What Is This?

[CutieCrawlersArt]

I was hiking on a trail in FL and we came across this hanging from the end of a branch. What is it? It looks like a chrysalis of some sort but I was hoping it was a mantis ooth of some kind (probably not though since I don't think they lay them hanging like this?)

 

[CosbyArt]

Looks like a tree gall. They are usually found on hardwood tree like oaks and maples, and are formed usually by a parasitic wasp living off the tree itself.

 

[hibiscusmile]

I think it is a moth ooth, but I could be wrong, my galls were scary looking. 

 

[hibiscusmile]

I think it is a moth ooth, but I could be wrong, my galls were scary looking. I looked for a thread of a gall I have on evergreen, can't see it, the one I had , had a Christmas 

tree shape, and when grabbing it with my forcepts, the bloody thing wiggled, turned out there was a good size worm in there, which I fed to the mantis!

 

[mantiseater]

looks like a moth cocoon from the family Saturniidae

 

[CosbyArt]

Indeed very well could be, I'm not up on moths at all. You could collect it and try to hatch it, or if it is empty cut it open for a look (that would help determine what it is).