Sign Challenge #1

This’ll be the first in a new series of challenges focused on sign. What is “sign”, you might be asking? Generally, it’s something whose presence indicates the presence of something else. Here on this blog, of course, I’m referring to sign in nature. That could be tracks an animal left behind, scat or other droppings, a shed skin, feeding damage, and so on.

So, with that in mind, what is this sign and what critter does it reveal?

~15mm long | August 23, 2012 | Sebring, FL, USA

I highly recommend Tracks & Sign of Insects and Other Invertebrates. I find that it’s one of my most used references of late. If you already have it, you’ll find the answer to this challenge in it.

[book:0811736245]

 

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5 Responses to Sign Challenge #1

  1. Sara says:

    Tussock moth cocoon? Something yellow with a black stripe down the back that used its own fuzz to spin its cocoon?

    • Troy Bartlett says:

      My first thought was along those lines as well. In fact, I brought it home planning to see what moth would emerge. As it turns out, that’s not even the right class.

      Anyone else care to take a guess?

      • Stella says:

        I have the same thing on my wall in my porch but it has a green line across it instead of a black line. Is it poisonous? What is it? Thanks

  2. Daniel Heald says:

    Hmm. Well, there’s some spiders that will build a egg case and camo net from yellow silk – the black line is new to me, though.

  3. Chris says:

    OK, what is it? They are all over my porch ceiling. I didn’t powerwash them this weekend.

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