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Mystery Holes in Pine (Pinus sp.) Bark I found a pine tree with tiny holes in the bark. I pulled a piece of the bark off and found a little case attached to the hole (see additional photos). I couldn&#039;t see it at the time, but there was something in the case. So far, I don&#039;t know what it was. <br /> <br /> Habitat: Pine forest<br /> <figure class="photo"><a href="https://www.jungledragon.com/image/76357/mystery_holes_in_pine_pinus_sp._bark.html" title="Mystery Holes in Pine (Pinus sp.) Bark"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.jungledragon.com/images/3232/76357_thumb.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=05GMT0V3GWVNE7GGM1R2&Expires=1759968010&Signature=z%2Br3ffJbudQFvgQvlf%2BHSLg%2BO1U%3D" width="200" height="148" alt="Mystery Holes in Pine (Pinus sp.) Bark I found a pine tree with tiny holes in the bark. I pulled a piece of the bark off and found a little case attached to the hole <br /> (see additional photos). I couldn&#039;t see it at the time, but there was something in the case. So far, I don&#039;t know what it was. <br /> <br /> Habitat: Pine forest<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/76360/mystery_holes_in_pine_pinus_sp._bark.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/76359/mystery_holes_in_pine_pinus_sp._bark.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/76358/mystery_holes_in_pine_pinus_sp._bark.html Fall,Geotagged,United States" /></a></figure><br /> <figure class="photo"><a href="https://www.jungledragon.com/image/76360/mystery_holes_in_pine_pinus_sp._bark.html" title="Mystery Holes in Pine (Pinus sp.) Bark"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.jungledragon.com/images/3232/76360_thumb.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=05GMT0V3GWVNE7GGM1R2&Expires=1759968010&Signature=8d5zJPmAF79kaPydMuLTs7q8atI%3D" width="200" height="158" alt="Mystery Holes in Pine (Pinus sp.) Bark I found a pine tree with tiny holes in the bark. I pulled a piece of the bark off and found a little case attached to the hole (see additional photos). I couldn&#039;t see it at the time, but there was something in the case. So far, I don&#039;t know what it was. <br /> <br /> Habitat: Pine forest<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/76357/mystery_holes_in_pine_pinus_sp._bark.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/76359/mystery_holes_in_pine_pinus_sp._bark.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/76358/mystery_holes_in_pine_pinus_sp._bark.html Fall,Geotagged,United States" /></a></figure><br /> <figure class="photo"><a href="https://www.jungledragon.com/image/76358/mystery_holes_in_pine_pinus_sp._bark.html" title="Mystery Holes in Pine (Pinus sp.) Bark"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.jungledragon.com/images/3232/76358_thumb.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=05GMT0V3GWVNE7GGM1R2&Expires=1759968010&Signature=1MlepkrtzVpUIPz%2F9K3zbQNOEgY%3D" width="200" height="174" alt="Mystery Holes in Pine (Pinus sp.) Bark I found a pine tree with tiny holes in the bark. I pulled a piece of the bark off and found a little case attached to the hole (see additional photos). I couldn&#039;t see it at the time, but there was something in the case. So far, I don&#039;t know what it was. <br /> <br /> Habitat: Pine forest<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/76359/mystery_holes_in_pine_pinus_sp._bark.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/76360/mystery_holes_in_pine_pinus_sp._bark.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/76357/mystery_holes_in_pine_pinus_sp._bark.html<br /> Fall,Geotagged,United States" /></a></figure> Fall,Geotagged,United States Click/tap to enlarge Promoted

Mystery Holes in Pine (Pinus sp.) Bark

I found a pine tree with tiny holes in the bark. I pulled a piece of the bark off and found a little case attached to the hole (see additional photos). I couldn't see it at the time, but there was something in the case. So far, I don't know what it was.

