found chrysalis in house...any ideas?

[laurapete]

Hi all!!

I found the above chrysalis attached to a book which was ona shelf against a wall in my house.
Any idea what they could be? What should I do with them?


They literally look like lumps of mud. They're very hard.

Thanks for any advice you can offer!

[naturelover]

Hi and welcome to the site,cant help you with your chrysalis as i cant get the picture any bigger than thumbnail sorry.

[galanthus]

The pic is coming up okay for me but afraid not a clue as to what species they may be. I would leave them there tho rather than move them or put them out.

[Kayleigh]

I don't know what they are either I would put them in a container and wait see what hatches out of them..

[haematocephalus]

Very intriguing - the only thing they remind me of is the cocoons made by leafcutter bees (Megachile sp.), but it's a very odd location for them. They usually nest in old beetle burrows, under bark or sometimes in flower pots.

Was there an open window near the book last summer?

Martin

Martin Harvey
Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Environmental Records Centre

[laurapete]

yes the shelf is next to the window.

One of the cocoons dropped off and snapped yesterday - exposing the end of a shiny dak brown pupae..i guess this one will now die?......hope not!!

I'll pop them all in a container and wait and see ...how exciting!

Oh I'm in France by the way - in case that alters any identifications.

Thanks!

[Lance Morgan]

These are the containers (amphora) for Potter Wasp larvae
female lays eggs in it and larvae feeds on stored food (insects).
Pupates and becomes new potter wasp in the summer.

[laurapete]

wow! I must read more about them then - wonder when they might pop out?!

[laurapete]

all the pictures i can find of potter wasp nests tend to look more like vases...are we sure this is a wasp?

Oh that's a shame...I was hoping for something a bit more prety! hehe.

Is it safe to put them outside?

[Lance Morgan]

pretty certain its a wasp - In france should be OK outside but not exposed to rain frost etc.