourth one took me by surprise. Since my last visit, the beavers have been busy. I had to bushwhack through a tangle of snowberry bushes in order to get below their dam. The water has pooled above the dam to a depth which probably would have gone above my chest waders. Go on, tell me you had more fun pounding the pavement at the mall and parting with enormous amounts of your hard-earned money! I'm not going to believe you.