RAGGED ROBIN WILDFLOWER (Silene flos-cuculi) Lullymore West Bog, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Ragged Robin Wildflower (Lychnis flos-cuculi) is of the family Caryophyllaceae which is in the genus Lychnis. This perennial wildflower occurs in Europe, Asia and as an invasive species in parts of Canada and United States. The flowering season is from May to late August.

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

CATSEAR (Hypochaeris radicata) stems infected by galls of the CATSEAR GALL WASP (Phanacis hypochoeridis) Lullymore West Bog, IPCC Nature Reserve, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The (Common) Catsear (Hypochaeris radicata) is of the family Asteraceae which is in the genus Hypochaeris. Alternative names include Flatweed, Cat's-ear and False Dandelion. This wildflower is a widespread perennial in the temperate regions of Europe and also occurs as an invasive species in the Americas, Japan, Australia as well as New Zealand.
The Catsear Gall Wasp (Phanacis hypochoeridis) is of the family Hymenoptera which is in the genus Phanacis. In the early part of the flowering season, the female lays her eggs in the stems of (Common) Catsear (Hypochaeris radicata) that subsequently turn into larvae. An elongated gall is then formed that can contain up to 50 larvae which causes the stem to swell. Later in the season the larvae pupate within the gall and remain encased there overwinter. They emerge from the gall as wasps in late spring the following year.

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds

COMMON LOUSEWORT (Pedicularis sylvatica) Lullymore West Bog, IPCC Nature Reserve, Lullymore, Co. Kildare, Ireland

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The Common Lousewort (Pedicularis sylvatica) is of the family Orobanchaceae which is in the genus Pedicularis. This short compact wildflower occurs in central and northern Europe where it grows in moist acidic soils. It is a hemi-parasitic biennial species which gains some of its nutrients from the roots of other plants. The flowering season is from April to late July.

Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds