What are these black raised spots on my plants?

Question: I have black, raised spots covering my veggie, flower and tree leaves. The spots are also on my windows, pots, chair cushions, and surrounding areas. What is this and how do I control it? I just got back from a 2 week vacation and 1/2 my yard is covered with these spots. Please help. Thank you.

responder: Lindsey K. Kerr, MS, MHP (she, her, hers)  Replied July 24, 2023, 3:29 PM EDT
response: Hi Erin, One of our entomologists confirmed that they are not insects. My first instinct is that they are very small, immature slugs. It looks like they just hatched.  We got a lot of rain when you were away for two weeks. I am guessing that slugs that might have appeared over months in a normal year all hatched at once.  Are they slimy? Do they move?  Lindsey K. Kerr, MS, MHP (she, her, hers)Consumer Horticulture EducatorMichigan State University Extension

responder: The Question Asker Replied July 25, 2023, 10:01 AM EDT
response: Hi,Thanks for your response. No, they're absolutely not slugs.The spots do NOT move. They are not slimy.The black spots are raised and hard. They are easier to scrap of plants than off hard surfaces. Like I mentioned,  it's covering plants on top and below leaves.The spots are on flower and vegetable plants, tree and bush leaves. It also also on my house brick and windows, outdoor furniture, garden stones, hard and soft surfaces. I have investigated several things in my years of gardening, but have never seen anything like this. Kind of looks like bug feces...but I don't see any bugs.Thanks for your help.On Mon, Jul 24, 2023, 3:29 PM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

responder: Lindsey K. Kerr, MS, MHP (she, her, hers)  Replied July 25, 2023, 10:25 AM EDT
response: Hi Erin, I admit, you have me stumped.  Can I ask where you are in Wayne County? You don't have to be too specific--either a town name or general area (southeast, northeast).  I'm wondering if you have spongy moth caterpillars eating trees in your neighborhood (they used to be called gypsy moths)? Maybe you have something eating your trees and their feces are falling down into your yard? A couple years ago, the cemetery in Huron Charter Township had an infestation of spongy moth. I could hear the frass falling down from the trees when I walked there. It sounded like rain! Have you seen any signs of caterpillars in trees in your area?

responder: The Question Asker Replied July 25, 2023, 11:01 AM EDT
response: I live in Canton, MI. My backyard although backs up to wetlands, but its dry right now. I've lived here 22 years. The spots aren't against my fenceline, but up by my house. I have not seen any caterpillars or damage from them. I looked up images but couldn't find anything that matched.I get your moth dropping theory , but the black spots would not thus be attatched underneath the plant leaves...or on top and underneath a glass cart. It is very difficult to remove.On Tue, Jul 25, 2023, 10:25 AM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

responder: Lindsey K. Kerr, MS, MHP (she, her, hers)  Replied July 25, 2023, 11:06 AM EDT
response: Hi Erin, I will ask my team if they have any ideas. I'm stumped!  I will get back to you as soon as I can.

responder: Lindsey K. Kerr, MS, MHP (she, her, hers)  Replied July 26, 2023, 12:53 PM EDT
response: Hi Erin, One of our experienced volunteers thinks you might have what is called artillery fungi. I think she might be right! An article says "artillery fungi are often referred to as “ballistic fungi” since they expel their spores either by water splashes or by their own energy."  Please read and look at the images in this publication and see if it doesn't look like what you have at home. Lindsey

responder: The Question Asker Replied July 27, 2023, 1:44 PM EDT
response: THANK YOU FOR FINDING OUT WHAT MY PROBLEM IS, LINDSEY!!! I APPRECIATE IT!Learn something new everyday, right! This is definitely a crazy issue...I need to continue researching it, so it doesn't happen again!I have never seen this before so I did treat by quarantining the infected pots.Thanks again!On Wed, Jul 26, 2023, 12:53 PM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

responder: Lindsey K. Kerr, MS, MHP (she, her, hers)  Replied July 27, 2023, 2:39 PM EDT
response: I don't think this fungus is anything to really worry about. It's messy, but I doubt it will hurt your plants. We had such dry weather and then, while you were gone, we started getting rain and everything from fungus to weeds to bugs and bacteria, went crazy.  I had never heard of artillery fungus either! I learned something as well.  Thank you!