moss and ??? on log - Ask Extension
I am obsessing on trying to ID this thing on the log to the left of the broom moss. It was at a preserve in Oyster Bay Cove, Long Island, NY. My gra...
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moss and ??? on log #821333
Asked February 28, 2023, 1:59 PM EST
I am obsessing on trying to ID this thing on the log to the left of the broom moss. It was at a preserve in Oyster Bay Cove, Long Island, NY. My grandson thinks it is a wasp nest, but it has a different structure. My plant app (Picture this) thinks it is a fungus, but my pic does not match theirs. help!! thanks, Judy
Nassau County New York
Expert Response
Unfortunately, our group cannot answer your question because it doesn't serve your location (outside MD/DC). Please contact your local Cooperative Extension office for assistance. A good way to find your local office is to go to https://extension.org/search/ and enter your county or parish name along with your state name. You might also use your favorite search engine and enter "cooperative extension" along with your county name.
Oh, thanks for getting back to me - I had tried that first, but the plant people did not know, and I was looking for a dept of entomology. If you can give a little hint….. (just kidding)…. Judy
On Feb 28, 2023, at 2:23 PM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
Hi Judy,
While we're not completely familiar with all the natural elements to the landscapes in New York (though there would be lots of overlap with Maryland's, certainly), our best guess is that this is simply decaying wood (perhaps the lines in the structure visible are old tree rings, where the wood in between is decaying at a different rate). Although we don't think a fungus itself is visible here, fungi are largely responsible for wood decay (compared to bacteria), in combination with wood-boring insects, some of which target wood at different stages of death or decay. We agree this doesn't appear to be an old wasp nest, which would appear more like thin paper with hollow areas in between where the nest cells (hexagons, as in honey bee combs) would be located. Submissions to the app iNaturalist can sometimes generate decently-accurate identifications, but in this case if it's nothing living (if it is decaying wood), we're not certain how useful it would be...but you could certainly try and see what you get. (If it's using A.I. for identification it might focus on the moss instead, though.)
Miri
While we're not completely familiar with all the natural elements to the landscapes in New York (though there would be lots of overlap with Maryland's, certainly), our best guess is that this is simply decaying wood (perhaps the lines in the structure visible are old tree rings, where the wood in between is decaying at a different rate). Although we don't think a fungus itself is visible here, fungi are largely responsible for wood decay (compared to bacteria), in combination with wood-boring insects, some of which target wood at different stages of death or decay. We agree this doesn't appear to be an old wasp nest, which would appear more like thin paper with hollow areas in between where the nest cells (hexagons, as in honey bee combs) would be located. Submissions to the app iNaturalist can sometimes generate decently-accurate identifications, but in this case if it's nothing living (if it is decaying wood), we're not certain how useful it would be...but you could certainly try and see what you get. (If it's using A.I. for identification it might focus on the moss instead, though.)
Miri
Miri, thank you, you are kind, and I really appreciate your flexibility. Once having seen it, I keep looking for similar things on other logs, but have not found any. Thanks so much, and if it is raining in MD as it is here, keep dry! Judy
On Feb 28, 2023, at 2:38 PM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
You're welcome!
