wrote in message ...
Eigenvector wrote:
"willshak" wrote in message
...
on 8/12/2007 3:06 PM Eigenvector said the following:
Are these anthills/holes in my sideyard? I'd love to get rid of them
and stop the invasion of moles in my yard. Presumably the moles are
looking for the insects.

http://photos.imageevent.com/eigenve...e/P8120119.JPG


They look rather large. Too big for ants, too small for mammals. No dirt
piles around the holes. Too many, too close to each other, to be
openings to a nest.
My guess would be Japanese Beetles, Locusts, Cicadas, or similar. Their
nymphs buried in the ground coming to the surface before moulting into
adults. Look for discarded skins nearby.

--

Bill

I probably should qualify this with a location. This is Seattle. That
pretty much rules out Cicadas and Locusts. But I was wondering about the
size of the holes, and the proximity. Seems unusual for ants or bees to
be so close together. Hadn't considered it to be a beetle hole. Thing
is about the holes, I filled them in after a particularly vigorous
rainstorm and they came right back two days later looking like someone
had placed them with a drill bit. Japanese Beetles maybe??


Dig a spadeful of dirt and break it up on the groung. If its beetles,
there should be pupae or grubs still in the ground. First, though, make
sure it isn't bees. Just watch for a little while. No bees? Then dig.

Wait? Why?
Pushes in the shovel
"Bzzzzzzzz"
"Ahhhhhhh!"