any clue what this is? -- Potter wasp
I was looking at my blueberry bushes (1st year plants) and saw what looked like a blueberry but it looked like it was covered in clay. it was the same size, shape etc of the few berries that was on the plant. I thought it looked odd so I took it off with a stick to see what it was. the clay looking part was a shell like structure and inside was filled with about 5 green little caterpillars. so weird! I mean it was perfectly disguised as a blueberry except for the color. what insect would do something so intelligent like that?
- microcollie
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Sounds like a potter wasp. (sorry, I'm not good with latin insect names) The caterpillers are actually the host for its eggs, which it seals into the small, ball-shaped case. As the wasp larvae hatch, they'll feed on the hosts until they're ready to break out of the mud case. Therefore, they should be considered a beneficial thing, as they are feeding on the larvae of many pest insects. Their larger dwellings can be quite beautiful. Hope you have more around!
- microcollie
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- Joined: Fri Jun 04, 2010 5:17 pm
- Location: Western MA