Help! Can someone identify this bug.

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Jarsh83 Greenwood, IN Aug 10, 2012

This is the first time I have ever seen this pest. Found it in my onion patch. Can anyone tell me what it is and how to get rid of it. I am assuming there are more LOL

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flowAjen central, NJ(Zone 6b) Aug 10, 2012

It's a moth or butterfly pupa

"Many species of moth and butterfly don’t spin cocoons but instead pupate inside a single hairless pupal casing that may be either hidden in the soil, amongst leaf litter or other vegetation including inside the stems of plants and trunks of trees. The word chrysalis is another name for pupa and it comes from the Greek for gold. However, only those chrysalis that are well hidden, such as those in the ground, are a golden brown and many darken with age as the moth or butterfly develops inside."

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Jarsh83 Greenwood, IN Aug 10, 2012

So should I leave it alone or get rid of it?

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flowAjen central, NJ(Zone 6b) Aug 10, 2012

I leave them alone

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Jarsh83 Greenwood, IN Aug 11, 2012

Okay will do!!!! Thanks SOOOOOO MUCH for your help!!!!

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flowAjen central, NJ(Zone 6b) Aug 11, 2012

You're welcome☺

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purpleinopp Opp, AL(Zone 8b) Aug 13, 2012

Compare your cocoon to pics of tent moth cocoons. So many are so similar.

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kittriana Magnolia, TX(Zone 9a) Aug 18, 2012

Yeah- I dont like moths, they eat everything, and there are far more of them this year than people need...

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flowAjen central, NJ(Zone 6b) Aug 20, 2012

tent caterpillar pupa are not found in the ground like that, you'll find the white cocoon on leaves and debris like fallen logs

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