Small tiered bracket

Received by email

“Hi Mal,

This looks like Phellinus conchatus to me too (It is now called

Phellinopsis conchata in the FRDBI)

Was the log lying on damp soil ? This would indicate that the tree could

have been Salix or Populus – the host for P.conchata.

The spores seem to agree, but there should still be setae present in the

hymenium – you probably scratched in the wrong place.

But the reason I am replying to you is the possibility that if this IS

P.conchata, then there is also the very strong possibility that your

sample could be home to maybe 20+ Baranowskiella ehnstromi – Europe’s

smallest beetle !! (Field Mycology Vol.7 (2) page 41-43)

Actually, I enlarged your photo of the hymenium and just to the right of

centre about 15-20 pore mouths seem to have tiny projections sticking out

of them and to me, this is exactly how I found the beetles in the UK’s

first collection in June 2015. The tiny beetles, measuring only 0.5 mm

long, spend their entire lives buried head first in the pore mouths

munching away at the spores within … on the other hand, those blocked

pore mouths may well just be debris, but if they do turn out to be tiny

beetles do be sure to inform your county beetle recorder.

Happy Xmas and all all that,

Neil Mahler.”