Unidentified object - insect related I think

[Bruce Williams]

Stony Stratford, Bucks.

This object was on the side of a wooden fence post. It's quite small (~2mm) and I only spotted it through the D80 viewfinder as I was taking a shot of a close-by Giant Willow Aphid.

To be honest I'm not 100% sure if it's animal or vegetable....



Bruce

[Hedge Witch]

Interesting - I'm subscribing to the thread to find out if it's identified. I'm wondering if it's the cocoon of some kind of moth

[Action_Man]

Nice find bruce, it looks like something a Bagworm moth would leave behind ...

[squishy]

looks like a mini loofa you really do turn up some interesting stuff, dont you bruce

[Dogghound]

Yes it is without doubt the remains of a pupal site. The way its been cut at the top suggests a hymenopteran emerged from it, as oppose to a fly, moth as it would be more split. Although it could easily be a parasite thats emerged from a hoverfly puparium for example.

[Bruce Williams]

Thanks for you help with this one. I was very impressed by the very precisely made exit hole - like a lot of things in nature a tiny work of art.

Bruce