CLOSED: Underground bug nest

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earlbishop Independence, MO Nov 12, 2009

When I first came across this there were 3 chimney structures, similar to those made by crawdads. They have been destroyed. Nest is in garden at side of a slab on grade garage. Nearest thing I can come up with is Miner bees. Any other suggestions?

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suunto Sinks Grove, WV Nov 12, 2009

These look more like the entrances to crayfish tunnels than anything else. What evidence do you have that they might be something different? I frequently have encountered turrets or burrows constructed by crayfish on land a long distance from any surface water.

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earlbishop Independence, MO Nov 13, 2009

I am pretty sure they might be cicada exit holes. Crayfish don't normally dig 6 or 7 holes within an inch or two of each other on top of a hill.

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suunto Sinks Grove, WV Nov 13, 2009

Although periodical cicada nymphs do construct mud turrets prior to emergence, I had discounted them for the following reasons: (1) Time of year - They construct these during late May/early June. (2) The year itself - To the best of my knowledge, there are no broods of periodical cicadas in Missouri scheduled for emergence during the years 2008-2010 - see http://tinyurl.com/yd2wps7; the last mass emergence occurred in 2002 - see http://tinyurl.com/ygqh7ub. (3) Non-periodical (sometimes called ‘dog day’) cicadas do emerge in late summer/early autumn, but they do not appear to construct turrets - see http://tinyurl.com/yj9fmrf for some emergence holes.

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