Potter wasp cocoons ?

[exo]

Found while I was cleaning out my 'lacewing/ladybird house',
these are about 7mm long cocoons, obviously made of paper/mud,
not sure if these are still viable, but unsure whether to check physically.


What should I do, leave them out in case they hatch, or open them to see ?

[Mele]

Exo
This is a rather late reply to your June post!
I just found the same thing under a pot in my garden in Bedfordshire. Just put on ISpot to see if I can identify to genus. The ones in my garden are made of mud/sand as far as I can see. Most are holed/broken but 2 are complete. Would be fascinated to know what they are - but Google is not too helpful. Mel

[exo]

Glad you've seen some too, I forgot to say I opened one & there
was a dried husk of an insect, couldn't make out what it was though.

Please let us know if you find anything out Mele

[Mele]

Exo
We may have an id....
I posted a picture on Ispot here and a very nice man called David Notton (Hymenoptera expert from the Natural History Museum) has suggested our clay cells may belong to the spider-hunting wasp (Auplopus carbonarius).
If you follow the links from the other spots of similar cells on ISpot he provides more info on those pages.
Also a website here gives info on this species...
So our cells may be this - it's the closest we may get...
Very cool indeed
Mel

[exo]

So could be potter wasp or spider-hunting wasp, well done!

Shame I didn't find mine till after the fact, coccoons way too old,
are any of yours still viable do you think ?

[Mele]

Yes I think so - 2 look 'fresh'. I've put them out back where I found them.....under a pot in the garden, but may consider keeping them safe somewhere and seeing what comes out, whenever it comes out. I'd best get some advice on that as don't want to mess up their brief little lives too much.
Mel

[exo]

Presumably they'll hatch next spring I guess ?,
you'll just have to sit there with camera in hand waiting for them to come out

[Mele]

Till spring?
Those long winter hours are just gonna fly by
Actually 3 look fresh and are unbroken. Have got them in a little box, with some damp leaves, just so the cocoons don't dry out and start falling apart.
Looked for more under other pots and stuff, but not found any.
Will update if anything happens but am holding back on setting up a webcam
Mel

[Mele]

Hi exo
I've just written a blog on these spider-hunting wasps....couldn't resist finding out about them
Pottering about
Mel

[exo]

Nice blog Mele , very thorough.

Looking at your images there though, I'd say that since some have hatched,
and given they were probably made around the same time, the rest may
well be dead or non-viable ?

Maybe not though, fingers crossed.