When a local farmer in rural Iowa went out to inspect his soybean fields last week, he expected to find the usual signs of late summer growth. What he didn’t expect was to stumble across a cluster of strange, leathery eggs partially buried in the soil.
“I almost drove my tractor right over them,” said Tom Wilcox, a third-generation farmer from Marshall County. “At first I thought maybe they were snake eggs—or some kind of prank. They didn’t look like anything I’d ever seen before.”
Curious and slightly concerned, Wilcox snapped a few photos and contacted the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Within hours, a small team of biologists arrived on his property, cordoning off the area for investigation.
Unusual Findings Spark Online Speculation
The photos, shared online by Wilcox’s nephew, quickly went viral. Speculation exploded on social media. Were the eggs from an invasive species? A rare bird? Or, as some more imaginative commenters claimed, evidence of extraterrestrial life?
“It’s not every day you find something in your field that looks like it belongs in a science fiction movie,” Wilcox joked.
The Surprising Scientific Explanation
After careful examination and DNA testing, state biologists released their findings: the “eggs” were not eggs at all—but fungal fruiting bodies from a rare underground fungus known as Clathrus archeri, more commonly called Devil’s Fingers
or Octopus Stinkhorn.
“It’s extremely rare to find these growing in the Midwest,” said Dr. Emily Harlan, a mycologist with the DNR. “This species is native to the southern hemisphere and is more commonly found in Australia or New Zealand, though isolated sightings have occurred elsewhere.”
The fungus begins its life underground inside gelatinous sacs that resemble leathery eggs. When mature, it bursts open to reveal red, tentacle-like arms that ooze a foul-smelling slime to attract flies for spore dispersal.
“It’s perfectly natural—albeit a little creepy,” Dr. Harlan explained. “They’re harmless to crops and humans, but they definitely have a ‘wow’ factor.”
How Did It Get There?
The experts believe the fungus may have arrived via imported mulch, compost, or even on the boots or tires of travelers from out of state. Unusual weather conditions this year—particularly heavy rain followed by warm temperatures—may have triggered the dormant spores to fruit.
“These things can lie dormant in soil for years until the right conditions align,” Harlan said.
Farmer Takes It in Stride
As for Wilcox, he’s taking the attention in stride—and with a sense of humor.
“I may not have found alien eggs, but I found something rare enough to get a bunch of scientists on my farm,” he said with a laugh. “That’s not a bad story for harvest season.”
He plans to leave the area undisturbed for now, allowing the experts to continue studying the phenomenon. In the meantime, he’s fielding calls from curious locals—and one production company reportedly interested in using the site for a science-fiction short film.
Nature's Mysteries in Plain Sight
This bizarre discovery serves as a reminder that nature is still full of surprises, even in the most familiar places. As scientists continue to study the strange growth, one thing is clear: not all mysteries require UFOs to be fascinating.
“Sometimes,” Dr. Harlan concluded, “the truth is just as wild as the theories.”
Got a strange nature story in your backyard? Let us know! Nature has a way of turning the ordinary into the extraordinary—one field at a time.
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