You could get lost gazing into these shining miniature forests on the old apple tree. Once again, kudos to the amazing point and shoot iPhone camera.
Lichen is neither plant nor animal, in fact they’re organisms unlike any
other on Earth, being a combination of algae
and fungus. Lichen rely on the atmosphere for all their nutrients and are a food source and habitat for countless insects and animals. They don't harm the surfaces they grow on.
Lichens are sensitive to air pollution and only thrive in clean environments. All the old wood in our yard is covered with it, so I guess that's a healthy sign. It takes decades to grow.
Our lovely wild yard is certainly teeming with insects. Many people consider lichen unsightly, in the same category as dirt and mold. Of course there are chemicals to get rid of it. We shouldn't be in a hurry to destroy things we don't even understand.