Myggedalen, Naturreservat

The Myggedalen nature reserve is located in a landscape with high natural values. There is plenty of dead wood, a humid local climate and many small and specific environments that favor a large number of endangered species. The 30-40 meter deep stream valley Myggedalen and the 216 meter high Staplaberget are particularly striking.

Mountainous and swampy

The reserve is dominated by old coniferous forest with great species diversity. Understandably, most of the threatened species are found in the parts of the forest least affected by human forestry. In Myggedalen and around the forest star Stenåsakolken you will find late-growing swamp forest. The mountainous areas in the north-east and south also have a large number of old pines and large aspens.

The stink bomb of the forest

Does it smell bad? Then you may have ended up next to a stink fungus. The fungus is easy to recognize by its smell and special appearance. Its Latin name Phallus impudicus means "impudent man slime". The stench emanates from the slimy brown cap and attracts caddisflies. Once they have eaten the slime, they fly away, spreading the spores of the fungus.

Lives on trees

Some of the old pines are home to the hanging lichen pine thorn, which can grow to several decimeters in length. The lungwort, on the other hand, only thrives on deciduous trees such as large aspens. When wet, it glows bright green and is very easy to recognize. The large aspen tick is another rare species associated with older aspens, whose fruiting bodies protrude far from the trunks of the trees.

Ancient farmland

Around the now vanished Sjötorp croft, traces of old fields and clearance cairns can still be seen, as well as a lot of deciduous trees. In the spring there are plenty of bluebells, and later on the spring peas bloom with their red-violet flowers.

Accessibility

Myggedalen belongs to level 1 in the county administrative board's leveling of the county's nature reserves, which means that the reserve has a wilderness character and lacks outdoor recreation facilities.