Help identifying ant like creature with body made from stone!

andyrigley · #1 (**permalink**) 25-06-2010, 07:39 PM

Yeah I know. Weird. I found it in a damp(ish) disused railway area - Derby.
About an inch in length, it's body was literaly made of tiny pieces of stone suck together in a patchwork! And the 'thing' inside was like a massive wood ant, with very long front legs and it was VERY nasty!! It had an almost caterpillar like back body that disappeared into the 'shell'.
I'm pretty sure it wasn't jsut 'an ant in a shell' It was definatley a hermit like thing carrying iteslf around.
Any ideas?
It was the most horryfying creature I;ve ever seen.
(I do have some pics,and will post/link when i;ve worked it all out

)

Acutipuerilis · #2 (**permalink**) 25-06-2010, 07:48 PM

This sounds like a caddis-fly larva - many have highly specialised preferences for what they build their tubes from (including some that use foram shells). I'm confused by it being out of water, but perhaps there was a pond nearby?

andyrigley · #3 (**permalink**) 25-06-2010, 07:54 PM

Acutipuerilis ,
Just checked some external pics of of the caddis fly larva and that's exactly what it is!
And yes, there is a brook running either side of the 'track' and some stillwater areas. When I found it it was crawling around on the mud.

I'm 36 and spend a lot of time outdoors and never saw one of these boogers ever
I am no longer confused or scared

Cheers!