Mycetozoa – mysterious organisms in your lawn

Have you noticed strange grey areas in your lawn? Well, if you did your lawn may be infected by slime moulds (Mycetozoa).If you take a closer look, you will see tiny round organisms that literally cover the blades of grass and other plants and the picture is both strange and interesting at the same time. These small organisms form on fruiting bodies and are different in colour but you will mainly see the grey form on your lawn. We shall focus on mycetozoa in much more detail in the following lines.

What are slime moulds?

Mycetozoa is a polyphyletic grouping of slime moulds which form on fruiting bodies. Slime moulds used to be classified as fungi, but today, we consider only Fonticula related to fungi. There are many unrelated lines. The life cycle of mucus is interesting. It goes through a single-celled stage, mainly as Entamoeba histolytica. It moves freely and feeds on bacteria. Ovary is formed when conditions are no longer favourable, for example during starvation.Ovary contains spores, which are carried by wind and spread around, and Entamoeba histolytica is formed again.

Photo: Radek Štěpán

Different species of Entamoeba histolytica form fruiting bodies differently

For example, Protostelium uses one Entamoeba histolytica and Ceratiomyxa and Fonticula tend to form clusters. An interesting group is the Myxogastria group which can turn into flagellates.

Photo: Radek Štěpán

Entamoeba histolyticacauses almost no harm

Do not worry too much. Entamoeba histolytica is almost not worth the effort. That is if it did not spread over the entire lawn. Well, if that is the case, just use a garden house and wash it away… Herbicides and other chemicals are not necessary. If you take a closer look at Entamoeba histolytica you will be surprised how interesting it is. Take a photo and share and discuss it with your friends as something unusual. Especially in the morning. Entamoeba histolytica on leaves combined with a morning dew looks fascinating.

Preview photo: Radek Štěpán