Check under your doormat!

[Jennywrenny]

If you have been a bit busy (no not lazy!) and haven't had chance to sweep up under your outside doormat for a few months then do so now! Look what we found...



Any idea what they are?

Jenny

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by Jennywrenny

If you have been a bit busy (no not lazy!) and haven't had chance to sweep up under your outside doormat for a few months then do so now! Look what we found...



Any idea what they are?

Jenny

well they are definitely pupae / chrysalids of butterflys or moths- and more than one sort I would imagine but i'm not expert enough to tell you species from the chrysalid form - fourwings or oscar might be your man for that

[Kymba]

Are they a moth or butterfly pupae of some sort??

[Kymba]

OH Pete You beat me to it

[Jennywrenny]

Oh that's interesting - it would be great if somebody knew what they were. Two of them seemed to be 'wrestling' at one point! Anyway I have put them into a container with soil, grass cuttings and woodshavings for the moment and was wonderering whether to keep them for a while to see what happened? Is this a good idea?

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by Jennywrenny

Oh that's interesting - it would be great if somebody knew what they were. Two of them seemed to be 'wrestling' at one point! Anyway I have put them into a container with soil, grass cuttings and woodshavings for the moment and was wonderering whether to keep them for a while to see what happened? Is this a good idea?

They do move about a bit but i wouldnt think they would be conciously wrestling I cant see a problem with keeping them - perhaps in a jar or tank with muslin over the top so that they get air but the insects dont escape when they hatch - it would be good to identifty ythem though so that you can provide a food plant for when they hatch out....

..... but that will take a real insect expert which unfortunately I'm not it might be worth dropping a pm to fourwings , aeshena , or paul mabbot in case they dont see this thread

[wildlifesnapper]

Hi

I'm sure there not butterfly or moth.They look like some kind of fly type stage.If you look at the two on the left ,they have the flat backend that maggots have.

neil

[Jennywrenny]

Originally Posted by wildlifesnapper

Hi

I'm sure there not butterfly or moth.They look like some kind of fly type stage.If you look at the two on the left ,they have the flat backend that maggots have.

neil

We wondered about leatherjackets or something like that but my dad said maybe something fly type (ish) ??

Eeyore - As you have suggested I have them in a decent sized plastic container with good sized airholes at the top so they can't get out and they are in a shaded area in the garden. If there are any other suggestions on how best to keep them I would be glad to hear

Jenny

[wildlifesnapper]

Hi

that is what I was thinking , leatherjacket (Cranefly).
They look like that kind of thing.Have you got some pot plants next to your mat as they feed on the roots and could have gone under the mat to pupate.

neil

[Jennywrenny]

Originally Posted by wildlifesnapper

Hi

that is what I was thinking , leatherjacket (Cranefly).
They look like that kind of thing.Have you got some pot plants next to your mat as they feed on the roots and could have gone under the mat to pupate.

neil

We do have one pot next to the back door, yes. I just thought it was a really strange place to find them under the doormat. There's no food or anything for them there, is there? There was just dust and a couple of tiny creatures, a little worm and woodlice. (Stuff that everyone else has under their doormat I hope! )