Mystery of empty shell on tree trunks
Nov 05, 2021 • 7:47 AM UTC
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edurafi
I'm a science educator interested in everything science.
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I have been spotting empty shells of white colour on many tree trunks in Mumbai. I didn’t know what organism made them. This post is summary of journey I took to find out.
1/n Sunday-exploration-thread: I noticed small shell like structures👇 on trunk many trees in @TISSpeak Mumbai campus. All d trees were Sterculia foetida (जंगली बादाम). Asked @TeamFoldscope community, looked up on d web. But no clue abt who made it. #scicomm#sciencetwitterpic.twitter.com/sCn1xljSN8
— Edurafi👁️ (@Edurafi) January 12, 2020
2/n These shell like structures were all over d tree trunk. From bottom to top 👇. @PrakashLab suggested that I should find an intact shell n break open to see what is inside. If not possible take piece of shell n observe under d Foldscope. #scicomm#sciencetwitterpic.twitter.com/kMwMlPL2Er
— Edurafi👁️ (@Edurafi) January 12, 2020 3/n It wasn't easy to find an intact shell, as most of them were already open. After some searching in found few intact ones. When I opened it was an insect/larva inside. Dead n dried. It was difficult 2 identify just from it. #scicomm#sciencetwitterpic.twitter.com/ecjwqJ2PpJ
— Edurafi👁️ (@Edurafi) January 12, 2020 4/n I took small part of d insect/larva (1st two pics) to see if d microscopic structures help in identification. But it wasn't very helpful. Also looked at small part of white shell (last 2 pics). #scicomm#sciencetwitterpic.twitter.com/5W4UyALWrU
— Edurafi👁️ (@Edurafi) January 12, 2020 5/n As I became used to spotting these shell structures on tree trunks, my first assumption that these must be only on specific plant species went for a toss. I started spotting them on various other plant species. I saw them even on Jackfruit tree. #scicomm#sciencetwitterpic.twitter.com/k1mme4RUHN
— Edurafi👁️ (@Edurafi) January 12, 2020 6/n I found another intact shell on another tree, opened it and saw that this one was better preserved. I hoping someone on twitter might help me in identifying it. #scicomm#sciencetwitterpic.twitter.com/USIO5rD7F0
— Edurafi👁️ (@Edurafi) January 12, 2020 7/n I haven't solved this mystery yet. I thought I'll share it with d #scicomm community on twitter and with their help I'll find out who is making these shells on tree trunks in Mumbai. So please help. #sciencetwitter@PrakashLab@TeamFoldscope@WhatsScienceIN@scicommsci
— Edurafi👁️ (@Edurafi) January 12, 2020 This image is the best clue – it’s a clearly segmented insect larvae – you caught it under the act of metamorphosis! This picture is almost like a little mummy!
— PrakashLab (@PrakashLab) January 12, 2020 The mystery remained unsolved for more than a year, but today another person made similar observation and posted on twitter and an expert commented that these cocoons of moths from Limacodidae family. I cross checked and they look almost similar.
These are pupa of moths in the family Limacodidae. I don't have a picture, but I'll share one if I find one.
— Aniruddha H D (@AniruddhaHD) November 5, 2021
1/n Sunday-exploration-thread: I noticed small shell like structures👇 on trunk many trees in @TISSpeak Mumbai campus. All d trees were Sterculia foetida (जंगली बादाम). Asked @TeamFoldscope community, looked up on d web. But no clue abt who made it. #scicomm#sciencetwitterpic.twitter.com/sCn1xljSN8
— Edurafi👁️ (@Edurafi) January 12, 2020
2/n These shell like structures were all over d tree trunk. From bottom to top 👇. @PrakashLab suggested that I should find an intact shell n break open to see what is inside. If not possible take piece of shell n observe under d Foldscope. #scicomm#sciencetwitterpic.twitter.com/kMwMlPL2Er
— Edurafi👁️ (@Edurafi) January 12, 2020 3/n It wasn't easy to find an intact shell, as most of them were already open. After some searching in found few intact ones. When I opened it was an insect/larva inside. Dead n dried. It was difficult 2 identify just from it. #scicomm#sciencetwitterpic.twitter.com/ecjwqJ2PpJ
— Edurafi👁️ (@Edurafi) January 12, 2020 4/n I took small part of d insect/larva (1st two pics) to see if d microscopic structures help in identification. But it wasn't very helpful. Also looked at small part of white shell (last 2 pics). #scicomm#sciencetwitterpic.twitter.com/5W4UyALWrU
— Edurafi👁️ (@Edurafi) January 12, 2020 5/n As I became used to spotting these shell structures on tree trunks, my first assumption that these must be only on specific plant species went for a toss. I started spotting them on various other plant species. I saw them even on Jackfruit tree. #scicomm#sciencetwitterpic.twitter.com/k1mme4RUHN
— Edurafi👁️ (@Edurafi) January 12, 2020 6/n I found another intact shell on another tree, opened it and saw that this one was better preserved. I hoping someone on twitter might help me in identifying it. #scicomm#sciencetwitterpic.twitter.com/USIO5rD7F0
— Edurafi👁️ (@Edurafi) January 12, 2020 7/n I haven't solved this mystery yet. I thought I'll share it with d #scicomm community on twitter and with their help I'll find out who is making these shells on tree trunks in Mumbai. So please help. #sciencetwitter@PrakashLab@TeamFoldscope@WhatsScienceIN@scicommsci
— Edurafi👁️ (@Edurafi) January 12, 2020 This image is the best clue – it’s a clearly segmented insect larvae – you caught it under the act of metamorphosis! This picture is almost like a little mummy!
— PrakashLab (@PrakashLab) January 12, 2020 The mystery remained unsolved for more than a year, but today another person made similar observation and posted on twitter and an expert commented that these cocoons of moths from Limacodidae family. I cross checked and they look almost similar.
These are pupa of moths in the family Limacodidae. I don't have a picture, but I'll share one if I find one.
— Aniruddha H D (@AniruddhaHD) November 5, 2021
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