What are these egg/cocoons that look like small rolled cigar ends in my compost?

[Isheabastard]

I have just opened an old bag of compost and found a load of these. Inside is a white (squished) grub.

Are they friend or foe? I’ve tried googling images, but no luck.

They look like leaf cutter bee cocoons, we used to have them in the compost as it was nice and warm. Mason bee cocoons usually a bit rounder.

Great pollinators, tend to make lacework of some leaves, which has never bothered me.
Very friendly IMO and like to perch on you ti see what you're up to.

Not sure what you would consider a foe? Presuming you're in the UK?

@Beenhereforever1978 Thankyou so much. They are leaf cutter bee cocoons! Ill save some compost and put them back when I’ve finished. It was a sealed bag so not sure how a bee got in to lay her eggs, or how they would have got out once hatched. Do I now need to listen at every bag of compost now!!

@frecklyboo Yes I am in the UK, and you are right there’s not much I would consider foe these days. I’m all for the wildlife food chain, and am at peace with ants, slugs and snails, wasps and even pigeons these days.

Thankyou

Good to hear 😊

If they were in a sealed compost bag they may well be...no longer viable.

But hope springs eternal! If you do find them anywhere about your garden, work around them and get them into some warm compost, splendid little things.