I gather sticks to burn in our fire bowl. As I tossed one onto the pile, it broke in the middle. I picked up the two pieces and noticed a dark cylinder in the middle. The cylinder sections were wrapped in tiny brown leaves. I knew that this meant a larva was inside.
I took the stick pieces inside to be examined. I carefully unwrapped the dozen or so small leaves from a section.
The first one only contained yellow powder.
The next section squirted as I got to the center. I carefully cut open the capsule. There was a light colored blob inside.
I put the blob on a slide and looked at it under the microscope. This face appeared.
I put the rest of the stick back outside. I do not know what is growing in it, but it was carefully wrapped to ensure its survival and placed in a well made tunnel.
If the stick had not broken, It would eventually have been burned. Sometimes our fire makes whizzing and squeaking noises. Now, I will worry that I have roasted some larvae.
Who knew that such mysteries would be enclosed in a stick?
FLOW
floweralley 
The odd time we light a fire in the fireplace, I wonder if spiders or bugs might be lurking in cracks or under bark. Never thought about larvae, though. It doesn’t seem fair to roast them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That face! I hope I don’t start inspecting every log and stick.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A magical story
LikeLiked by 1 person
A great science lesson.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. It’s my passion.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Looks like a leaf cutter bee, one of the solitary bees. They lay eggs in hollow sticks, the yellow powder is propolis, a food made from pollen for the larva to eat, and they plug the chambers with bits of leaves.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much for this info. I have not had time to look it up. I thought the yellow powder looked like pollen. I have been pondering the identification of the leaves. I do not recognize them. That is such a complex nest. I am truly amazed. I appreciate your comment. Now I have clues to follow.
LikeLike