Eye on Nature

I found a spherical fungus that looks like a puffball growing at the foot of my griselinia hedge, which is overshadowed by a mature oak tree. I'm sending you a photograph of the mushroom, which has green flesh, and the outline of an embryonic stalked mushroom.
Sonny Jackson
Rochestown, Co Cork

The mushroom is the death cap, Amanita phalloides, in button stage; the embryonic mushroom is covered by a white veil. It is very poisonous, and although the flesh is usually white there are also yellow, green and brown forms. It appears most commonly under oaks and normally matures in July.

We have a plague of ugly black flies with long legs in Howth this year. What can we do with them, and what do they feed on?
Liam Cahill
Howth, Co Dublin

The black insects with the drooping legs are harmless St Mark’s flies. They live for about a week, mate, lay their eggs in the soil or decaying vegetation, and spend most of their lives in the larval stage. They live on nectar and are useful pollinators.

Michael Viney welcomes observations at Thallabawn, Carrowniskey PO, Westport, Co Mayo, or by email at viney@anu.ie. Please include a postal address