Judy Webb
@judywebb.bsky.social
960 followers 260 following 330 posts
Ecologist, Palynologist (pollen expert) quite good at Botany, Entomology & Mycology. Conservationist. Ex School Teacher, Ex Forensic Scientist.
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Reposted by Judy Webb
compoundchem.com
It's mushroom season in the Northern Hemisphere 🍄

Here's a look at the chemistry of arguably the most iconic mushroom, fly agaric, and what makes them so brightly coloured and hallucinogenic: www.compoundchem.com/2024/11/11/f...

#ChemSky 🧪
Infographic on fly agaric mushrooms, with an image of the mushrooms in the middle (red with white spots). The chemical structures of the mushroom's pigments are shown, including muscarufin, the primary pigment responsible for their red colour. The compounds behind the mushrooms' psychoactive properties, ibotenic acid and muscimol, are also shown. These compounds imitate neurotransmitters in the brain to exert their effects.
judywebb.bsky.social
Oxford Brookes Uni students had a great time recently in #LyeValley #fen learning various coring techniques, studying peat & tufa sediments. They learnt what hard work it was! but some very interesting layers discovered, now for some lab study...
@friendlyevalley.bsky.social @palaeolou.bsky.social
judywebb.bsky.social
One of the best seed bank species, I try and record every year but nothing during drought.
judywebb.bsky.social
Thanks, looking the others up!
judywebb.bsky.social
Found a troop of 'Inocybe' under hazel near beeches on chalk. Turned over a couple that had this surprising pink colour of gills, others buff going brown Might this be a form of Inocybe erubescens or might this pink be a bacterial infection? Any ideas #fungifriends ? @lukaslarge.bsky.social
judywebb.bsky.social
Great to see! Watch out for small mammals eating the seed as well as deer.
judywebb.bsky.social
Slime moulds are so weird, they fascinate me..
piotrgasiorowski.bsky.social
Some beautiful colonies of Hemitrichia decipiens. Kicin, Wielkopolska (Western Poland).
#slimemoulds #slimemolds #śluzowce #myxofriends #Myxogastria #Eumycetozoa #Amoebozoa.
Reposted by Judy Webb
martinswarren.bsky.social
The new European Butterfly Red List is published today, with worrying findings. Over 1/4 (28%) of Europe’s 442 species are threatened with extinction or are close to being so. The situation is far worse for our 148 endemic species, 40% are now threatened or nearly so www.bc-europe.eu/webpage.php?...
Front cover of the European Butterfly Red List, showing Polyommatus humedasae. The report can be downloaded at https://www.bc-europe.eu/webpage.php?name=red-list-butterflies-2025
judywebb.bsky.social
Why is it considered an ancient woodland species?
judywebb.bsky.social
Are you poking the seeds into the compost a bit?
judywebb.bsky.social
Yes, one of our best populations. Introduced to N Hinksey by the Oxon Flora Group in 1997 and now maintained by regular mowing with cuttings collected to simulate grazing that cannot now happen.
judywebb.bsky.social
And luckily now findable every year on Port Meadow, if you know where to look!
judywebb.bsky.social
I miss that sound of waves on Chesil beach..
Reposted by Judy Webb
yasharali.bsky.social
Earlier this year, Dr. Jane Goodall sat down for an interview for Brad Falchuk’s new Netflix series, Famous Last Words.

The premise of the series is to interview people on the condition that the interview not air until the subject has passed away.
Reposted by Judy Webb
britmycolsoc.org.uk
🔟 Most commonly-encountered fungi in UK & Ireland - Number 10: Brown Roll-Rim (Paxillus involutus). Fascinating Fact: Once considered edible, this fungus has caused fatal haemolytic anaemia in humans, so is now classified as toxic 😱 #UKFungusDay www.ukfungusday.co.uk/10brownrollrim
10 - Brown Roll-Rim | UK Fungus Day
Home
www.ukfungusday.co.uk
Reposted by Judy Webb
britmycolsoc.org.uk
Countdown to #UKFungusDay 🍄Most commonly-encountered fungi in UK & Ireland: 8️⃣ Jelly Ear (Auricularia auricularia-judae). Contains polysaccharides with anticoagulant properties, making it a potential aid in preventing blood clots. www.ukfungusday.co.uk/8woodear
8 - Wood Ear | UK Fungus Day
www.ukfungusday.co.uk
Reposted by Judy Webb
britmycolsoc.org.uk
Countdown to #UKFungusDay 🍄Most commonly-encountered fungi in UK & Ireland: 2️⃣ Hairy Curtain Crust (Stereum hirsutum). This species shows potential for degrading industrial pollutants, such as industrial dyes and heavy metals.
www.ukfungusday.co.uk/2hairycurtai...
2 - Hairy Curtain Crust | UK Fungus Day
www.ukfungusday.co.uk
Reposted by Judy Webb
britmycolsoc.org.uk
Countdown to #UKFungusDay 🍄Most commonly-encountered fungi in UK & Ireland: 3️⃣ Candle Snuff or Stag's Horn fungus (Xylaria hypoxylon). With long exposures, a weak bioluminescence can be detected from the fruitbodies of this fungus!
www.ukfungusday.co.uk/3candlesnuff
3 - Candle Snuff | UK Fungus Day
www.ukfungusday.co.uk
Reposted by Judy Webb
britmycolsoc.org.uk
Countdown to #UKFungusDay 🍄Most commonly-encountered fungi in UK & Ireland: 5️⃣ Amethyst Deceiver (Laccaria amethystina). The vivid purple of colour fades with age & weather, often leading to misidentification, hence the common name 'Deceiver'.
www.ukfungusday.co.uk/5amethystdec...
5 - Amethyst Deceiver | UK Fungus Day
www.ukfungusday.co.uk
Reposted by Judy Webb
britmycolsoc.org.uk
Countdown to #UKFungusDay 🍄Most commonly-encountered fungi in UK & Ireland: 6️⃣ Birch Polypore (Fomitopsis betulina). Was found with Ötzi the Iceman, a 5300-year-old mummy, suggesting its ancient use as a natural antibiotic & antiparasitic agent.
www.ukfungusday.co.uk/6birchpolypore
6 - Birch Polypore | UK Fungus Day
Home
www.ukfungusday.co.uk
Reposted by Judy Webb
britmycolsoc.org.uk
Countdown to #UKFungusDay (it's tomorrow - 4th October!)🍄Most commonly-encountered fungi in UK & Ireland: 1️⃣ Turkey Tails(Trametes versicolor) This fungus is rich in antioxidants, which help protect its cells from damage. www.ukfungusday.co.uk/1turkeytails
1 - Turkey Tails | UK Fungus Day
www.ukfungusday.co.uk
judywebb.bsky.social
We welcomed again entomologist Steve Gregory to #LyeValley #fen to complete his grant-funded invertebrate survey. A bit cool for flying insects but Steve did find spiders & snails & actually found a Glow-worm larva feeding on a dead snail! @friendlyevalley.bsky.social @colsocbi.bsky.social
judywebb.bsky.social
Look at how important warm sunny logs are to wildlife at this time of year in #LyeValley. A basking Common Darter and a very young Viviparous Lizard just absorbing as much warmth as possible. @friendlyevalley.bsky.social