The presence of persistent, brown-to-black spots on cars, house siding, plants, and other surfaces may be an indication of the presence of the fungus Sphaerobolus stellatus — artillery fungus. These brown spots are the spore dispersal structures of this fungus. Spore masses should be removed from affected surfaces with a stiff water spray from a hose or by scrubbing with a wet cloth or stiff brush before they dry. Unfortunately, in most cases this is not practical and removal is usually attempted after the spores have dried. When this is the case, they are very difficult to remove and must be physically scrubbed and scraped from the affected surfaces. Before attempting to remove these fungal spores from siding, car finishes or other valuables, test a small surface area to be sure there will be no damage.
These resources are brought to you by the Cooperative Extension System and your Local Institution
Welcome
eXtension is an interactive learning environment delivering the best, most researched knowledge from the smartest land-grant university minds across America.
eXtension: more mind reach
Have a question? Try asking one of our Experts
How do you remove artillery fungus spores from home siding without damage or costing thousands of dollars?
Last Updated: October 19, 2011
Have a specific question? Try asking one of our Experts
Unlike most other resources on the web, we have experts from Universities around the country ready to answer your questions.
