I debated putting this in IMHO, because right now all that can be done (I assume) is speculate. However, this question does have an answer, so it seemed to fit General Questions better. Mods, feel free to move if you disagree.
Over on Wired, there’s an article on a peculiar structure that has only recently been spotted. So far it’s been seen 4 times, all on one small island in the Peruvian Amazon. They’re pretty sure it’s made by an insect of some sort, but no one knows which insect and for what purpose.
No, I don’t think so. The thin threads look very much like insect or spider silk. There are some odd fungi, but nothing I am aware of looks anything like this.
So you’re positing that the cone and the spike are some sort of fungus, and the threads that look like fence rails and guy wires are from an exploiting insect? They all (as in spike, cone, fence rails and guy wires) appeared to be made of the same material to me. Maybe an insect could draw or spin the the threads out? Are there any fungi that can grow on tarps?
At first glance I’d assume whatever is in the middle is the honey and the fence around it is the trap to ensnare prey. Can’t wait to hear the real explanation.
Eta: also I find it near inconceivable some Peruvian villagers somewhere don’t know exactly what made this and why.
According to the article, the first was spotted on the underside of a tarp, which makes it sound like it was upside down. The others were spotted on the sides of trees.
Dammit Colibri you were supposed to figure this out! First thing I did when I woke up this morning was check this thread to see what made them. I am so freaking curious as to what did this, don’t you know you’re supposed to answer all our nature related questions??
Hell, if Bill Eberhard and Jonathan Coddington (two of my colleagues quoted in the article who are spider and insect experts) can’t figure it out, all I can say is WTF too. I’ve been in the general vicinity of where the things were found in the Peruvian Amazon, and have never seen anything like it.
The fact that the first one was found on a tarp pretty much precludes it being a fungal structure or outgrowth from the tree bark. It has to have been made by a mobile organism.
If it’s a fungus wouldn’t they be able to grow fungus from it?
I wonder if it’s supposed to look like a flower. Ether to trick food or attract a mate.
They need to set a camera on one for a few days and see what happens.
It looks like a high-powered transmitter, surrounded by a protective fence. I am guessing an insectoid alien species from outerspace set it up to guide the swarm earthward.
Are all the pointy tips pointing at the same direction in space?
