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One day on a nice walk in the woods, you come across a wonderful yellow mass of mulch or leaf litter. You might think it’s an interesting, under-grown flower. However, upon closer inspection, you may wonder if a rat has left the contents of its stomach on the side of the trail.
Trouble is, it’s neither flowers nor regular breakfast. It’s probably dog vomit mold, or Phlegosepticathis is also colloquially known as egg slime detection. Neither a mold nor a fungus, it is an amoeba-like, single-celled organism. The mass you see is thousands or millions of cells left to form a single unit (a plasmodium) that feeds on decaying or dead organic matter.
What causes mold in dog vomit?
Dog vomit slime mold occurs when a group Phlegoseptica The spores are settled in a favorable environment. Carried by wind, insects, or other animals, they find a home in moist, humid areas with plenty of moist organic material, such as mulch or decaying leaf matter.
If you’re a little too generous with irrigation or in areas with poor drainage, you may find a growing mass of yellow lawn fungus in your grass. Or, dog barf fungus might be attracted to the fresh, healthy mulch you just placed around your large shade tree. You’ll usually find the raw form of earthworm eggs in the spring or fall, as the organism does best in moderate temperatures, although the timing can vary based on the climate.
Is dog vomit mold harmful?
Despite its appearance, dog vomit slime mold — sometimes called dog vomit fungus — is not harmful to people, pets or other animals. Although some people with certain allergies may notice a mild reaction, in general, this organism is harmless. In fact, it performs a beneficial function, breaking down organic matter in the soil and enriching it.
Additionally, compounds in dog vomit slime mold have shown potential for use as antibiotics, antimicrobials, and in cancer treatment. Due to its ability to absorb toxic heavy metals, such as zinc, and convert zinc into inactive, less harmful forms, dog vomit can also be helpful in mold environmental site remediation.
Phlegoseptica The cycle of life
Dog vomit slime mold begins its life in your yard as a microscopic spore blown by the wind or carried by an insect or animal. The distance was blown or carried over years or even decades. Once it lands in a favorable environment, however, the spore absorbs water and begins to develop into an amoeba-like organism. Several of these come together to work as a team to gather resources, initially forming an egg-white-like blob that can move around at a very slow pace, searching for food.
As the food supply dwindles, the dog vomit fungus on the mulch and other surfaces turns yellow practically overnight, which of course. , when humans tend to notice it. Within 24 to 48 hours, it dries up, turning tan or brown. It eventually breaks open and releases millions of spores.
How to clean mold in dog vomit
Because dog vomit mold isn’t dangerous, you don’t really need to remove it. But if you find it unsightly, here are some ways to get rid of it.
Take it away
If you’re wondering how to get rid of dog poop mold, you can simply use a shovel to scoop up the pile of poop into a plastic bag, which you can then seal and dispose of.
Take it to the surrounding area
Break up and divide the pile using a bow rake. Exposing it to air will help it dry more quickly.
Avoid overwatering
Prevent cochlea by not overwatering your lawn or other parts of your garden, or by re-watering areas that retain water.
Switch the mulch
You may want to try using a different type of mulch that is less receptive to dog vomit mold. An unusual mulch, such as pebbles, can be a good choice.
Skip it, if you can afford it
When you think about it Phlegoseptica And its cousins have been alive and thriving on our planet for nearly a billion years, and given that the organism has only been around for a day or two in its vibrant (albeit goofy) yellow form, you might want to consider leaving it to do its thing for a few more hours. It’s harmless, it enriches your soil, and it’s an amazing example of Mother Nature’s amazing interconnectedness and resilience.
Questions
Almost always, the answer is no. The only situation in which this slime mold can harm plants is if a particularly heavy patch develops on young plants and suffocates them. Crude molds have been observed to grow on plant stems, but this is rare.
There are several classifications of raw mold, and they include about 1,000 to 1,000 species. They are found all over the world, in many climates and at many altitudes.
It’s unlikely you’ll find dog vomit slime mold inside your home, but it’s possible if, for example, water leaks cause structural wood or decorative trim to rot, and some spores work indoors.
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