Red pod found in garden soil

Amylou · #1 (**permalink**) 13-06-2010, 04:57 PM

I found this in the soil when i was gardening today. Not sure if its a seed pod or some casing for an insect...? Any idea?

werdnal · #2 (**permalink**) 13-06-2010, 05:03 PM

Its a larvae casing of an insect - not sure which one though. If you gently squeeze the blunt end, the pointy end should twitch if its still alive. I'm sure someone else will be able to confirm the species.

Jason Claxton · #3 (**permalink**) 13-06-2010, 05:12 PM

Hi Amylou

It is the pupa of a moth of some kind,you could put it into a ventilated container and see what it hatchs into,and then release the adult moth .I've done this on several occasions now.

Cheers Jason

Jason Claxton · #4 (**permalink**) 13-06-2010, 05:29 PM

Oh I didn't see that you found in the soil Amylou,you might get an even greater surprise when it turns out to be a Cranefly!but this is the wrong shape.I have found moth pupae whilst pulling up turf in the garden before

Amylou · #5 (**permalink**) 13-06-2010, 06:22 PM

Oh very cool! I put it back into the soil incase i put it somewhere that would kill it! Im nosey enough now that i might go dig it up again! Not sure where to put it though. Maybe il grab some soil and put it in a dish for it?

I had the best time in the garden today. Its not been weeded for a while and i found all sorts of bugs!

Jason Claxton · #6 (**permalink**) 13-06-2010, 06:56 PM

Hi Amylou

It shouldn't need soil in with it,if anything I think the humidity with soil in a container would be more likely to encourage fungal growth.It really just needs air now .Something clear is ideal to keep it in,so you can easily see when it has hatched,and remember those air holes.I find it quite exciting waiting to see what it is going to be.They can take a number of weeks,but check on him everyday.There is perhaps surprisingly not much to it really.

Best of luck,and I'm sure somebody on WAB will I.D the adult for you.

Monkey Orchid · #7 (**permalink**) 15-06-2010, 09:25 AM

If you're still planning to put the pupa into a container to hatch it out, put a couple of twigs into the container as well, leaning against the container walls. This will give the freshly-emerged adult invertebrate something to crawl up. If it's a moth of some sort, it'll need to be able to crawl up and hang from a twig to give its wings some room to expand and harden. Otherwise you might end up with a crinkly moth!

slimrbp · #8 (**permalink**) 15-06-2010, 09:40 AM

Don't do what I did and put it in a jar without a lid!

Ours hatched overnight into a lovely looking crane fly with yellow stripes. Unfortunately I only looked at it briefly as it was banging on the back door wanting out so I duly opened the door and off it went.

Of course then I realised where it had come from and should have looked more closely (I am not a morning person!).

Amylou · #9 (**permalink**) 17-06-2010, 12:49 PM

I have a cloth over the top of it. Im not entirely sure that there is anything alive in it but i will keep it for now and see what happens! Very exciting.

Paul mabbott · #10 (**permalink**) 17-06-2010, 02:29 PM

It is actually the chrysalis (pupa) of a moderately sized moth - looking at the picture you can make out the outlines of its abdominal segments (right) and the folded wings (left) amongst other things. A light covering of soil/sand will do no harm although naturally they will be below ground only to avoid being eaten by larger predators. As Monkey Orchid suggested twigs or something else it can crawl up while its wings &c extend. It's worth keeping something damp in the pot otherwise the wings and general exoskeleton may dry up before they have properly expanded. Keep it out of bright light and heat. Good luck!
PS: the hind ends twitch during the early stages of pupation I think ....