Magnificent Mushrooms.

New, to me at least, in the valley is the Shaggy Parasol Mushroom, Macrolepiota rhacodes, several specimens of which nestle in the hedge bottom half way up to Ewelease Dairy.

Shaggy Parasol Mushroom.  Click to enlarge.  Photo. John Elliott

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This large mushroom, which may be up to 15 cm in diameter, has a cap which is at first smooth, dark pinkish to cinnamon brown, then breaking up, except at the centre, into large scales revealing the underlying white flesh.  It is edible, but some people are allergic to it.

  Shaggy Parasol Mushroom.  Click to enlarge. Photo. John Elliott

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The smooth stem is characteristic of this mushroom, the other two species of Parasol mushrooms have snakeskin stems, and also the ring round the stem just below the cap. This is a feature also found on the Amanita mushrooms which include the deadly poisonous Death Cap and the Destroying Angel. so be very cautious. Even though it has a ring it may not be the very edible Parasol mushroom.

Harlequin Ladybirds

‘Invasion of cannibal ladybirds carrying STIs wreaks havoc,” says the Sun.,  and they have arrived in Martinstown! Several dozen of these very variable ladybirds were seen today basking in the autumnal sun on the Old Cricket Ground fence.

Harlequin Ladybirds.    Click to enlarge.  Photo. John Elliott

Harlequin Ladybird larvae.  Click to enlarge.   Photo. John Elliott

This very variable species, the spots can vary between two and twenty, was used to control aphids in the US in the 1980s. Quickly spreading to Europe, it arrived in Britain in 2004, and has now spread country wide in record time. On first arrival it started eating, not only aphids, but also our native Ladybirds.However it is now thought that small wasp species are predating the insects and that a balance will be achieved in time.