Fungi on Insects · AditNow Community

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Don McNeil
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

13 years ago

Hello all,

I study a weird group of fungi which parasitise hibernating insects. I would like to gain access to (hopefully stand-up) entrances to generally about 75 feet from daylight of mines & caves preferably in limestone. I am prepared to travel from Stoke on Trent for this but obviously would like to have access to several places in a day if I have to travel far. Estimated time per site is 1 1/2 hrs. Can anyone provide me with suggestions to free access sites which would fit the bill? This really needs to be done before the end of March in this year at least.

Many thanks,

Don

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AR
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

13 years ago

Hi Don, there are numerous sites in the Peak District. I'd certainly suggest Mouldridge mine (near Pikehall on the A5012), Bonsall Lees level (again on the A5012, near Tufa cottage), Dunsley Springs Level (close by, but further up the hillside), Groaning Tor level (further down the Via Gellia), Devonshire Cavern at Matlock Bath, also Birch's level and Limepits mine at Ecton as being places you can get into fairly easily, are mostly walking height and will certainly have hibernating moths in them.

Follow the horses, Johnny my laddie, follow the horses canny lad-oh!

owd git
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

13 years ago

Whilst i Wholly agree with Adam, and i'm sure you have integrety as an environmentaly aware student? the hibernating bat population is 'in residence' now and would need special consideration. please liase with local bat groups / experts to help minimise impact, many thanks, O. G.

Don McNeil
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

13 years ago

Thanks for the suggestions Adam I will be consulting my maps and planning some visits.

As for bats, Owd Git, I take your point and would not go near them - I am bat friendly! As I am interested in the areas just out of daylight I suspect that I would be unlikely to come across hibernating individuals which I understand would most likely be further into darkness.

Thanks again,

Don.

AR
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

13 years ago

Hi Don, it's not quite as cut and dried as that, I've sometimes come across bats quite close to entrances, although from my own experience the mozzies, spiders and moths do tend to stick near the entrances. The advice I've been given by the bat experts is if you do find one roosting, don't linger near it as your body heat may rouse it.

Incidentally, do you have any photos of a fungus-affected insect you could post here? We may have seen it before and be able to point you particular sites.

Follow the horses, Johnny my laddie, follow the horses canny lad-oh!

Peter Burgess
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

13 years ago

Some of the best Surrey sites for bats are almost within sight of the entrance.

owd git
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

13 years ago

If you do have a photo or two and can enlighten us a little I for one would be very interested. thanks, on occasion I have poited ot what appears to be the growth of ??? from the bodies of mossies. forming a black circular disc which spreads and thins-out to approx' 12mm.dia' will find a piccie,
O. G.

Peter Burgess
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

13 years ago

I've been trying to think where I've seen a lot of these dead insects covered in fluff, and I think it is Sandford Levvy in the Mendip Hills. It's a long time since I've been there though so I may be mistaken.

Don McNeil
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

13 years ago

Hello again,
Thanks for the tip Peter, and to Owd Git for advice on bats. Will comply. I have put 3 captioned pics in my personal album. That is the only way my son could work out how to do it. No good asking an old fart like me to do anything complicated for the first time with these idiot machines!
Cheers,
Don.

Wormster
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

13 years ago

#10

"Peter Burgess" wrote:
I've been trying to think where I've seen a lot of these dead insects covered in fluff, and I think it is Sandford Levvy in the Mendip Hills. It's a long time since I've been there though so I may be mistaken.

Yeah that's the one cover in dead moths!

Better to regret something you have done - than to regret something you have not done.

davetidza
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

13 years ago

#11

Would not an approach to Peak Cavern, via John Beck, give you a large area to search, and which definitely wouldn't upset any bats.

AR
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

13 years ago

#12

The problem with Peak is that most of the insects will be in/around the entrance cavern, which would mean you'd need a ladder to find them, assuming John Harrison was agreeable, of course!

Mouldridge and the Bonsall level would be my two to try first, both easy to get to, no access restrictions and without too many hazards. As for the fungi, I'll start looking out - I didn't realise we got zombie ants in this country, I thought that was just a South American phenomenon.

Edit - links to the pics:
🔗Personal-Album-10739-Image-72112[linkphoto]Personal-Album-10739-Image-72112[/linkphoto][/link]
🔗Personal-Album-10739-Image-72111[linkphoto]Personal-Album-10739-Image-72111[/linkphoto][/link]
🔗Personal-Album-10739-Image-72110[linkphoto]Personal-Album-10739-Image-72110[/linkphoto][/link]

Follow the horses, Johnny my laddie, follow the horses canny lad-oh!

Strangely Brown
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

13 years ago

#13

There was this on the forum not long ago

http://www.aditnow.co.uk/community/viewtopic.aspx?t=6478

Light thinks it travels faster than anything but it is wrong. No matter how fast light travels, it finds the darkness has always got there first, and is waiting for it.

Don McNeil
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

13 years ago

#14

I tried emailing Peak Cavern but had no reply. Speedwell did reply but was discounted as I was informed that it was lit throughout. Anyways, I lug enough junk about without wanting to add ladders!
Don.

Don McNeil
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

13 years ago

#15

Hello,
Sorry to be slow in replying to your query, been having probs.
It looks vey like fungus on a fly, similar to the one in my photo with the blue background though denser. I would very much like to see more, is it possible to get access?
Cheers,
Don