3

Yesterday my parents discovered these 'things' attached to the varnished wooden fascia board outside the downstairs bathroom. They are attached to the outside of the house, in a sheltered spot. They live in Somerset, UK.

They are approximately 6 cm in length/diameter (some are round and some not - see photos), and have been there for about a week (it is about a week since this part of the house was looked at).

My questions are: 1) What are they? Mould? Fungus? Insect? 2) Is it damaging the wood, and therefore should it be removed?

One of the non-circular 'things' with a tape measure for scale

Side view - to show how they are attached

Circular 'thing'

Tempest16
  • 151
  • 3

2 Answers2

2

My dad removed them this morning, and they are a fungus. A lot of dark spores came out when he pierced one (see photo).

The fungus didn't damage the paintwork, as can be seen in the photos; it just left a mess of spores behind.

Site of removed fungus, with paintwork damaged

Contents of one of the fungus

Tempest16
  • 151
  • 3
0

They look like some types of spider egg sacs. https://spidermentor.com/2018/01/02/the-egg-sac-gallery/

Usually the spider hangs around, but not always.

JRaef
  • 15,146
  • 1
  • 20
  • 40