I used to find little 1/2" varieties of these in my treehouse when I was a kid.
I found this 2 1/2" (6cm) one on the back porch of my lake house near Gainesville FL.

It ISN'T:
A cocoon or a chrysalis. It won't shed its skin and become something else.
It IS:
mobile, sort of, but prefers to stay in one place.
It looks like:
A little pine cone covered with shredded, dried leaves.
And it shats what looks like tobacco spit.
Do any of you entomologists know what it is?
Anything?

[This message has been edited by NEPTUNE (edited 07-21-2011).]

Nope, can't tell you what it is but, I can name it. Let's go with Harry.

------------------
Ron

I always thought that was some kind of lizard **** . I know the normal lizards we get down here take those turds that are the size of rat turds, but with a white piece on the end... no idea though, but those are all over Florida.

I get these all the time on my cedar trees out front. Always wondered what it was as well..

My friends and I cleared out the underbrush around a pine tree and used it as a treehouse. Those things were everywhere... really squishy if you feel them, right? I never knew what they were. I figured they were part of the tree since I only ever saw them on evergreens.

It's a common Bagworm (Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis). Their preferred habitat is leafy conifers like cedar, juniper, and cypress. What you see is indeed a coccoon, silk interwoven with leaf material. The Bald Cypress in our yard is infested with them this year.

[This message has been edited by Marvin McInnis (edited 07-22-2011).]

WOW! They have Pokemon based on these! I always wondered what they were based on. Bagworms... wow.

Burmy:


Then it evolves into Wormadam if it's a female:
Look at that resemblance!

Or Mothim if a male:


Sorry for the nerd fest haha.

[This message has been edited by theBDub (edited 07-21-2011).]

Thank you!
That's one strange creature.
Never saw a cocoon move (albeit slowly) before.

[This message has been edited by NEPTUNE (edited 07-21-2011).]

quote Originally posted by theBDub: WOW! They have Pokemon based on these! I always wondered what they were based on. Bagworms... wow. Burmy: Then it evolves into Wormadam if it's a female: Or Mothim if a male: Sorry for the nerd fest haha.

hahaha my boyfriend and I just re-started playing pokemon again!!

NM

[This message has been edited by Renegade blob (edited 07-21-2011).]

O dear sweet baby jesus...