Habitat: Pine forest

Mystery Holes in Pine (Pinus sp.) Bark I found a pine tree with tiny holes in the bark. I pulled a piece of the bark off and found a little case attached to the hole <br /> (see additional photos). I couldn't see it at the time, but there was something in the case. So far, I don't know what it was. <br /> <br /> Habitat: Pine forest<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/76360/mystery_holes_in_pine_pinus_sp._bark.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/76359/mystery_holes_in_pine_pinus_sp._bark.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/76358/mystery_holes_in_pine_pinus_sp._bark.html Fall,Geotagged,United States

Mystery Holes in Pine (Pinus sp.) Bark I found a pine tree with tiny holes in the bark. I pulled a piece of the bark off and found a little case attached to the hole (see additional photos). I couldn't see it at the time, but there was something in the case. So far, I don't know what it was. <br /> <br /> Habitat: Pine forest<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/76357/mystery_holes_in_pine_pinus_sp._bark.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/76359/mystery_holes_in_pine_pinus_sp._bark.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/76358/mystery_holes_in_pine_pinus_sp._bark.html Fall,Geotagged,United States

Mystery Holes in Pine (Pinus sp.) Bark I found a pine tree with tiny holes in the bark. I pulled a piece of the bark off and found a little case attached to the hole (see additional photos). I couldn't see it at the time, but there was something in the case. So far, I don't know what it was. <br /> <br /> Habitat: Pine forest<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/76359/mystery_holes_in_pine_pinus_sp._bark.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/76360/mystery_holes_in_pine_pinus_sp._bark.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/76357/mystery_holes_in_pine_pinus_sp._bark.html<br /> Fall,Geotagged,United States

    comments (14)

  1. View Patomarazul's profile
    Patomarazul
    Lion
    View Lion class
    Nice finding! Posted 6 years ago
    1. View Christine Young's profile
      Christine Young
      Lion
      View Lion class
      Thanks :) Posted 6 years ago
  3. View Ferdy Christant's profile
    Ferdy Christant
    Lion
    View Lion class
    Any theories so far? Insect cocoon? Posted 6 years ago
    1. View Christine Young's profile
      Christine Young
      Lion
      View Lion class
      I think it is some kind of cocoon or hibernation site. There is definitely an insect inside and I wish I had taken a closer look to see what it was. There were a bunch of these holes in this tree, so I'm going to go back and see what I can find once the trail opens back up. Posted 6 years ago
      1. View Ferdy Christant's profile
        Ferdy Christant
        Lion
        View Lion class
        Awesome, hope you keep us updated :) Posted 6 years ago
        1. View Christine Young's profile
          Christine Young
          Lion
          View Lion class
          Definitely! This tree is in a pine forest, so hopefully I can find it again. I'll have to use my autistic radar, haha ;P Posted 6 years ago
          1. View Ferdy Christant's profile
            Ferdy Christant
            Lion
            View Lion class
            Just find the pine, Christine, how hard can it be in a pine forest. Posted 6 years ago
            1. View Christine Young's profile
              Christine Young
              Lion
              View Lion class
              Lol, easy! Posted 6 years ago
  5. View Ferdy Christant's profile
    Ferdy Christant
    Lion
    View Lion class
    The more I look at it, the more mysterious it gets. Upon a better look it does look like an insect yet semi-mature, also the "house" is quite oversized. Posted 6 years ago
    1. View Christine Young's profile
      Christine Young
      Lion
      View Lion class
      Exactly. It doesn't look like a larva in there. Also, the hole to the "cocoon" was perfectly lined up with the hole in the bark, which makes me think this could be a brooding chamber for an adult to lay eggs/overwinter in because if it was a cocoon, the end would have been sealed. But, since it was open, that makes me think that the insect comes in and out... Posted 6 years ago
      1. View Gary B's profile
        Gary B
        Lion
        View Lion class
        Could be one of the tiny pine bark beetles. Posted 6 years ago
        1. View Christine Young's profile
          Christine Young
          Lion
          View Lion class
          It definitely could be. It's hard to see, but it looks like a tiny adult insect is in there. Posted 6 years ago
          1. View Gary B's profile
            Gary B
            Lion
            View Lion class
            You should be able to tell once you get another look at these. I checked the various fact sheets from the USDA on pine bark beetles and none mentioned this structure so it may not be a pine bark beetle at all. Posted 6 years ago
            1. View Christine Young's profile
              Christine Young
              Lion
              View Lion class
              I just got a suggestion on FB that the insect inside may be unrelated to the cocoon. Or, it could be a parasitoid. Posted 6 years ago

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By Christine Young

All rights reserved
Uploaded Mar 19, 2019. Captured Nov 24, 2018 12:40 in 5 East St, New Milford, CT 06776, USA.
country flag of United States of America Explore United States of America 39,964 9,645 8
  • Canon EOS 80D
  • f/7.1
  • 1/83s
  • ISO400
  • 100mm
Captured in the fall. More fall photos.