Anybody know what kind of insect or creature this is?

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
D

dman

Diamond Member
Nov 2, 1999
9,110
0
76
I was guessing some kind of moth cocoon but not sure. Fixed Link

It's about 1.5 to 2" in length.
I knocked it off the wall with a stick <-(Edit: good thing I used the stick and not my finger! ) and it had some kind of caterpiller looking parts on the bottom.

This is located in S.FL if region helps.

We were on our way out when I snapped the pic and it was gone when I came back so whatever it was I didn't kill. I was guessing some kind of moth cocoon but not sure since it disappeared.

I have the fullsize image but it doesn't have anything in the frame to reference size. If you put two acorns back to back it's probably about that size (in length / width / & depth)--except the bottom was flat. Also on the bottom (Which I don't have a picture of, sorry) had an orange slug looking middle part and no legs that I could see. It squirmed a little when it fell and then I nudged it into the bushes area before I left and it was gone when I came back.

edit: Answer posted below, puss moth caterpillar aka ASP, thanks all!

 
Gibsons

Gibsons

Lifer
Aug 14, 2001
12,530
35
91
any other pictures, particularly that might give some indication of scale?
 
D

dman

Diamond Member
Nov 2, 1999
9,110
0
76
Originally posted by: Gibsons
any other pictures, particularly that might give some indication of scale?
Click to expand...

I have the fullsize image but it doesn't have anything in the frame to reference size.

I don't know if it helps but I posted above that it's about 1.5" to 2" long. If you put two acorns back to back it's probably about that size (in length / width / & depth)--except the bottom was flat. Also on the bottom (Which I don't have a picture of, sorry) had an orange slug looking middle part and no legs that I could see. It squirmed a little when it fell and then I nudged it into the bushes area before I left and it was gone when I came back.
 
Mrvile

Mrvile

Lifer
Oct 16, 2004
14,066
1
0
Originally posted by: dman
Originally posted by: Gibsons
any other pictures, particularly that might give some indication of scale?
Click to expand...

I have the fullsize image but it doesn't have anything in the frame to reference size.

I don't know if it helps but I posted above that it's about 1.5" to 2" long. If you put two acorns back to back it's probably about that size (in length / width / & depth)--except the bottom was flat. Also on the bottom (Which I don't have a picture of, sorry) had an orange slug looking middle part and no legs that I could see. It squirmed a little when it fell and then I nudged it into the bushes area before I left and it was gone when I came back.
Click to expand...

Oooh no legs. That's weird. I think I'm gonna have nightmares now.
 
Mrvile

Mrvile

Lifer
Oct 16, 2004
14,066
1
0
One evening shortly after placing these in the lab, for example, I suddenly felt an excruciating sharp pain in my left eye, and later concluded that a single spine from a puss caterpillar I had stepped on earlier in the day had been transferred from my boot to my hand while undressing. Rubbing my eye transferred the spine from hand to eye. I felt the effects of this error for more than a few hours... It is hard to imagine the pain that would be caused if a child picked one of these up, got numerous spines on their hands, and rubbed both eyes vigorously.

This experience proves the caterpillar does not have to be alive to "sting" you. The hollow spines, filled with toxin, will continue to cause painful stings hours long after the insect has been killed.
Click to expand...

:( :(
 
P

Paddington

Senior member
Jun 26, 2006
538
0
0
Sometimes I think about moving to a warmer place, but real creepy sh|t like this makes me glad I'm in a place where there's no bugs half the year, and only a few small, non-poisonous ones outside during the warmer months.
 
Mrvile

Mrvile

Lifer
Oct 16, 2004
14,066
1
0
Originally posted by: Paddington
Sometimes I think about moving to a warmer place, but real creepy sh|t like this makes me glad I'm in a place where there's no bugs half the year, and only a few small, non-poisonous ones outside during the warmer months.
Click to expand...

Your local macro photographers think otherwise. I wish we had cool bugs and long warm seasons up here in Ohio...

*sigh* :(
 
vi edit

vi edit

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 28, 1999
62,484
8,345
126
Wow. That is one of the most bizzare bug-things I've ever seen. Definitely not indigenous to the midwest AFAIK.

We did "bug collections" for 9th grade Biology. Collecting and tossing in something like that would throw off the teacher :)
 
Schadenfroh

Schadenfroh

Elite Member
Mar 8, 2003
38,416
4
0
Originally posted by: Paddington
Sometimes I think about moving to a warmer place, but real creepy sh|t like this makes me glad I'm in a place where there's no bugs half the year, and only a few small, non-poisonous ones outside during the warmer months.
Click to expand...

I have lived in Mississippi all my life. The creature in the OP was last seen when I was 9, I killed it with a glass magnifying glass because it scared the crap out of me. Nice to know what it really was, but I am glad that I did not touch it.

Now if you want scary, try swimming in your pool and have a 1" long cow ant wash up on your face:
http://lancaster.unl.edu/enviro/Images/Insects/VelvetAnt1BIG.jpg
 
Oceandevi

Oceandevi

Diamond Member
Jan 20, 2006
3,085
1
0
I found a few dozen of these at at work when I was 17 or so. I thought they looked cool so I put them all in a cup.
Took them inside and the staff freaked out! they called them asp's. they can sting
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom