Chrysalis in Hive

[Hull Bees]

Found a chrysalis inside a hive yesterday. It was on top of the queen excluder below three Supers, above a commercial brood box with a slatted rack and underfloor entrance. Seems an unlikely place for a caterpillar to go. Anyone else experienced this or know what kind of moth or butterfly it might be?



It's clearly not a wax moth and is far too small to be a death's head hawkmoth.

 

[JamezF]

I'm thinking that it might be some sort of beetle.

James

 

[Antipodes]

Found a chrysalis inside a hive yesterday. It was on top of the queen excluder below three Supers, above a commercial brood box with a slatted rack and underfloor entrance. Seems an unlikely place for a caterpillar to go. Anyone else experienced this or know what kind of moth or butterfly it might be?

View attachment 40976

It's clearly not a wax moth and is far too small to be a death's head hawkmoth.

At least it has let us know its size....
As a wild guess, a moth pupa (but not wax moth of course) with perhaps developing antennae and wing just showing.