UPDATE! Entomologist, Botanist, Hobbiest, HELP!
Yesterday afternoon I received the following reply. I waded out to the backyard this morning and quickly plucked that silken cocoon from the eggplant leaf. One squish, from a flip-flop, sent this “unknown, and unwelcome” guest off to the recycled bin of Life. My many thanks to Mr. Steve Chaney, and to the folks at Texas A&M University. (https://tamu.edu)
I am not aware of any beneficial insect that this cocoon would be, so my suggestion would be to go ahead and remove it from the garden. Happy gardening!!
Take the Earth-Kind challenge at http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/earthkind/ and learn how Earth-Kind your landscape is. Sincerely,Steve ChaneySteve ChaneyTexas A&M AgriLife Extension Service-Tarrant CountyExtension Agent – Horticulture 200 Taylor Street, Suite 500Fort Worth, TX 76196-0123Phone: 817-884-1944FAX: 817-884-1941s-chaney@tamu.edu
A photo for Steve Chaney. Thanks for helping solve the mystery. :)
Can you help identify my friend?
Someone came visiting a few weeks ago.
He was bundled up in a silken cocoon.
I’ve kept a steady watch on him.
He dines upon an eggplant leaf.
Thank you!
A photo-gift. Thank you for helping solve this mystery.
CoffeeGrounded's Blog 
Dude – I’ve got no idea what that is -(but I’m sure he’ll make a great kat snack)!😺
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Oh you silly cat! That’s why I locked my gate this morning. Breakfast was hours ago and lunch is a liquid diet today. ;)
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Thanks fur the warning! I’ll go next door and eat the fish in the neighbors’ aquarium! That angelfish has been taunting me and calling me names for months – he has it coming! 🐠🐠
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Go one street over and you can enjoy Koi. Once upon a time I had some, but the sand filtration system became too much for me to handle. Those bags of sand are HEAVY!
Do you like opossum? I have those visit from time to time. ;)
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Hmm… Possum scare me (the last one that came around here was bigger than me)! But now koi – that sounds delicious!! 😺
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Wish I knew more about bugs to help you out. My guess would be some sort of caterpillar. I hope it doesn’t kill your plant.
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Hi Sweets! Yes, I’ve thought about that, but at the same time, growing an organic garden is part of a balancing act. Sometimes we have to sacrifice something in order to get something else. As much as I would hate to lose my eggplant, it may mean that my harvest of something else will be spared. Right now the basil plants are taking a hit, but if things go as normal, they will bounce back and I’ll be shoving basil into every dish I fix.
I did zip a note off to Texas A&M to see if someone could identify this item, but there may be a reader that comes forward, first.
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Be sure and let us know what you find out, I am curious to know what it is too. :-)
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Will do! I’m really surprised a bird hasn’t claimed it.
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Maybe it will sooner or later.
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I hope to discover what it is, first, though. You know, if cold weather we’re moving in, a bird would love that silk for their nest.
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So true. :-)
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