Myxomycetes

Pitufo · Post by **Pitufo** » Wed Jul 06, 2016 11:44 pm

Another sequence - likely to be Stemonitopsis typhina. It goes through a bit of a Jeff Koons (or aubergine?) period in photo number 2. In photo number 3, it looks a little like an avocado skin. Between photos 1 and 2 there is also a "bag of pink water on a stick" stage, not shown. I may add one from another group later.

EDIT: the following two photos are from other groups of the same species but show more of the developmental process

Pau · Post by **Pau** » Thu Jul 07, 2016 2:59 am

What a great sequence!

Pitufo · Post by **Pitufo** » Tue Jul 12, 2016 8:06 am

Thank you Pau

I managed to get another couple of photos of some of the earlier stages from other groups and edited them in above.

Chris S. · Post by **Chris S.** » Tue Jul 26, 2016 9:18 pm

What a fascinating sequence--well done! I'm glad you added the extra images.

One detail that would be very nice would be the amount of time elapsing between each image.

--Chris

Pitufo · Post by **Pitufo** » Thu Jul 28, 2016 11:30 am

Thank you Chris

From memory, the whole sequence was taken over 48 - 72 hours, so about 12 hours between the stages shown is a very rough approximation.

I could probably piece it together more accurately from the image file data.

Cheers,

John

Lou Jost · Post by **Lou Jost** » Thu Jul 28, 2016 12:50 pm

A great series! It would be neat to make an animation gif of a sequence like this!

Pitufo · Post by **Pitufo** » Sun Aug 21, 2016 8:03 am

Thanks Lou

Yes, it would be a nice thing to do if I could line up all the images correctly.

A few images of another myxomycete, Cribraria aurantiaca, found yesterday at Causey Arch, Durham. This species has a "cage" enclosing the spore mass and by transmitted light the spores appear transparent with yellow/green inclusions.

Lou Jost · Post by **Lou Jost** » Sun Aug 21, 2016 8:28 am

So interesting! That's the best thing about microphotography, it opens up new worlds.

ChrisR · Post by **ChrisR** » Sun Aug 21, 2016 2:31 pm

More, please

Pitufo · Post by **Pitufo** » Thu Sep 15, 2016 11:33 am

Thanks Chris and Lou - it's been a while but here's another

Tubulifera arachnoidea

Pitufo · Post by **Pitufo** » Mon Sep 19, 2016 1:26 am

Cribraria argillacea found near Rothbury, Northumberland a couple of days ago.

Pitufo · Post by **Pitufo** » Tue Nov 01, 2016 5:24 am

Lamproderma columbinum, Northumberland, UK.

Pau · Post by **Pau** » Tue Nov 01, 2016 1:08 pm

Another excellent set!

Troels · Post by **Troels** » Tue Nov 01, 2016 3:12 pm

Very beautiful and interesting.
I wonder if theese creatures are rare or my eyes just have to learn to tune in on them.

Troels

Pitufo · Post by **Pitufo** » Wed Nov 02, 2016 11:44 am

Thanks Pau and Troels

Myxomycetes are very widely distributed in soil and decaying wood but usually overlooked as they cause us no harm. The easiest place to start is going to damp woodland and looking very closely at rotting logs. Take a hand lens, a knife and box to collect samples. I usually make individual caskets for samples in tin foil for extra protection.

Most myxos are only a few mm tall but some are much larger (the largest - Brefeldia maxima - can be up to several metres across).

Summer and autumn are the best times to look but they can be be found all year round. Let me know when you find one!