on kalmia angustifolia leaf
on moss leaf:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/216355102
video of it squirming:
https://x.com/FungiwithBengi/status/1792211682384912812
Successfully reared 3 adults! Will send to Owen Lonsdale.
Caught lowering itself on silk thread from bathroom ceiling; now in a vial. 4mm.
Collected about 9 active mines for rearing. The larva from one mine was found walking around the collection vial within <1hr of collecting. Others remain in mines as active larvae or in chambers, as in photo 2 of this observation: https://inaturalist.ca/observations/138429043. Will store everything in fridge until April.
I suspect the larvae make multiple mines. Mines tended to be clustered - I would search for 10 minutes without finding anything, then would find 2 or 3 mines in very close proximity, often same plant, with most or all mines empty, including some small leaves that were completely mined.
Photos 1 and 2 show leaf underside, photo 3 the upperside. Note the frass ejected from hole on underside.
Appears to be a leafminer in Nymphoides.
Vertebra?
on white ash / fraxinus americana
on a mystery grass:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/174140903
I've only seen this species when in seed, so this is a partial guess
Thought it would be soft plantlike to feel but it is hard rubbery @bradtoms
at site 1
black insect at centre, flew off when disturbed
On apple
on American elm
Found beneath the roses and larch.
Sometimes a microscopic slide mount may not look too interesting. The first one looks boring and confusing but in fact shows many important features (conidia, nematode carcasses filled with mycelium and attachment pegs). After consultation and further photos it was included as the first record for North America (Baral et al., 2020). The only way to learn is to send photos. They may be more significant than you think.
Lecophagus vermicola Magyar et al. On branch (Populus sp) attached to live tree heavily colonized by old Hysteriaceae. Lecophagus observed close to Orbilia sp. Conidia canoe shape with upturned ends, 5-7 septate; meaurements in water mount 52-73x15-19µm not including upturned ends which measure 10-12µm long therefore total of 63-90x15-19µm. Stored in cold garage overnight and reobserved in lacto blue mount showed a reduction in width to 12-15µm probably due to death and lacto blue mounting medium. Photos with dark blue conidia taken in lacto blue mounting media. All others in water. Note the internal hyphae in dead nematode and “sticky knob” on outside surface of nematode.
References
Baral, H.O., Evi Weber, Guy Marson. 2020. Monograph of Orbiliomycetes (Ascomata) Based on Vital Taxonomy.1752 pp. Published by Musee National d’Histoire Naturelle, Luxembourg.
Magyar, Marson, Merenyi, Baral. 2016. Lecophagus vermicola sp. nov. a nematophagus hyphomycete with an unusual hunting strategy. Mycol. Progress 15:1137-1144..
On chokecherry. Not sure if it's a gall or fruit forming up
Attracted to white and UV lights in old field habitat next to mixed forest along coast of Northumberland Strait. Lots of Populus within 20 meters.
Length approx. 4.4 mm.
could be north of usual range?
Feeding on a pollinium (3rd picture) of P. dilatata var. dilatata as pointed out by
@arethusa in a previous observation
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/123423357 (3rd picture)
Pupal case - it 'nods' when disturbed
abnormality on this plant.
On Rosa multiflora, observed separately.
I had originally thought this might be Fenusa julia which iNat does not have.
See https://www.researchgate.net/figure/10-Fenusa-julia-8-9-Mines-in-Rubus-woodsii-10-Prepupa_fig1_317068119 and of particular note, it "is the first record of a leafmining sawfly of Rosa in North America".
Reticulate pattern and globular soredia on lobe margins
On a small type of birch (yellow?).
I want to say Marmara sp., but this seemed to be more of a spiral around the branch, so I am not really sure.
On Eastern Hophornbeam (mines are all from the same tree, with some tree identification photos included)
On Eastern Hophornbeam. These were on the other side of the bridge from the last observation. (a couple different trees)
Small aspen shoots on a fallen section of tree (I think - sure looks like aspen at the top)
I tried to rear this but it got moldy
Gilded specklebelly lichen - pseudocyphellaria perpetua
Jack pine, I think
ID based largely on host. This is definitely White Ash, Green Ash doesn't occur in this part of Nova Scotia (or in much of NS at all)
Small moth (6mm) inside the house.
Based on the tests I have down to date (C-, K+ y-r), I think this is Cladonia subcariosa. To be sure, I am not certain it requires more chem tests like TLC