Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
 

Register · Log In
HomeGuideID RequestRecentFrassForumsDonateHelp
Clickable Guide
Moths Butterflies Flies Caterpillars Flies Dragonflies Flies Mantids Cockroaches Bees and Wasps Walkingsticks Earwigs Ants Termites Hoppers and Kin Hoppers and Kin Beetles True Bugs Fleas Grasshoppers and Kin Ticks Spiders Scorpions Centipedes Millipedes

Calendar
Upcoming Events

Registration is open for the 2024 BugGuide gathering in Idaho July 24-27

Moth submissions from National Moth Week 2023

Photos of insects and people from the 2022 BugGuide gathering in New Mexico, July 20-24

Photos of insects and people from the Spring 2021 gathering in Louisiana, April 28-May 2

Photos of insects and people from the 2019 gathering in Louisiana, July 25-27

Photos of insects and people from the 2018 gathering in Virginia, July 27-29


Previous events
TaxonomyBrowseInfoImagesLinksBooksData
Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Non-arthropods Not Covered by BugGuide
Photo#233182
what are these?
Copyright © 2008 Sherry Osborn

what are these?
pittsfield.mass, Massachusetts, USA
October 12, 2008
i though this was mushrooms. they are circles with eggs inside, this is looking down, they were growing on tree bark..please tell me what they are. when they hatch and any other info.. Thanks
tag · login or register to post comments
Contributed by Sherry Osborn on 13 October, 2008 - 12:50am
Last updated 29 October, 2008 - 8:43am

Bird's Nest Fungi
You were right with your mushroom instincts.

These well-named fungi are in the Order Nidulariales. The "bird's eggs" are the fungus's spore cases, and the "nest" is designed to catch a raindrop and redirect the water and spores a nice little distance away from the fungus.

These are a neat little fungus. Still since it isn't insect life I guess it needs to be tagged as frass, vanishing after 30 days, such is life.
… Stephen_WV, 13 October, 2008 - 5:24am login or register to post comments

 
Second
Those 'eggs' are the spore packets.
This is a very common fungus if you know where to look, growing on old dead hard woods.

I'm guessing that's a piece of oak bark it's growing on.

Young mushrooms have a membrane that covers the mouth of the cup making them look like little cupcakes waiting to have frosting put on them (I'm not sure what shape you'd call that... lol)
… Jonas Insinga, 13 October, 2008 - 7:53am login or register to post comments

Comment viewing options
Select your preferred way to display the comments and click 'Save settings' to activate your changes.

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2024 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by:

Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology at Iowa State University logo

Printer Friendly Version 		Terms of Use
Privacy Statement
Site Map
Contact