mystery leaf roller

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Glenn Marshall sent me this photo wondering what it might be. He writes they found it near the "falls in White Oak Sinks. We saw a number of these, mostly on ferns, where they could easily fold over the fronds."

I've seen these before and suspected it was the work of a moth or butterfly caterpillar, a little research leads me to believe it's the handiwork, i.e. the cocoon building savoir-faire of a leaftier moth caterpillar. (The frond certainly looks cinched and tied.) But as to a specific species, I'm unsure. Suffice it to say, there's a miracle at work inside that bundle of green. A change of life. Old school.

Think about it! How could you bind yourself up inside a leaf if you're on the inside?

That's savior-fare, know how.

Moths are one of nature's mysterious wonderments: active at night, mostly drab in color, half a bazillion species many unknown to science. What's not to pique your curiosity?  

Anyone else know what might be at work here?


Thanks, Glenn.

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