I'm sending you a photograph of a stinkhorn (Phallus impudicus), showing the black head before the flies found it. An hour later they had stripped the black covering, revealing the white base. Are they the spores that have been removed and dispersed by the flies? Within 12 hours there was only some white mush on the ground.
Declan O'Connell
Crookstown, Co Cork
Yes. The black covering is a foul-smelling, sticky spore mass that attracts the flies, who do the job of dispersal.
Recently, at 600m above Rossbeigh, in Co Kerry, dozens of ladybirds in a variety of colours landed on our clothes. They were active, and some were stinging or biting. Could they have been the new invasive ones?
Monica Nowlan
Rathfarnham, Dublin
Ladybirds overwinter as adults, and some gather in large groups, called aggregations, that can contain more than one species. The alien harlequin ladybird attacks the native species. Ladybirds don’t bite or sting but can nip if they feel threatened.
I'm sending your a photograph of one of the late-night hedgehogs that visit our back door. These little fellows live happily in our midst, and when we are reorganising our gardens we should remember them.
Donal Mangan
Glenageary, Co Dublin
They are also helpful as they feed on slugs.
I photographed a moth well camouflaged on limestone chippings.
James Quinn
Lough Ree, Co Longford
It is the beautiful garden tiger moth.
Ethna Viney welcomes observations and photographs at Thallabawn, Louisburgh, Co Mayo, F28 F978, or by email at viney@anu.ie. Please include a postal address