Comments on: Stalking the horned fungus beast http://www.vianegativa.us/2006/05/stalking-the-horned-fungus-beast/ How can we live without the unknown before us? —Rene Char Sun, 12 Feb 2012 19:48:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Burning Silo » Blog Archive » Circus of the Spineless - Edition #9 http://www.vianegativa.us/2006/05/stalking-the-horned-fungus-beast/#comment-708 Burning Silo » Blog Archive » Circus of the Spineless - Edition #9 Wed, 31 May 2006 03:52:25 +0000 http://www.vianegativa.us/2006/05/03/stalking-the-horned-fungus-beast/#comment-708 [...] 1.) In Stalking the horned fungus beast, we hike along with Dave and Steve as they search for these elusive creatures at Via Negativa. [...] [...] 1.) In Stalking the horned fungus beast, we hike along with Dave and Steve as they search for these elusive creatures at Via Negativa. [...]

]]> By: Dave http://www.vianegativa.us/2006/05/stalking-the-horned-fungus-beast/#comment-707 Dave Thu, 04 May 2006 21:05:28 +0000 http://www.vianegativa.us/2006/05/03/stalking-the-horned-fungus-beast/#comment-707 Actually, Steve is the fun uncle, I mutter to myself, secretly pleased that Dale has chosen to favor me with an all-but-gushy comment, though I'm much too macho ever to let on. I don't know about those little "stones" anyway - at the rate they're proliferating in comment boxes across the blogosphere, sooner or later, everyone must get (o)ed. Actually, Steve is the fun uncle, I mutter to myself, secretly pleased that Dale has chosen to favor me with an all-but-gushy comment, though I’m much too macho ever to let on. I don’t know about those little “stones” anyway – at the rate they’re proliferating in comment boxes across the blogosphere, sooner or later, everyone must get (o)ed.

]]> By: dale http://www.vianegativa.us/2006/05/stalking-the-horned-fungus-beast/#comment-706 dale Thu, 04 May 2006 14:07:11 +0000 http://www.vianegativa.us/2006/05/03/stalking-the-horned-fungus-beast/#comment-706 Oh, hell, I think. Dave doesn't like gushy comments. 'I treasure these walks in Plummer's Hollow' will make me sound like the swoony sister in Sense & Sensibility. I could just leave a (o). But that would imply a profound response, when in fact I'm just tagging along having a great time, like that niece of his, skipping along, looking at the stuff Uncle Dave turns up. I could, like, write out a little stream of consciousness (standard programming trick; when you get in trouble add another layer of indirection). That would be pretty lame and transparent but it would fill up a comment box and everybody likes a full comment box really. Don't they? Oh, hell, I think. Dave doesn’t like gushy comments. ‘I treasure these walks in Plummer’s Hollow’ will make me sound like the swoony sister in Sense & Sensibility. I could just leave a (o). But that would imply a profound response, when in fact I’m just tagging along having a great time, like that niece of his, skipping along, looking at the stuff Uncle Dave turns up. I could, like, write out a little stream of consciousness (standard programming trick; when you get in trouble add another layer of indirection). That would be pretty lame and transparent but it would fill up a comment box and everybody likes a full comment box really. Don’t they?

]]> By: Dave http://www.vianegativa.us/2006/05/stalking-the-horned-fungus-beast/#comment-705 Dave Thu, 04 May 2006 14:02:56 +0000 http://www.vianegativa.us/2006/05/03/stalking-the-horned-fungus-beast/#comment-705 Apparently, most invertebrates are edible and nutritious, and I hear some are downrise tasty, such as mealyworms and crickets. I would draw the line at hairy caterpillars. Peace is relative. I'll post some insect predators here when I get a chance, maybe tomorrow. Apparently, most invertebrates are edible and nutritious, and I hear some are downrise tasty, such as mealyworms and crickets. I would draw the line at hairy caterpillars.

Peace is relative. I’ll post some insect predators here when I get a chance, maybe tomorrow.

