Termites and Mushrooms

Hello Tim,

A neighbor told me that mushrooms in my yard are a sign that I have termites. Can you tell me if there is any truth in this statement? Thank you,

James

James,

There is no truth whatsoever in this statement. It leads me to believe your neighbor might have eaten one of them and it is the type that produces hallucinations.

Mushrooms are fungal growth that often are based in decaying wood in your yard. The source could be an old branch or a twig.

The mushroom is actually the last hurrah of the fungal growth. The mature mushroom cap releases millions of spores so the fungus can continue to propagate.

Termites do eat wood, but they do not produce mushrooms.

Tim

Column EM