Strange burrows
Strange burrows
I often see these mysterious burrows at the edges of the trail in San Elijo Lagoon Preserve (Encinitas, California).
I've never seen any creature getting in or out of them. The holes are from about 5 to 15 mm in diameter.
Can anyone suggest a host?
I've never seen any creature getting in or out of them. The holes are from about 5 to 15 mm in diameter.
Can anyone suggest a host?
- wollastoni
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Re: Strange burrows
Some wild bees can make this kind of holes in France...
I guess other insects too...
I guess other insects too...
- livingplanet3
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Re: Strange burrows
They look much like the exit holes of cicada nymphs -
https://bugoftheweek.com/blog/2013/1/17 ... -brood-xix
- but 5-15 mmm suggests they are something else.
Re: Strange burrows
Could be burrows of Sphecius grandis (western cicada killer)
Re: Strange burrows
Thank you all. The suggestions look reasonable,
though, I've never seen cicadas or Sphecius
in our area. I could overlook these insects, of course.
though, I've never seen cicadas or Sphecius
in our area. I could overlook these insects, of course.
Re: Strange burrows
Vole burrows
Re: Strange burrows
Millipedes? I recently brought home a couple of millipedes from the forest (my daughter seems interested in them) and was surprised to find they had dug burrows all through the terrarium.
- Panacanthus
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Re: Strange burrows
I would bet on livingplanet3’s suggestion. These look more like “one time use” exit holes than repeat entrance/exit burrows, and there are at least 65 species of cicada in CA, some of them quite small, such as Okanagana bella.
“Seems to me the natural world is the greatest source of excitement; the greatest source of visual beauty; the greatest source of intellectual interest. It is the greatest source of so much in life that makes life worth living.” -David Attenborough
Re: Strange burrows
I agree: they look like exit holes.
I'll try to ask park rangers, perhaps they saw these
insects emerging.
I'll try to ask park rangers, perhaps they saw these
insects emerging.
Re: Strange burrows
Not insects. Not invertebrates.
Voles
Voles
- livingplanet3
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Re: Strange burrows
Another genus of small cicadas found in CA is Platypedia -Panacanthus wrote: ↑Sun Aug 13, 2023 8:19 pm I would bet on livingplanet3’s suggestion. These look more like “one time use” exit holes than repeat entrance/exit burrows, and there are at least 65 species of cicada in CA, some of them quite small, such as Okanagana bella...
https://bugguide.net/node/view/1398422
- adamcotton
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