]]> By: Bill http://www.vianegativa.us/2006/05/stalking-the-horned-fungus-beast/#comment-704 Bill Thu, 04 May 2006 11:26:14 +0000 http://www.vianegativa.us/2006/05/03/stalking-the-horned-fungus-beast/#comment-704 I would definitely eat the grubs first. I guess I have heard they are popular with bears and people too, so maybe that knowledge affects my appetite for them. Compared to a slimy spotted slug or a triceratops beetle my gut says they are natively more wholesome. Grubs seem kind of pristine, buried as they are in soil, and especially in wood. An guide to dining on insects would be a very good read. Nice to think of the catepillars at peace in their quiet leaf tents, trusting to the quiet of the woods. How restful, not at all Darwin's backyard war. I would definitely eat the grubs first. I guess I have heard they are popular with bears and people too, so maybe that knowledge affects my appetite for them. Compared to a slimy spotted slug or a triceratops beetle my gut says they are natively more wholesome. Grubs seem kind of pristine, buried as they are in soil, and especially in wood. An guide to dining on insects would be a very good read.

Nice to think of the catepillars at peace in their quiet leaf tents, trusting to the quiet of the woods. How restful, not at all Darwin’s backyard war.

]]> By: Dave http://www.vianegativa.us/2006/05/stalking-the-horned-fungus-beast/#comment-703 Dave Thu, 04 May 2006 00:28:36 +0000 http://www.vianegativa.us/2006/05/03/stalking-the-horned-fungus-beast/#comment-703 Hi Rebecca - Thanks for the comments. Yeah, most ecologists will tell you that forest biodiversity is concentrated in the humus and below. Of course, they're mainly thinking of fungi and microorganisms, but that would encompass a great deal of invertebrates too, wouldn't it? With no ramps and few morels here on the mountain, I'm reduced to picking ground ivy (for brewing), and of course crawling on my belly to photograph wildflowers. I see that <a herf="http://www.stephencresswell.com/biograph.html" rel="nofollow">the guy whose fungus beetle pictures I linked to</a> lives in West Virginia. Amazing photographer. His site is well worth spending some time with. I'm glad you find the site more readable now. You can't rely on Bloglines if you want to keep up with the Smorgasblog (large type version accessible from top bar). Hi Rebecca – Thanks for the comments. Yeah, most ecologists will tell you that forest biodiversity is concentrated in the humus and below. Of course, they’re mainly thinking of fungi and microorganisms, but that would encompass a great deal of invertebrates too, wouldn’t it?

With no ramps and few morels here on the mountain, I’m reduced to picking ground ivy (for brewing), and of course crawling on my belly to photograph wildflowers.

I see that the guy whose fungus beetle pictures I linked to lives in West Virginia. Amazing photographer. His site is well worth spending some time with.

I’m glad you find the site more readable now. You can’t rely on Bloglines if you want to keep up with the Smorgasblog (large type version accessible from top bar).

]]> By: Rebecca Clayton http://www.vianegativa.us/2006/05/stalking-the-horned-fungus-beast/#comment-702 Rebecca Clayton Wed, 03 May 2006 22:28:19 +0000 http://www.vianegativa.us/2006/05/03/stalking-the-horned-fungus-beast/#comment-702 Oops--a postscript: Thanks for the font size increase. It makes a great difference in readability! Oops–a postscript: Thanks for the font size increase. It makes a great difference in readability!

]]> By: Rebecca Clayton http://www.vianegativa.us/2006/05/stalking-the-horned-fungus-beast/#comment-701 Rebecca Clayton Wed, 03 May 2006 22:26:28 +0000 http://www.vianegativa.us/2006/05/03/stalking-the-horned-fungus-beast/#comment-701 Beautiful! Sometimes it seems as if all the good stuff is in the leaf litter, among the decomposers. We've all been focusing on the down trees and the forest floor here in Pocahontas County the last few weeks, between ramps and morels, but I'm a year-round fan of the bugs and newts and millipedes and toadstools. Beautiful! Sometimes it seems as if all the good stuff is in the leaf litter, among the decomposers. We’ve all been focusing on the down trees and the forest floor here in Pocahontas County the last few weeks, between ramps and morels, but I’m a year-round fan of the bugs and newts and millipedes and toadstools.

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