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Stephen Plummer @stephenplummer.bsky.social · 3h

The hall that we’re working in for the British Mycological Society’s Autumn Foray in Dumfries is cavernous!!

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Stephen Plummer @stephenplummer.bsky.social · 2d

First evening at the BMS’s Autumn Foray based in Dumfries and the signs are already promising with lots of species of fungi just outside the front door of the lab. We were also treated to a show-and-tell by Thomas Lassoe

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Stephen Plummer @stephenplummer.bsky.social · 4d

It was a privilege to be a part of the #UKFungus day at College Lakes NR and to see the passion of the Bucks Fungus Group members and the enthusiasm of those visiting

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Stephen Plummer @stephenplummer.bsky.social · 6d

A mystery Bolete from Pullingshill Wood, Marlow, that’s causing some excitement. It will be DNA-sequenced and, hopefully, the species will be revealed!

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Stephen Plummer @stephenplummer.bsky.social · 8d

An amazing foray in Pullingshill Wood, Bucks, this morning, including Rubroboletus rhodoxanthus and possible Suillelus mendax

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Stephen Plummer @stephenplummer.bsky.social · 9d

It was a privilege to spend a day with the renowned Libby Houston in the Avon Gorge, especially under her special Hornbeam: Sorbus x houstoniae

Stephen Plummer @stephenplummer.bsky.social · 9d

It will be interesting to see how much the list increases over the next few months

Stephen Plummer @stephenplummer.bsky.social · 10d

You’d love it, but at least you get to go to the Spring Foray….which probably won’t be possible for me next year!

Stephen Plummer @stephenplummer.bsky.social · 10d

Chuffed to have just found a Shieldbug species new to Bedfordshire: Southern Green Shieldbug at Clophill Lakes NR

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Stephen Plummer @stephenplummer.bsky.social · 11d

It was last year’s Autumn Foray in the Forest of Dean😃

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Stephen Plummer @stephenplummer.bsky.social · 12d

Hi Fay, I’m trying to remember, but I think that it was grass - I can’t find it photo of it in situ.
Penny sent it off for DNA sequencing and, thankfully, it resulted in a clear sequence and match!

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Stephen Plummer @stephenplummer.bsky.social · 13d

It looks like an Arrhenia that I found during the BMS's 2024 Autumn Foray may be new for Britain: Arrhenia glauca [Yew Tree Brake Cemetery, Cinderford]

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Stephen Plummer @stephenplummer.bsky.social · 15d

Boletus satanus - Satan’s Bolete - at last!!😅

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Stephen Plummer @stephenplummer.bsky.social · 16d

Black-footed Polypore, Rooting Shank and a frog at Clophill Lakes this afternoon!

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Stephen Plummer @stephenplummer.bsky.social · 16d

Subclytia rotundiventris - a Tachinid fly at Clophill Lakes this afternoon

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Stephen Plummer @stephenplummer.bsky.social · 18d

The best photo I can get of Sorbus proctoriana - I think it’s the only known one in the world! (Avon Gorge)

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Stephen Plummer @stephenplummer.bsky.social · Aug 28

Cinnamon Bracket at Clophill Lakes NR…..and a Common Lizard on a football!😅

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Stephen Plummer @stephenplummer.bsky.social · Aug 27

I returned to try to obtain a specimen of the Stomaphis quercus aphids. Even at gone 10.30pm the ants (Lasius fuliginosus) were extremely protective, swarming up my soft forceps whenever they had the chance. I finally got hold of one: look at that rostrum!! The last photo is Alan Outen’s

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Stephen Plummer @stephenplummer.bsky.social · Aug 26

If you come across a column of 🐜 🐜 🐜 🐜 it’s always worth following them to see where they may lead….in this case the rare Great Oak Aphid (Stomaphis quercus), though they’re hard to make out amongst the hundreds of frenzied ants!😃

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Stephen Plummer @stephenplummer.bsky.social · Aug 25

Hymenopellis radicata demonstrating why it’s called ‘Rooting Shank’ in Ampthill Park this morning!😃

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Stephen Plummer @stephenplummer.bsky.social · Aug 24

Our friends took us to their allotment today to show us their spectacular Maize Smut. It was also nice to catch up with some beautifully flowering Treacle Mustard.

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Stephen Plummer @stephenplummer.bsky.social · Aug 21

This Morophaga choragella moth was on the wall above our bed as we turned in last night. I notice that it's called the Large Clothes Moth on iRecord. I didn't tell Carole that!😅
It's more correctly called the Great Fungus Moth elsewhere, the larvae feeding within bracket fungi.

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Stephen Plummer @stephenplummer.bsky.social · Aug 21

Someone told me that he has seen them in numbers along the verge by our new home so I’m expecting to encounter more over the coming weeks

Stephen Plummer @stephenplummer.bsky.social · Aug 21

Large White larvae on wild Garlic Mustard plants. The mustard oil glucosides in the leaves give them a bitter taste that dissuades potential predators from eating them. Garlic Mustard is the only Cabbage family plant to smell of Garlic…maybe that takes the sting off the taste for a hungry Sparrow!😃

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Stephen Plummer @stephenplummer.bsky.social · Aug 20

My first Deathcap (Amanita phalloides) of the year growing on the wooded verge outside our home

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