Ravaged by a Radula

The cycle of life continues.

A week ago, these were fresh field mushrooms ready for eating (by the brave) but in reality, these were the fruiting bodies needed to dispese spores to pastures new.

Job now done, they are past their best. One that I broke open had maggots (of an unknown fly) crawling through it.

In its decay, this one had obviously become attractive to slugs which have left evidence of their foraging across the surface as their radulas scrape away the surface layers to reveal paler ones below.

I was a little disappointed that the digital image from my camera didn't show the evidence of this attack in a blip-stopping manner. I have therefore resorted (as I often do) to GIMP to provide enhanced colour contrast between the layers. No artificial colours have been added, but the natural colours within the image have been exaggerated and enhanced. That way, the hues still harmonise as an acceptable colour pallette.