What are these holes from?? - Ask Extension
I had a solitary pocket gopher problem. Solved with zinc phosphide.Now these new holes are everywhere. some are plugged an inch or so below surface. o...
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What are these holes from?? #369748
Asked October 13, 2016, 8:24 AM EDT
I had a solitary pocket gopher problem. Solved with zinc phosphide.
Now these new holes are everywhere. some are plugged an inch or so below surface. others are wide open. The holes are a bit larger than my index finger in diameter . The holes seem to angle away from the dirt mounds. I thought voles as vole holes are described as broomstick size in diameter but also read voles do not leave dirt mounds. Too small for gophers? Not looking like moles and no subsurface tunnels along the grass. Too big for mole crickets?
I baited a couple of holes with coumadin (Kaput) in a plastic bait box next to hole. no bait was taken but ants are having a party.
The dirt mounds are always to one side of the hole like a gopher but mounds are only a couple of inches high and many have NO plug. Not horseshoe shaped.
Not crayfish as I live in a bone dry sandy area.
I am lost on this one.
Any help is appreciated.
Now these new holes are everywhere. some are plugged an inch or so below surface. others are wide open. The holes are a bit larger than my index finger in diameter . The holes seem to angle away from the dirt mounds. I thought voles as vole holes are described as broomstick size in diameter but also read voles do not leave dirt mounds. Too small for gophers? Not looking like moles and no subsurface tunnels along the grass. Too big for mole crickets?
I baited a couple of holes with coumadin (Kaput) in a plastic bait box next to hole. no bait was taken but ants are having a party.
The dirt mounds are always to one side of the hole like a gopher but mounds are only a couple of inches high and many have NO plug. Not horseshoe shaped.
Not crayfish as I live in a bone dry sandy area.
I am lost on this one.
Any help is appreciated.
Levy County Florida
Expert Response
Glad you said NOT CRAYFISH, because that was my first thought. I am afraid this may be outside my area for a couple reasons. One, I have no experience with voles (don't have them in Texas) and I am relatively sure this is not moles or gophers (hole doesn't appear large enough and they usually keep them plugged unless actively digging and dirt is pushed away from hole). Two, this looks more insect or other invertebrate. I will tell you I have gotten recent calls on mystery digging in yards that has turned out to be squirrels burying their caches, but this does not look the case. Have you tried running water down it to see if you can get something to run out? I'd like to send it back for someone more in your area of the country but I do not have ability to respond AND reassign, you may have to resubmit your question. Sorry.
Randy:
Problem solved. Piles and burrows seem to be due to either Ox beetle or this critter
http://www.whatsthatbug.com/2009/12/30/florida-deepdigger-scarab-beetle/
Appreciate the reply.
Jay K.
Problem solved. Piles and burrows seem to be due to either Ox beetle or this critter
http://www.whatsthatbug.com/2009/12/30/florida-deepdigger-scarab-beetle/
Appreciate the reply.
Jay K.
