Insect-Egg Slime Mold (Leocarpus fragilis)

Early fruiting bodies of a slime mold growing on pine needles in a forested area in NW Georgia (Floyd County), US. In this "fruiting body" phase, Leocarpus fragilis is often mistaken for insect eggs.

Leocarpus fragilis also has a plasmodial stage, usually following periods of rain. When the plasmodium runs out of nutrients, it will differentiate into the egg-like fruiting bodies (pictured here). These structures are specialized sporangia which disperse spores after rupturing.