Rob Yaxley
@robyaxley.bsky.social
Naturalist: lichens, moths, beetles, bugs and anything else that catches my eye. “What is this life if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare.”
I’ve seen quite a few of these tiny Mycena pseudocorticolas recently, always amongst moss on damp tree trunks. I like em.
November 28, 2025 at 7:24 PM
I’ve seen quite a few of these tiny Mycena pseudocorticolas recently, always amongst moss on damp tree trunks. I like em.
A jelly lichen at the north end of the East Bank at Cley Marshes. There’s a small section of concrete with a few interesting lichens there. This is either Scytinium turgidum or Enchylium tenax, not sure which.
November 27, 2025 at 8:49 PM
A jelly lichen at the north end of the East Bank at Cley Marshes. There’s a small section of concrete with a few interesting lichens there. This is either Scytinium turgidum or Enchylium tenax, not sure which.
What I think is likely to be Myriospora smaragdula, although I could not coax the expected K+ red reaction from it. I must admit I do find the Acarospora/ Myriospora group quite confusing. Hunworth Churchyard wall.
November 27, 2025 at 6:17 PM
What I think is likely to be Myriospora smaragdula, although I could not coax the expected K+ red reaction from it. I must admit I do find the Acarospora/ Myriospora group quite confusing. Hunworth Churchyard wall.
Peacock butterfly underwing just for fun.
November 27, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Peacock butterfly underwing just for fun.
Peacock upperwing just for fun.
November 27, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Peacock upperwing just for fun.
Apparently it’s Melanelixia glabratula Monday. Niche but nice…
November 24, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Apparently it’s Melanelixia glabratula Monday. Niche but nice…
I wasn’t necessarily expecting any new species on a visit to urban Leeds, but it was nice to find this Grey Silverfish (Ctenolepisma longicaudata) on my son’s kitchen worktop. Nice for me, at least.
November 23, 2025 at 6:34 PM
I wasn’t necessarily expecting any new species on a visit to urban Leeds, but it was nice to find this Grey Silverfish (Ctenolepisma longicaudata) on my son’s kitchen worktop. Nice for me, at least.
Divided spores of Thelidium decipiens. This is a lichen of hard limestone, with immersed perithecia like a Bagliettoa, but the large, divided (septate) spores are diagnostic. #SAS
November 21, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Divided spores of Thelidium decipiens. This is a lichen of hard limestone, with immersed perithecia like a Bagliettoa, but the large, divided (septate) spores are diagnostic. #SAS
I had a bloke come up to me in the churchyard at Harpley asking what I was doing. For some reason he just couldn’t believe I was admiring Circinaria hoffmanniana. The concept seemed somehow laughable to him. Some people (shakes head). 😁
November 21, 2025 at 5:29 PM
I had a bloke come up to me in the churchyard at Harpley asking what I was doing. For some reason he just couldn’t believe I was admiring Circinaria hoffmanniana. The concept seemed somehow laughable to him. Some people (shakes head). 😁
I have heard this before, but I prefer to think of myself as part ⬇️
November 20, 2025 at 6:51 PM
I have heard this before, but I prefer to think of myself as part ⬇️
I am a fully paid up member of the SAS (Spore Appreciation Society; also - Socks and Sandals). Here are the spores of the globose microfungus Navicella pileata to prove it.
November 19, 2025 at 9:00 PM
I am a fully paid up member of the SAS (Spore Appreciation Society; also - Socks and Sandals). Here are the spores of the globose microfungus Navicella pileata to prove it.
Really nice looking thing…
November 18, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Really nice looking thing…
Cladonia ciliata var. tenuis shows P+ red and looks very cool in the process. P is Para-phenylenediamine, one of the three main chemical reagents used to spot-test lichens. The other two are K (Potassium hydroxide 10%) and C (hypochlorite or household bleach).
November 17, 2025 at 10:16 PM
Cladonia ciliata var. tenuis shows P+ red and looks very cool in the process. P is Para-phenylenediamine, one of the three main chemical reagents used to spot-test lichens. The other two are K (Potassium hydroxide 10%) and C (hypochlorite or household bleach).
I am lucky to work with some talented colleagues. These edible moths were made for a staff member’s birthday cake (no pics of cake, already gone😋).
November 17, 2025 at 7:15 PM
I am lucky to work with some talented colleagues. These edible moths were made for a staff member’s birthday cake (no pics of cake, already gone😋).
It is very weird stuff. Dog vomit slime mould is used as a name in the UK, although the one in my post is a slightly different species.
November 16, 2025 at 5:31 PM
It is very weird stuff. Dog vomit slime mould is used as a name in the UK, although the one in my post is a slightly different species.
Some nice stuff from Bryant’s Heath today with Norfolk Fungus Study Group. Physcia aipolia, slime mould Badhamia foliicola, orange asco of some sort and Normandina pulchella. Need to spend another day there!
November 16, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Some nice stuff from Bryant’s Heath today with Norfolk Fungus Study Group. Physcia aipolia, slime mould Badhamia foliicola, orange asco of some sort and Normandina pulchella. Need to spend another day there!
Highest rainfall in 24 hours at Yaxley Acres for at least 3 years.
November 15, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Highest rainfall in 24 hours at Yaxley Acres for at least 3 years.
A caterpillar (possibly Fox Moth) consumed by an as yet unknown fungus from Dersingham Bog yesterday. If anyone does have their suspicions as to what the fungus might be, don’t be shy!
November 10, 2025 at 8:19 PM
A caterpillar (possibly Fox Moth) consumed by an as yet unknown fungus from Dersingham Bog yesterday. If anyone does have their suspicions as to what the fungus might be, don’t be shy!
Oak Rustic was new for me this morning, and good to get both Dark Chestnut and The Chestnut.
November 9, 2025 at 8:34 AM
Oak Rustic was new for me this morning, and good to get both Dark Chestnut and The Chestnut.
On the way back from the marsh at Warham Greens.
November 7, 2025 at 7:51 PM
On the way back from the marsh at Warham Greens.
55 species of lichen isn’t bad for a small rural yard.
November 6, 2025 at 6:35 PM
55 species of lichen isn’t bad for a small rural yard.
A really nice example of Lecidella scabra on a coped tomb at Briningham. Soredia are K+ yellow and C+ orange, with black apothecia on a cortex of rounded pale granular areoles.
November 6, 2025 at 5:58 PM
A really nice example of Lecidella scabra on a coped tomb at Briningham. Soredia are K+ yellow and C+ orange, with black apothecia on a cortex of rounded pale granular areoles.
A large congregation of Ramshorn Bagworm Luffia lapidella at Briningham churchyard today, grazing on the lichen.
November 6, 2025 at 5:20 PM
A large congregation of Ramshorn Bagworm Luffia lapidella at Briningham churchyard today, grazing on the lichen.
Umbers Mottled and Scarce by the light trap this morning. Both feed on a variety of broad-leaved trees and shrubs, I wonder what separates them ecologically.
November 6, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Umbers Mottled and Scarce by the light trap this morning. Both feed on a variety of broad-leaved trees and shrubs, I wonder what separates them ecologically.