Slime Molds

As the weather warms up, we are seeing some slime molds begin to make their appearance in lawns and other favorable environments. Slime molds are fascinating animals belonging to the kingdom Protista. They were once thought to be fungi, but there are significant differences.

Slime molds move and lack chitin in their cell walls. Yes, they move when in their plasmodial or slug states. Some of the Physarum move about 1mm per hour. That’s not very fast, but the fact that they can shift locations over the course of several days can come as a shock to unsuspecting homeowners. There are over 400 species in a variety of colors and shapes.

They like damp locations and rotting wood, so they are often found in mulched flower beds and lawns. Some species resemble vomit. Veterinarians receive calls every year from homeowners who find a slime mold in the backyard and think their pet is sick. Slime molds are not dangerous to animals or the plants they are found on. They ingest bacteria, fungal spores, and maybe other smaller protozoa.

Take Aways

• Harmless to plants, people, and pets
• Slime molds can be picked up using a shovel and removed or washed away with a hose. This only temporarily removes them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This work is supported by the Crop Protection and Pest Management Program [grant no. 2017-70006- 27279/project accession no. 1013890] from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.