Parasitic wasp. Emerged from pupa of host butterfly reared from caterpillar found on blossoms of Buckwheat.
(Using date and location of original find.)
Wasp emerged on 2021-09-16.
Host caterpillar:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/92323150
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/93443892
Host pupa:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/93443893
Cultivated with a culture syringe from Sporeworks.
Gregarious stalked sporangia 2-3.5 mm high. Sporotheca globose 0.9-1.2 mm diameter. Peridium membranous, iridescent with purple, blue, green and golden reflections. Columella reaches approximately the centre of the sporotheca, cylindrical, rounded at apex.
Found on large, bryophyte-covered eucalypt log. Common most years at Birralee.
Scattered stalked sporangia, 1.6–2.1 mm high. Sporotheca globose to sub-globose, 0.6–0.9 mm diameter. Stalk black in reflected light, wider at base, 0.8–1.2 mm long. Hypothallus contiguous under groups, thick, reddish brown. Peridium delicate, breaks irregularly; iridescent with blue, purple and some golden reflections. Columella rounded, short, reaches to approximately ¼ of sporotheca. Capillitium arises from columella, branching and some anastomosing, brown; tips white and finely branching. Spores dark brown in mass, brown by transmitted light, spinulose, 14–15 µm. Similar to L. muscorum.
Substrate bryophytes (moss and leafy liverworts) on decaying log in wet eucalypt forest.
@susanhewitt and @kueda - These are pictures of several individuals all found within about 30 feet of each other. Looking at the sources Ken-ichi posted (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/2435537) and any others I could find, I can't find any other members of this genus that would be found in the North Bay. These snails are certainly lighter colored than all of the black jugas that I've encountered. Have either of you come across any more info on this genus?