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David

Spiders on their webs

Spider's web

Autumn is the season of fungi, berries, leaves changing colour, and spiders, many of which become more noticeable at this time of year.

The one above is a cross spider, a common spider in gardens. Below is one of a smaller species which I didn’t manage to identify.

Spider's web

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David

Shaggy inkcaps

Lawyer's wig

The inkcaps are a family of mushrooms which spread their spores by deliquescing. Their caps are transformed into a black slime, which is indeed the pores.

Lawyer's wig

Another name for this species is lawyers wig. At a certain stage in their decomposition the caps can look very like a barrister’s less than pristine headgear (below and especially above).

Lawyer's wig

The specimens pictured here show the range of stages from newly emerged to almost completely deliquesced.

Lawyer's wig

Lawyer's wig

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David

Another spider’s web

Spider's web

This one was outlined by dew on the remains of an umbellifer on an early morning at the start of September.

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David

Spider’s web

Spider's web

A spider’s web catching the sunlight.

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David

Harvestman

Harvestman

Not a spider, but still an arachnid. This individual seems to have lost one of its legs.

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David

Teazles

Teazles

Also known as Fuller’s Thistles, these spiny plants were once cultivated for use in processing wool.