So, as many of you know, Racquel at Perennial Garden Lover had a mysterious thing in her Buddleia. The consensus was that it was a Praying Mantis. Well, yesterday I was in the Learning Garden and something caught my eye. This white thing was high in a Hornbeam tree. While the Praying Mantis is grey-ish and a bit angular-- this thing is pure white, ovate, and silky threaded.
If anyone has an idea of what it might be...please share! We will be keeping an eye on it through the spring, though I am afraid something will hatch/emerge when no one is around. Thanks!
How cool is that Janet! I don't know, sorry. Thanks for the link love though. :) I'll be back to see what the others have to say.
ReplyDeleteIt is hard to tell from the picture on size but it might be the cocoon of a Cecropia moth. The cocoon is big. Check it out on the web and compare pictures. They can be found in your area. Also hummingbirds use spider webs to make their nest.
ReplyDeleteDebbie
Garden Thyme with the Creative Gardener
Racquel- hope we find answers!
ReplyDeleteDebbie- Thanks for the Cecropia moth's cocoon suggestion. One of the other folks in the garden yesterday questioned whether it was a Lunar moth's cocoon. The size of the object appeared to be about the size of a small egg. We are thinking somewhere in those directions. Thanks!
Janet
Pretty cool! I've never seen this or the thing Racquel posted either. I'd love praying mantis here. Maybe it is another one?
ReplyDeleteGoodness, I don't have a clue.
ReplyDeleteIt looks awfully large and round for a Cecropia moth cocoon (I think they're usually 3/4 inch by 2 1/2 inches at most).
But, what a nice mystery!
Lisa, this is definately larger than those measurements, though being about a dozen feet up, size could be misconstrued.
ReplyDeleteTina, I am not sure whether praying mantis are in your area. They almost look like prehistoric creatures.
Janet
I was just at a butterfly house and had been looking up a very large moth that I saw there.
ReplyDeletePerhaps you have a polyphemus moth cocoon?
http://www.ag.auburn.edu/enpl/bulletins/polyphemus/photo2.htm
My best guess.
Cameron
Hi Janet, very interesing. I have something similar that is a spider's egg case. Mine is left over from last year, don't know if the babies got frozen or not, but it is exactly like one that did hatch and in the same vicinity. I will be watching to see what yours turns out to be. Hope it is a cool moth.
ReplyDeleteFrances
Frances, thanks for visiting and helping figure out this mystery.
ReplyDeleteTo all- I will keep my eyes on this 'object' as the spring unfolds. I hope we will be present when the great unveiling happens. If we know, I will let everyone here know. thanks to everyone.
Janet