vilseskog's Favorites

On a dead or dying Ailanthus,.
Old mushroom.
The tree has the label '028' (picture 2).

This observation is particularly interesting because few mushrooms species grow on dead Ailanthus.

This tree is in a group of Ailanthuses previously infested with lanternflies and then covered with black mold.

The specimen was damaged by worms. DNA sequencing was completed

On Persian ironwoood (Parrotia persica), witchhazel family.

Leafminer
4 circular overwintering chambers with 1 larva in each
On this tree:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=132720&q=RG_02&subview=grid&verifiable=any

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/187613452

On persimmon leaves.

I wrapped the branch having the caterpillars in a mesh bag. The first day, they consumed almost all the leaves in the bag. Every day, I add fresh leaves in the bag.

Observations of the same colony (grid view)
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?order_by=observed_on&place_id=51&q=RHCM_2023_HB_1&search_on=tags&subview=grid

Addendum:
Many years ago, I raised silkworms, from my entomology classes, in my dorm room.

This might be the same plant that was observed at 5:42pm, but I'm not 100% sure so I am making a separate observation. (It was an out and back trail - this might have been the same plant photographed earlier in the day.)

no visible cell walls, thick separate dark sporangia (?), filaments a lot thicker than Oedogonium. In stagnant freshwater pond, from surface covered in filamentous algae, Native Plant Garden at Rutgers Garden

From a distance, it looks like sawdust.
Under a lanternfly-infested Ailanthus.
Everything else on the ground is covered with black mold, which is feeding on lanternfly honeydew.

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/139331818 (3 weeks later, it is black)