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| via Extension Master Gardener |
"They can be quite striking in the landscape, but are often viewed as a nuisance because of the foul order they emit.
These are found from the tropics to the temperate climate. They are seen in wood chip mulched beds. The stinkhorn grows on dead organic materials and is beneficial for improving the soils in our landscapes. They start as microscopic fungal threads. The odor they put off may not be appealing to us but insects are attracted to them and help to spread the spores to new locations.
As these fungi have lost the ability to forcibly discharge spores, they depend on a 'stinky' smell which attracts insects, primarily flies. Flies readily land on the top of the stink-horn and passively remove spores when they leave. You may have found a stinkhorn "egg" when digging in your garden. Usually coarse, white mycelium will be attached to the egg. If you cut through the "egg" you'll see the developing stinkhorn. The outer, jelly-like layer of the "egg" provides water for the rapid expansion of the stinkhorn overnight. These are not plant pathogens and are not harmful to your plants. There is no need for treatment; just remove them from your landscape (but remember they will probably be back).
These appear quickly and disappear just as quickly. The fruiting bodies of stinkhorn fungi are short-lived and last only a few days to a week. They rarely occur in dry mulch beds or locations that receive full sun. These are not plant pathogens and are not harmful to your plants. There is no need for treatment; just remove them from your landscape (but remember they will probably be back)".
via Extension Master Gardener
and Soil, Plant Pest Center July 2018
