Candlesnuff
These photos are all from the Prairie Seekers field day in Collin County.
Candlesnuff fungus or also called Stag’s horn fungus (Xylaria species)! Apparently you must look at the spores to get a definite answer for the species according to the MushroomExpert.
Border Patch caterpillar on Saw-tooth Sunflower (Helianthus grosseserratus)! We saw quite a few of these cats on the sunflowers.
This is the stem of the Saw-tooth Sunflower (Helianthus grosseserratus)!
Hard to resist peeking inside!
I was surprised to find the Seven-spotted Ladybugs in there.
This Leprapia neglecta lichen looks like a powder or paint on the tree!
Fruit and Flower Chafer (Trichiotinus assimilis) nestled in a Barbara’s Button!
Why were ladybugs in there? Great pics. Love the candlesnuff. Never seen it before. Thanks.
Judy, Good question! I don't know. Theory: Maybe they just wanted a warm place like they do over the winter?
That was such a fun day! Was there another fungus similar-looking to the candlesnuff you called fairy fingers?
Suzanne, yes, it was a fun day. Carol and David have such different places but both interesting. Fairy fingers or just fingers is a name I made up. 😉 so the other two names are the common names used usually I think. There is another fungus whose common name is Dead man’s fingers in the same genus. But they are much bigger and fatter like real human sized fingers.