Morning Glories: HELP! What would do this????, 1 by beckygardener

beckygardener wrote:
For the past week, some creature(s) has systematically traveled all over my backyard and literally chewed all my MG vines at the stalk separating the vine from the roots. Whatever it is, does not appear to be eating the plant, or the leaves, or the roots ..... but just chewing or rather shredding the base of the vine stalk until it is severed from the rest of the vine! I come out to see dying vines on my fence! This has pretty much happened to all the MG vines along my fence and the back of my house in less than a week. I am sick about it!!

Here is a photo of the mess left behind. I apologize that the photo is horrible, but I think you can see the little pieces of MG vine that were literally shredded up and dropped on the ground until the vine (that was growing up my trellis) was literally severed from the roots. About 4" of stalk was shredded all over the ground. I could see the vine still wrapped on the trellis .... wilting. This has happened to pretty much ALL my MG vines in my backyard. My MGs were planted around the yard in places that would require whatever creature it is to travel at least 25-45' from one plant to the next from night to night. Yes, it seems to be happening at night! I check them during the day and see nothing. It does not appear to be happening to any other plants or vines in my yard. I have Passion vines, Coral Honeysuckle, Mexican Flame vine, etc. They are all fine so far.

What kind of insect, reptile, or mammal would do this? I am going to grow some more MGs from seeds in pots (instead of in the ground) in the hopes that whatever creature it is... does NOT get the new sprouts/vines. I have some MG seeds that are not anything special that I will try growing first. I don't want to waste my good MG cultivars trying this.... in case whatever it is can get into the pots as well as the traveling it is doing around my yard.

I also have a bird and squirrel feeder in my yard that all kinds of birds, squirrels, and mice come to. The seed is in the feeders hanging on a post as well as in a dish on the ground and is usually filled. All these creatures know where it is and don't seem to be interested in any other areas of my yard. Behind my fence, it has flooded from all the rain. The mice were getting in at the only spot along my entire fence that had an opening. But I have NOT seen any mice since that area flooded. I used to watch a couple mice feed right along with the birds and squirrels. I haven't seen any since their only entrance/exit area flooded. So they either drowned or can't get into my backyard at this time.

Would carpenter ants do this? What???? I am at a total loss as to why this is happening now after months of growing my prized MG vines and WHAT could be doing this???? I am known for going out in my yard at night with a flashlight, but the mesquitos have been horrendous with all the standing water and rain. Any suggestions???? Any ideas what might do something so destructive?