Thursday, July 3, 2014

Mystery cocoon

Last week, James spotted this odd, LARGE cocoon hanging from a live oak branch in the front yard. After shooting pictures of the roosting bees the other night, I finally got a better look at the cocoon. I have NO clue what it might be. The mystery insect definitely used existing leaves to make the cocoon. So interesting!


Since we're clueless, we decided to carefully cut the cocoon from the branch and place it in a critter box for further observation. We set the container on a cabinet in the garage near a window. "We can't forget about it!" I told James. "I'll need to let it go as soon as whatever it is comes OUT."
To help jog my memory (and his) about our temporary guest in the garage, I scribbled a note and taped it to our kitchen door. Stay tuned!

11 comments:

jeffb5 said...

My guess is it's a moth. I wouldn't know what genus/species. Moths spin their cocoons from silk and butterflies from glands. I can hear the drum roll before it emerges.

Ragna said...

Did it eclose? What was it?

Sheryl Smith-Rodgers said...

It's STILL in the container! It never opened! :-( I should have left it where it was.

Unknown said...

You should have left it over the winter. Cocoons that dont hatch in begining of summer will hibernate over winter.

Unknown said...

You should have left it over the winter. Cocoons that dont hatch in begining of summer will hibernate over winter.

Sheryl Smith-Rodgers said...

We recently opened it, and it was empty. :-(

Anonymous said...

I picked one March 30th. I hear something inside when I tilt it back and forth, that sounds like a pebble inside it. I brought it inside, and set it in a shot glass to keep it upright. I set it in an east window, the direction I found it in.
I can't WAIT to see what comes out.
I see by the comments that I should have left it where it was, but I only found your site after i brought it inside.

Sheryl Smith-Rodgers said...

Keep me posted! Ours was a bust...

Unknown said...

Here is my news about the cocoon I found, plucked, brought inside, & put it in a shot glass. I HOPE THAT OTHER PEOPLE READ THIS, and if they see a cocoon, leave it alone, and watch it where it is.
Eventually, we did not hear it inside anymore. We opened it, and it was empty. I have no idea why, other than, we should have left it where it was. Now I know better, but at the time, I did not. I am so sad about that.

Unknown said...

Twice I have sent my update, but it doesn't show up. :(

Sheryl Smith-Rodgers said...

I'm sorry, Pam, about that! I'm not good about checking my comments folder. I don't always get notifications like I should.

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