[zcruiser]

I was cleaning out some windchimes on the back porch and when I shoved a stick down through one tube to clean out what I thought was a wasp nest, I found the following bizarre construction:



It is made up of multiple cylindrical "capsules" made out of very precisely cut leaves. The cylinders are stacked end-to-end, the ends capped off with small round circles cut out of leaves. Inside each cylinder is some yellow goo and a small white larva.

Anyone know what kind of an insect makes such a precision cocoon out of leaves and is able to make them inside a windchime tube (about 3/8" diameter) hanging under the eave of a house? This just seems like an impossible thing for an insect to accomplish, hated to destroy when I cleaned it out (please no SPCI comments).

[nailbender]

Don't touch it ! It maybe a pod billy! Put a few in a jar and see what hatches. Science hasn't named half of the insects on earth yet . You could have your very own beetle or something.

[wobble]

not necessarily my area of expertise, but those cells were probably made by some species of Megachilidae (Leafcutting bees). These bees cut out dime size section of leafs and construct similar shaped cells, each containing an egg and some nectar and pollen- possibly your yellow goo. The cells are constructed in a variety of places including underground, in hollowed-out stems and branches, though not sure about wind chimes, but if the hole fits why not…

[Colorado Boy-74-FJ40]

Looks like you found your Kid's stash!

[OZCAL]

Off topic but, what made you think "today I'll clean the wind chimes?"

[stinkyfj60]

Originally Posted by OZCAL

Off topic but, what made you think "today I'll clean the wind chimes?"

He noticed that they had fallen out of tune

[beaufort-fj60]

murderer

[Rusty Shackleford]

Can we see the whole "honey do" list?

[beaufort-fj60]

Originally Posted by Rusty Shackleford

Can we see the whole "honey do" list?

LOL

[Skillet]

Originally Posted by wobble

not necessarily my area of expertise, but those cells were probably made by some species of Megachilidae (Leafcutting bees). These bees cut out dime size section of leafs and construct similar shaped cells, each containing an egg and some nectar and pollen- possibly your yellow goo. The cells are constructed in a variety of places including underground, in hollowed-out stems and branches, though not sure about wind chimes, but if the hole fits why not…

I think you are correct. Check this out.

http://crawford.tardigrade.net/bugs/BugofMonth23.html

[zcruiser]

Originally Posted by OZCAL

Off topic but, what made you think "today I'll clean the wind chimes?"

Yeah, you know, I'm lyin' there in bed at night with the breeze blowin' and I'm thinkin' "Damn, that's supposed to be an A sharp, it sounds a little off."

My honey-do list is pretty long these days, but taking off the July 4th week and staying home for a change let me get a few things done, though they were mostly on MY list and not hers, lol.

[zcruiser]

Originally Posted by Skillet

I think you are correct. Check this out.

http://crawford.tardigrade.net/bugs/BugofMonth23.html

That's it! Though I still think for them to do that on a tube dangling by a string in the air is still pretty freakin' amazing. I put the other pods in a jar with holes, we'll see what pops out.

[Skillet]

Originally Posted by zcruiser

That's it! Though I still think for them to do that on a tube dangling by a string in the air is still pretty freakin' amazing. I put the other pods in a jar with holes, we'll see what pops out.

Update if they hatch...

I love the versatility and adaptability of the animal world.

Just look at praying mantis which mimic the look of an orchid flower, to name one.

Amazing.

Good find.

[erymer]

That's awesome Steve. But the important thing is how do the chimes sound now?

So you gonna bring that 62 down to Uwharrie with us in August?