Page 5 — Is It Dangerous? Should You Remove It?
The short answer: no panic required.
According to experts:
- Stemonitis is not dangerous
- It doesn’t damage structures
- It isn’t toxic to touch
However:
- It’s not edible
- It shouldn’t be intentionally handled
- Scraping it off can spread spores
In most cases, the best option is to leave it alone.
Once conditions change — less moisture, more sun — it dries up and disappears on its own.
If someone is curious or concerned, experts suggest:
- Posting photos to a mycology community
- Observing how it changes over a few days
- Avoiding harsh chemicals or pressure washing
What looks like something out of a sci-fi movie is actually a harmless, ancient organism quietly doing its thing.
And for a brief moment, one homeowner got a front-row seat to one of nature’s strangest life forms.
