Wired went to the Amazon to find out what makes these weird web-tower things…

Earlier this year a field biologist snapped a picture of a curious silk structure attached to an Amazonian tree, and, not knowing what in the heck it was, posted it to Reddit’s r/whatsthisbug. You may remember it:

(image by Troy Alexander)

Well, now we know what made it! Pretty much, at least. Nadia Drake, who writes for Wired, took a trip down to the Tambopata Research Center down in the Peruvian Amazon along with entomologist Phil Torres and wildlife photographer Jeff Cremer, and they cracked the case… thanks to a lot of hiking, some sharp eyes, and a ton of patience. I’m happy to call all three of those people friends, and considering their combination of smarts and energy, this awesome discovery couldn’t have happened to nicer folks.

I won’t spoil the surprise for you. Spoilers! as River Song would say. Head on over to Wired and read it for yourself.

Sadly, my theory of “insect Isengard” was proven incorrect.

(top photo by Ariel Zambelich/Wired)