This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/aug/30/warwickslade-new-forest-wood-ants

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Wood ants aren't to be messed with – and slime mould might put you off too Wood ants aren't to be messed with – and slime mould might put you off too
(21 days later)
The sun-catching edges of the rides that lead into Warwickslade are a hive of activity. The seemingly chaotic happenings on the wood ant hills that line them streams out in many directions as the insects forage for pine needles to enlarge the nests before winter sets in. Some, though, are after food and are climbing into the canopy of adjacent trees seeking tiny insects. A few of the mounds have been interfered with but no doubt the furious response of the wood ants persuaded whoever poked the sticks in to let go pretty quickly. The ants have simply repaired the damage and gone on building around them.The sun-catching edges of the rides that lead into Warwickslade are a hive of activity. The seemingly chaotic happenings on the wood ant hills that line them streams out in many directions as the insects forage for pine needles to enlarge the nests before winter sets in. Some, though, are after food and are climbing into the canopy of adjacent trees seeking tiny insects. A few of the mounds have been interfered with but no doubt the furious response of the wood ants persuaded whoever poked the sticks in to let go pretty quickly. The ants have simply repaired the damage and gone on building around them.
A little down the ride is a delicately pale yellow-flowered gorse. There are three species of gorse in the forest. The western gorse is very rare, but early in the year, roadsides through the forest are lined with the deep yellow flowers of the dominant common gorse, which has huge spines. This gorse is the dwarf, whose spines here are so soft that I run my hand up and down them without being prickled. It flowers in late summer and into autumn, and is often found in more sheltered positions where it escapes the attention of browsing animals.A little down the ride is a delicately pale yellow-flowered gorse. There are three species of gorse in the forest. The western gorse is very rare, but early in the year, roadsides through the forest are lined with the deep yellow flowers of the dominant common gorse, which has huge spines. This gorse is the dwarf, whose spines here are so soft that I run my hand up and down them without being prickled. It flowers in late summer and into autumn, and is often found in more sheltered positions where it escapes the attention of browsing animals.
Close by, we spot what appears to be a piece of lemon peel thrown into the bushes. Orange peel we might expect but not lemon. It deserves closer inspection. Wrapped around the margin of a rotting fir stump, this yellow spongy mass is surrounded by a slimy trail and has a white mess at one end somewhat like candyfloss. It's the slime mould Fuligo septica.Close by, we spot what appears to be a piece of lemon peel thrown into the bushes. Orange peel we might expect but not lemon. It deserves closer inspection. Wrapped around the margin of a rotting fir stump, this yellow spongy mass is surrounded by a slimy trail and has a white mess at one end somewhat like candyfloss. It's the slime mould Fuligo septica.
Slime moulds are not fungi because, as the trail suggests, they move in search of food. A few centimetres away, fresh growth is breaking through the mosses on the stump's roots in the form of little yellow granules. The common name for this species is dog's vomit slime mould or, for the more refined, scrambled-egg mould.Slime moulds are not fungi because, as the trail suggests, they move in search of food. A few centimetres away, fresh growth is breaking through the mosses on the stump's roots in the form of little yellow granules. The common name for this species is dog's vomit slime mould or, for the more refined, scrambled-egg mould.
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.