Curious Findings

 There are more curious things to report this week that were found by sharp eyed naturalists..... 

Photo by Garnett Hudson: Bear paw print

Photo by Dottie Haley: Downy Rattlesnake Plantain

Photo by Mary Foster: Curious mollusk found under a rock in a stream at Clayton nature center in Bedford.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The following photo needs some explanation.  According to this article on Insect Galls, there are around 1,500 species of insects that can create galls in plant leaves, branches and trunks.  Leaf galls are the least harmful to the plants.  I was familiar with gall wasps, but these may have been created by a midge (tiny fly).  I found more photos of the Oak Leaf Gall Midge on iNaturalist. 

Photo by Dottie Haley: Insect Galls

Always on the lookout for curious fungus, Dottie also spotted some Hen in the Woods (Grifola frondosa)  Read more about it here: https://www.mushroomexpert.com/grifola_frondosa.html

 

Photo by Dottie Haley: Hen in the Woods