What is it?

[modeller]

I have just found a round grey coloured ' nest ?' in a large shrub . It is about
7inches ( 18cm ) in diameter.
It appears to be made of thin leaf like pieces but its all entangled with the shrub branches so its difficult to see.
There may be a hole in the bottom about an inch 2.5cm across but that may be damage caused when I moved it.
There is no sign of life . I thought it might have been a wasp nest but its not like any wasp nest I have seen.

[welshlibranr]

could be a wasps nest I suppose, the one in our shed was grey, I think it must be some sort of insect's nest anyway, hope someone can enlighten you!...

[boxtops]

Can you photograph it, modeller?

[ruthandsam]

Could it possibly be a cocoon from a moth? I'm not sure if you are from the UK or not or what type of shrub in was on but here goes:

http://www.google.co....b=wi&biw=1366&bih=624

[ruthandsam]

http://www.ehow.co.uk...1_beat-chrysalis.html

[modeller]

I've looked at the web sites but the they are all about silk moth cocoons
but they can be held in your fingers. This one of mine is the size of a baby's head.

[Prudie]

Why don't you think it's a wasps nest? that's exactly what it sounds like.

[modeller]

Yes I think you are right I've been on Google and looked at wasp nest images.

All the wasp nests I've seen in the past have been brown in colour also I haven't seen many wasps this year . Judging by its size I would have expected to have seen hundreds. I wont be able to remove it intact because of all the privet branches going through it. However when I do I may be able to see the wasp cells . I think they are similar to a bees honeycomb.

[modeller]

I've now removed it and its got a honeycomb in it , so that confirms it was a wasp nest . Thats a point, do wasps make honey or are the cells just sealed off with wax ?