Fuligo septica at RSPB Strumpshaw Fen – June 2025

1st June

Along the path to Basecamp, three aethalia – I’m always struck by the almost-glowing, vibrant yellow of this slime mould at the point immediately after its transformation from plasmodium to aethalium.

In the evening, about nine hours later, the cortexes had contracted and were degrading to a paler yellow.

At the Basecamp loop we spotted two linear aethalia that had coalesced around two twigs – notice the discrete blobby plasmodial fragments on the moss to the left of the longer aethalium.

In the evening, these fragments had developed into a larger plasmodial mass.

Here’s a close-up of the linear aethalium in the evening showing the contracted cortex revealing the brown spore mass underneath.

Along the way to the Gnarly Oak the daughter spotted an aethalium that was oozing white and black droplets.

And in the evening.

The following Fuligos were spotted near The Outpost

In the morning.

In the evening.

The plasmodium below is coalescing into it’s aethalial form (proto-aethalium).

The proto-aethalium is essentially the structure during and immediately after this aggregation.
(Lobose or Tentaculate)

By the evening it had developed a sheeny and more continuous, uniform cortex.

Morning.

Evening.

Morning.

Evening.

The following Fuligos were spotted during the evening’s scouting.

Basecamp Loop.

This aethalium, also at the Basecamp loop, is taking the shape of the leaf along the top.

Basecamp Loop.

Sandy Glade.

Drainage channel path.

We would visit the reserve woodland a further seven times in June, and while the frequency of our casual spottings of Fuligo septica dropped off, here’s what we found.

8th June

The following Fuligos were at the Basecamp loop.

Along the drainage channel path.

14th June

At Basecamp.

16th June

Along the drainage channel path

17th June

At Basecamp Loop

Along the drainage channel path.

22nd June

Along the drainage channel path.

And near The Outpost.