Mousepee Pinkgill

Monday Mushroom #93

Entoloma incanum - Mousepee Pinkgill

Froghopper

Wildlife Wednesday #54

Cercopis intermedia - Froghopper

Young froghoppers are the insects that produce 'cuckoo spit' - the little globs of foam you find in the grass. They live inside the foam for protection, but the adults - like this one - do without.

Conehead Mantis

Wildlife Wednesday #51

Here is Empusa pennata - the conehead mantis - a large, but very thin praying mantis from southwest europe.

Empusa pennata - Conehead mantis

Empusa pennata - Conehead mantis

 Males can distinguished by their long, feathery antennae which they use to home in on pheremones released by the females during the breeding season.

Empusa pennata - Conehead mantis

Red Cage Fungus

Monday Mushroom #50

Clathrus ruber - Red Cage Fungus

I came across this intriguing looking egg like structure pushing up through the leaf mould in a forest in southern France.

Clathrus ruber - Red Cage Fungus

Red cage fungus is related to stink horns - same egg-like, jelly filled ball which the expanding fruiting body bursts out of. The shape and colour of the mature fungus are rather different, though. I couldn't find a mature specimen, but see wikipedia

Clathrus ruber - Red Cage Fungus

Lounging Lizard

Fencepost of the Week #59

A wall lizard - Podarcis muralis - shirking its titular obligations in order to decorate this charming french fencepost.