Mystery Orbs - Ask Extension
I sodded my yard moving grass from Clarksville to Gaithersburg. These round orb structures were buried in area where wasn't much grass growing. Most...
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Mystery Orbs #676228
Asked October 13, 2020, 10:18 PM EDT
I sodded my yard moving grass from Clarksville to Gaithersburg. These round orb structures were buried in area where wasn't much grass growing. Most of the orbs has two holes that were visible in the ground. The surface is hard not too pliable. Are the puffball mushrooms that filled with water and dirt then harden the mushroom? The holes were round. Could it be casting for a larva or insect o emerge?
Montgomery County Maryland
Expert Response
These look like Scleroderma fungal structures; they're commonly called "earthballs" to distinguish them from "puffball" species (actually a different genus entirely). They are saprophytes (feeding on dead plant growth) and may be growing on buried decayed/decaying wood. Although likely poisonous if ingested, they are otherwise harmless to have in the yard and can be left alone if they re-appear. As their food source is used-up, they will disappear. Whether they originated in the Clarksville or the Gaithersburg yard, we do not know.
Miri
Thank you so much for the information to my question. It solved the question of the mysterious orbs
With great appreciation,
Yvonne
On Wed, Oct 14, 2020, 11:27 AM Ask Extension <personal data hidden>> wrote:
I have one more question. What cause the holes in the earthballs? They are perfect circles.
Thanks,
Yvonne
On Wed, Oct 14, 2020, 7:14 PM Yvonne Mah <personal data hidden>> wrote:
Thank you so much for the information to my question. It solved the question of the mysterious orbsWith great appreciation,YvonneOn Wed, Oct 14, 2020, 11:27 AM Ask Extension <personal data hidden>> wrote:
The holes are usually caused by insect or rodents chewing on them.
Christine
