I've not seen this before. The large looking "sticks" are really pine needles, so you can see the size is small... so far I have only found one pile of this. Any ideas???
Also should have added this is Atlanta, GA - zone 7
This message was edited Jun 2, 2011 10:49 AM
Whoa, those are creepy. Kind of looks like eggs. I would put on a pair of rubber gloves and go investigate more thoroughly, as gross as it may be.
could be type of fungus but i might be more inclined to think of snail eggs or something caviarish! lol
Ewww ...since u only found one pile, I would b inclined to think it's a mold or "poop"...depending on whether it was stuck to pine needles...I, too, wld (definitely) get out rubber gloves n investigate further...whether it's stuck or just laying on needles will tell u more...
I found it in three places. It could be shaken off but some stuck. Still don't have a clue but it is now gone.
Looks like it could be some kind of slime mold, which would fit with them being gone later. They are not actually fungi, but free-living, predatory (on bacteria) amoebas that aggregate into colonies like the structures in your photos above to release spores.
Wow! I've never seen anything like that. I hope someone knows for sure what it is.
Check out this slime mold for comparison.
http://www.newenglandtrailreview.com/singleimagepage.asp?TID=184&index=19
definitely very similar... you wouldn't think SLIME mold would look granular...
Thanks, Sterling
