It hangs there for a variable period; some larvae let themselves fall at the end of half an hour; others spend hours in their long-stemmed cup; some even remain suspended until the following day.
Whether soon or late, the fall of the larva leaves suspended the thread by which it hung, the wrappings of the primary larva.

When all the brood have disappeared, the aperture of the nest is thus hung with a branch of fine, short threads, twisted and knotted together, like dried white of egg.

Each thread is expanded into a tiny cup at its free end.

These are very delicate and ephemeral relics, which perish at a touch.

The least wind quickly blows them away.
Let us return to the larva.