dieselsmoke1
Platinum Member
First the facts:
My backyard, solid red clay, slopes down 30% to water's edge about 100' behind the house. Ground is 95%+ covered with a mixture of fescue, centipede and wild bermudagrass.
About a week ago I saw a strange mound of loose red clay on top of the grass. I was busy at the time and thought "I've got to check on this" and forgot about for 3 days.
3 days ago I walk through the yard and there are 15 such mounds, each depositing about 1/2 pint of bright red clay on top of my grass.
I watch one of the mounds for a while and see a winged varmit emerge from a 3/8 diameter hole and push out a scoop of fresh dirt.
The varmit is about 1 1/4" long, has a wingspan near 1 1/2", has a jointed looking body, black or dark brown in color, looks like a dirt dobber on steroids, and has a white face like a bumble bee in the spring.
Seems to be a solitary varmit and will drive any like creature from it's hole as soon as it knows of presense. They will confront me and buzz when challenged but make no offer to lite or sting.
In my infinite wisdom I mixed up a 2 gallon sprayer of Diazinon and proceeded to pump each hole full, knocking the mounds down as I went.
The varmits never went back to the hot hole, just moved over about 2' and bored a new one.
I've worked way too hard on this clay bank to get it covered so the dog and I don't track bright orange mud everywhere.
Sure would appreciate someone telling me what these winged varmits are and how i can get rid of them.
Thanks
My backyard, solid red clay, slopes down 30% to water's edge about 100' behind the house. Ground is 95%+ covered with a mixture of fescue, centipede and wild bermudagrass.
About a week ago I saw a strange mound of loose red clay on top of the grass. I was busy at the time and thought "I've got to check on this" and forgot about for 3 days.
3 days ago I walk through the yard and there are 15 such mounds, each depositing about 1/2 pint of bright red clay on top of my grass.
I watch one of the mounds for a while and see a winged varmit emerge from a 3/8 diameter hole and push out a scoop of fresh dirt.
The varmit is about 1 1/4" long, has a wingspan near 1 1/2", has a jointed looking body, black or dark brown in color, looks like a dirt dobber on steroids, and has a white face like a bumble bee in the spring.
Seems to be a solitary varmit and will drive any like creature from it's hole as soon as it knows of presense. They will confront me and buzz when challenged but make no offer to lite or sting.
In my infinite wisdom I mixed up a 2 gallon sprayer of Diazinon and proceeded to pump each hole full, knocking the mounds down as I went.
The varmits never went back to the hot hole, just moved over about 2' and bored a new one.
I've worked way too hard on this clay bank to get it covered so the dog and I don't track bright orange mud everywhere.
Sure would appreciate someone telling me what these winged varmits are and how i can get rid of them.
Thanks
