Whats causing small sand volcanos in my lawn?

jhwjhw, Apr 16, 5:06pm
Here in Cromwell, where its been reasonably dry of late. There are a small number of sand mounds appearing in my lawn, 3-4M apart. Not all over the lawn by any means, maybe 4-6 of them in total over 200SqM . Fine grains of dirt, about 40mm high and 50mm wide, like a miniature volcano. I dont see any entrance way in the top. In a dryish patch of lawn.
Any idea whats causing them.

kp11, Apr 16, 5:08pm
ants

merrilegs, Apr 16, 5:09pm
Yep sounds like ants to me. I also find them in the gaps in the concrete.

matthews4, Apr 16, 5:11pm
yes, ants.we have them between our pavers, and send up piles of sand.thank goodness it has rained - in fact poured, at last, so that should keep them down, and wash sand back in cracks.

fleur59, Apr 16, 5:15pm
I have an insect, like a small wasp that dives into the soil and then there is volcano like mound. Not sure what it is called , I am in Auck.
I does look like a tiny volcano, not ants

jhwjhw, Apr 16, 6:10pm
Hmm, Ive never seen any ants here in Cromwell, well not to the extent Ive seen in the NI. Theres no entry hole either. I read it might be earthworms!

wheelz, Apr 16, 7:28pm
Earthworms will be tightly curled up deep in the earth in dry conditions. Won't be them.

jhwjhw, Apr 17, 4:54pm
Hmm, i checked another 2-3 of them this afternoon, all 3-40mm high, when I scraped away the mound, I saw in a few cases a centre hole 6-7mm diameter leading down.
If it were Ants, wouldnt they be swarming around entering & exiting the mound, maybe building it up!

tigra, Apr 17, 6:51pm
Shouldnt be grubs as they leave a clean hole without a mound. But its is getting to that time of the year to treat Grass Grub and other such insects that lie dormant in the ground.

nitronz, Apr 18, 3:05pm
could be digger bees.

fpress, Apr 18, 3:32pm
Mason bees

hatchback, Apr 18, 4:13pm
moles.

spiritofgonzo, Apr 18, 4:26pm
it'll be hoverflies.

lindylambchops1, Apr 18, 7:32pm
Yes definitely MOLES!

brapbrappy, Apr 19, 8:43am
If Moles are a possibility then could be dwarf rabbits.

lilyfield, Apr 19, 10:06am
moles leave much much bigger mounts- op istalking 5o mm= 5cm

lilyfield, Apr 19, 7:34pm

jhwjhw, Apr 20, 6:03pm
Nothing like that size, 40-50mm tops, pardon the pun.
When i brush aside the dirt, theres a central hole 5-6mm wide.

I spoke to a Garden Centre owner today, they had not heard of it before. Suggest i dig down to see whats there. Im sure its not ants, I yet to see one here in Cromwell.

maclad, Apr 20, 6:12pm
Would you like me to send you the ones that eat in my kitchen. Plenty to spare here.

jphs, Apr 21, 10:16am
Its ants. they just wait at the bottom of that wee hole until you poke you finger in and. they've got ya.

spiritofgonzo, Apr 21, 11:32am
in all seriousness, as I said before, it's hoverflies.Wait until the evening, and you'll see them flying around real low (hovering).

rednicnz, Apr 21, 12:55pm
Dwarf moles!

jphs, May 11, 5:03am
molette!