Candlesnuff
These photos are all from the Prairie Seekers field day in Collin County.
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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.
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Border Patch caterpillar on Saw-tooth Sunflower (Helianthus grosseserratus)! We saw quite a few of these cats on the sunflowers.
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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.
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This Leprapia neglecta lichen looks like a powder or paint on the tree!
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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.