Some Catching Up…In Photos
September 29th, 2007 by Kelley
With things being so busy over the last couple weeks I have not had time to upload any photos here. Here are some photos from the last couple weeks.
First, I came across this beautiful common stonefly (Perlidae) 2 weeks ago.
Stoneflies are way cool. The nymphs are found in flowing water with high oxygen content. They often act as indicators of good stream quality. Common stonefly nymphs are carnivorous and eat other insects that are in the streams.
This week we came across a bald-faced hornet nest, on accident.
They make those famous paper nests by chewing wood and mixing their saliva to form the end-product that dries into paper. Nests are set up in the spring and are active through the summer and fall. Once winter hits though, the young fertilized queens hibernate underground or in decomposing trees and usually the nests are abandoned altogether.
So, I think in a couple months I will try to go back and maybe split open the nest to get some pictures from inside the hive.
Lastly, we came across these goofy looking mushrooms. No idea what they are.
Hi Kelley, Just found your site while googling for beetle images to inspire some gold beetle jewelry. Very nice. Your ‘goofy mushrooms’ are commonly called ‘Shaggy Mane’ mushrooms, Coprinaceae Comatus. Mushrooms im this family are also commonly called “Inky Caps”, as they contain an enzyme which very quickly initiates autodigestion after maturity of the fruiting body called ‘deliquescence’. This turns them from what you see in your nice photo…to an inky, dripping black stipe or stem….all within a day. Shaggy Mane’s are large….and….a CHOICE edible! Your’s had me wishing I was with you, so I could collect them and make an omelette! By the way….your photos are lovely…and as I am shopping for a camera to do macro images of my jewelry…would you mind telling me what you use? Good Luck in all your ventures! Scott
Hi Scott,
Thanks for all the info on the shaggy mane. I see them often out here.
The camera I use is a Nikon D40x. I have a Tamron 180mm macro lens. The standard lens that comes with the camera body seems like it would be good for taking jewelery images too since it does alright with bugs. I don’t think you would really need a macro lens for jewelery, but maybe I am wrong. Better send me some to test it, hehe, just kidding