Leocarpus fragilis

{{Short description|Species of slime mold}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}}

{{Speciesbox

|image=Insect-egg slime imported from iNaturalist photo 347082767 on 29 February 2024.jpg

| genus = Leocarpus

| species = fragilis

| authority = (Dicks.) Rostaf.

}}

Leocarpus fragilis is a myxogastrid or acellular slime mold of the genus Leocarpus. {{cite journal |last1=Stephenson |first1=Steven L. |last2=Schnittler |first2=Martin |last3=Novozhilov |first3=Yuri K. |date=February 2008 |title=Myxomycete diversity and distribution from the fossil record to the present |journal=Biodiversity and Conservation |volume=17 |issue=2 |pages=285–301 |doi=10.1007/s10531-007-9252-9|s2cid=6995125 }} The common name in English is insect-egg slime mold.{{Cite web |last=Pai |first=Angela |title=How Can I Identify a Slime Mold in the Field? |url=https://baynature.org/article/ask-naturalist-mysterious-tiny-eggs/ |access-date=2024-02-29 |website=Bay Nature |language=en-US}} L.fragilis can be found on leaf litter, typically in temperate and boreal forests where the ground litter is acidic. It has been found on all continents except Antarctica but is most commonly found in the northern hemisphere. Its round fruiting bodies are a recognizable yellow, orange-brown.{{cite journal |last1=Schnittler |first1=M. |last2=Dagamac |first2=N. H. A. |last3=Sauke |first3=M. |last4=Wilmking |first4=M. |last5=Buras |first5=A. |last6=Ahlgrimm |first6=S. |last7=Eusemann |first7=P. |date=1 June 2016 |title=Ecological factors limiting occurrence of corticolous myxomycetes–a case study from Alaska |journal=Fungal Ecology |volume=21 |pages=16–23 |doi=10.1016/j.funeco.2016.02.003}}{{cite journal |last1=Liu |first1=C |last2=Chang |first2=J |date=1 January 2012 |title=Six Genera of Physaraceae (Myxomycetes) in Taiwan |journal=Taiwania |volume=57 |issue=3 |pages=263–270 |doi=10.6165/tai.2012.57(3).263}}