Pinning Mushrooms And A Key to the Green Beetles

 Yesterday, I posted a few pics of various mushrooms we found along the Volksweg Trail.  After riding 20 miles on the Bike, ( And not being very used to it)   Cheryl phoned in a light 2 mile run this morning and we headed out to the Coralville Dam to do some hunting locally. We were not disappointed. 

Well, maybe a little.   As Dad would say on a day we caught at least a handful of fish:  "We didn't get skunked!"  I kind of feel like that today.  We found some mushrooms.   7 species of Edible Mushrooms, in Fact!  Just not in the quantities I was hoping for.. Especially after all that rain we had last week.   From the Data I gathered on the Volksweg, I was under the assumption the Mushrooms would be HUGE and the Numbers would in MANY!

But, the Number's were Few!  And the size of many of the Mushrooms hints that they are Just coming out.  ( Called:  "Just beginning to Pin." by those "in the Know.") I was hoping for the Penny bun ( King)  Boletes and Chanterelles  like last year. 

Technically, we did find some Boletes.  Many of them were Field Boletes or the New one we found last year. (Gyroporus purpurinus )   But we did happen upon a few King Boletes in the Usual spot. ( where the Deer snack on them.... )   They did not look very "kingly" at this point in time. 

But we took them.  At least we knew they were fresh and not filled with Bugs or the white fungus. We were Pleasantly surprised when Cheryl discovered a Beautiful, almost picture perfect LOBSTER mushroom nearby. 

We were very excited, and continued to look in the usual "lobster place" but only found one additional one. ( Again, in its infancy...) and a handful of Emerald Laced Russulas.  

In the end, we found just about every edible mushroom you can have in those woods.   We even found some Woodear and Puffballs, but the Woodear was just a little past its prime to harvest.  When we finally arrived home, I headed to the backyard and the Neighbor's yard and found another basket of Field Boletes to add to the drying trays.   The Dehydrator is once again, fully filled with Mushrooms.  This time, however, we have a Mixed Medley of Flavors and Colors.

Newly formed Lobster Mushroom.

  I would say it was a successful trip.  And if we could hit the woods ( or the Coralville Woods near the trail...) I think we could find the Chanterelles coming up in mass along with a few other species. But right not, it appears that the Russulas and the Field Boletes are the two Main species of Mushrooms diggin' the Conditions.   Heat and sun are forecasted for the future, so we shall see if any other Mushys want to make an entrance. 

 

Tiger Beetle. See the 8 spots?

Oh!  And while I mention it.  We found a Tiger Beetle running along the trail today.  Normally these guys are FAST!  But today he was running "slow enough" for me to capture his picture.   Granted, there is plenty of "Motion Blur".  But you can clearly see the 8 spots on his back shell.  And those scary looking mandibles that munch up all those bad insects. ( mostly caterpillars)

Dogbane Beetle.

So basically,  these guys are one of the "good Guys", eating the bad bugs that plague gardeners and plant enthusiasts.  

Scary Teeth!

Similar to the Dogbane Beetle, they have that metallic green shell that reflects the rainbow spectrum back at you.   But Unlike Dogbane Beetles,  they have HUGE SCARY MANDIBLES! ( And are very fast!)

Japanese Scarab.  Pretty-ish, but destructive.

 

However, I'm no fan of the Japanese Scarab.  Those guys give the other two a bad name.  They eat roses ( I love roses!) and Hops. ( I LOVE Hops!)  And even blackberries!  Basically, I think they will eat ANYTHING as long as it is green.  And nothing native seems to want to eat them to keep their numbers down. 

Dogbane Beetle!  Cute!

So... Next time you see one of these green beetles,  Look for that brown metallic on the wing covers.  And then KILL THEM!  ( Or shoo them away from your greens.) 

Tiger Beetle eating lunch.

 But Tiger Beetles are garden friendly, and Dogbane beetles usually simply stay out in the Dogbane/milkweed areas. ( And Look Beautiful!)     Nature has some many jewels, they are easy to miss. (Mostly because they are so fast!)   Thanks for stopping in.