Whose nest is this??

Lutz, FL(Zone 9b)

One of the guys brought this to me at the office this morning. Any idea who uses a nest like this?

Thumbnail by Floridian
Lutz, FL(Zone 9b)

A view of the top

Thumbnail by Floridian
Deep South Coastal, TX(Zone 10a)

Hummingbirds sometimes build nests like that. Is it tiny?

Lutz, FL(Zone 9b)

I was afraid of that...the LOA is about 2.5 inches, the nest, from opening to bottom, is about 1.75 inches.
Edited to say:
The opening is only about .5 inch wide and the body of the 'nest' is about 1 inch wide. I went looking at hummer nests and the ones I saw don't have the narrower opening. This is made of what feels like coarse cloth, very fibrous and you can see that whole leaves are built into it. I'll try to get a picture that shows this

This message was edited Wednesday, Jan 8th 3:08 PM

Orlando, FL(Zone 9b)

That's not a hummer nest. You found the cocoon of a giant silkmoth. Just try to tear it apart--they're almost impossible. I find those all over my yard in the leaf litter. Empty, of course.

Orlando, FL(Zone 9b)

After a little further looking, I think it is most likely a Promethea or Sweetbay silkmoth. Here are some links to their descriptions.

http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/distr/lepid/moths/fl/964.htm
http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/distr/lepid/moths/fl/965.htm

Both indicate they spin cocoons on the ends of twigs and some wrap leaves around the cocoons to camoflauge them.

Panhandle, FL(Zone 8a)

Hmm, when I think of a caterpillar, that is the image I have in my head. (besides the P. toyus)

This message was edited Thursday, Jan 9th 10:46 PM

Lutz, FL(Zone 9b)

Thanks so much Mandy!! I hoped you'd know what it was. It's beautiful...I'd love to see one. Do you see these moths since you have them around your property?

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