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Found this buried in the soil where we were growing tomatoes last year on our balcony- it's pointy end moves when touched- can anyone tell me what it is? A chrysalis maybe?
Spotted on Mar 1, 2011
Submitted on Mar 1, 2011
4 Comments
It's probably in the family Sphingidae--they make their cocoons like that, overwinter beneath the soil, pupate, and come out the following spring. At any rate, you'll have a very neat moth whenever it emerges!
Thanks! Have done the jar thing already- will put the picture up when the time comes!
Definitely looks like a moth in the pupa stage. Just not sure what kind of moth it will turn into. Maybe you could keep one in a jar with a moist paper towel and stick and see what emerges! See here for more examples: http://bit.ly/pupaeexamples
I found a ton of these in the soil under a rock bed I removed last summer. I'd love to know what they are too!