Metatrichia vesparium

[Ken Ramos]

These things resemble a tiny wasps nest and have brick red sporangia, which makes them easy to recognize. Beetleman (Doug) commented or asked in another post if the capillitium just popped out of the sporangia, well in this case it does, well sort of. Looking like a wasps nest in which the larvae are covered, the capillitium pushes against the coverning membrane or the "apical cap," and then pops out releasing or exposing the spore mass for dispersal. The individual sporangia measure 0.4 to 0.7 mm in diameter and are 1.0 to 1.5 mm tall.


Metatrichia vesparium
Fuji FinePix S7000
1/100 sec. @ f/2.8 ISO 200
Apologies for the camera macro but it is necessary for reference.


Metatrichia vesparium
Sony DSC-P200
1/6 sec. @ f/2.8 ISO 100
Zeiss Axiostar Plus
2.5X A-Plan Objective, Zeiss
Fiber Optic Halogen illumination

These two images were taken on March 18, 2005, the specimens being much to early for myxo's to be showing up here in Western North Carolina, so they are of the last summers fruitings. This goes to show that with diligence one can still find myxo's even when conditions in nature dictate otherwise.

[beetleman]

Now we are getting pretty small here. Great shots Ken

[Ken Ramos]

Thanks Doug. I believe they can get even smaller if I am not mistaken.

[Walter Piorkowski]

Nice closeup Ken. I've got to start doing these.

Walt

[Ken Ramos]

Thanks Walt, seems we are getting some ideas from one another. I really need to start doing some micro shots like you have been posting of the capillitium and spores. I would also guess you are giving Charlie some ideas too.

[Cyclops]

These things resemble a tiny wasps nest and have brick red sporangia, which makes them easy to recognize

Indeed this is borne out in its species name-vesparium. Vespa is latin for wasp!
Very interesting things!