“Would any ground nesting insect like yellow jackets excavate and fly the crumbs out of the nest?” Wade Hutcheson ”Īppropriate tune to hum while reading this message: Twightlight Zone Theme Song (La-la-la la, La-la-la-la, …).
“I noted no ant mounds nearby, dirt dauber nests on the home, or other insects. Some a tad bigger, some a bit smaller than a BB. Each particle (composed of 6 to 8 smaller mini-clods) was about twice the size of an air rifle BB.
“The particles were definitely composed of red clay which easily broke down or crumbled into a dusty, red residue when mashed between the fingers. The particles were not perfectly round, but rather ‘biscuit-like’ in appearance under the magnifying glass. “Upon close examination, the “particles” appeared to be very tiny dirt balls – composed of even smaller aggregates or tiny clumps of Georgia red clay. I noticed right away that her vehicles, driveway, playground and patio items, etc. “I ventured over to see what I could make out. “I called the lady in Marietta who reported the “mystery particles” – and as it turns out, she lived only about 3 miles away. Their theories were all over the map! One friend even took the time to visit the site. I presented the puzzle to my Extension Service and Master Gardener friends. See the pictures at the bottom of the page. Hmmmmm… two almost identical situations many miles apart – – and I have no idea what’s going on! “We have quite a few large trees in our backyard, but no large amounts of exposed clay.” I am wondering if it is some strange insect infestation or what. “I am the type of person that is very annoyed when I cannot figure out something. I am sure they are also in the grass and plants I can just see them easily on the white driveway. Between fifty to one hundred little pellets. “This morning I went outside and found my driveway covered in them. The pellets vary in size from 1/16″ to 1/8”. On any given morning I can find anywhere between ten to twenty of them. “I have found them all over the deck and on the furniture, everywhere. Recently I have noticed very small pellets of red clay sprinkled across my back deck. “I have an odd question that is driving me mad. “What causes them and where do they come from?” “My husband even had a few fall on his truck while he was detailing it Sunday morning – in the open, not under a tree. It’s almost as if these things have rained from the sky because they’re all over the place in open places that aren’t covered by trees.
“Since it rained here last week, there are a lot more of them than ever before. They’re clay because when you crush them or wash them away they turn to very fine grains of red dirt. “Each summer we’ve noticed small clay particles on our pool deck, driveway, walk, deck, and patio. We have a lawn around our house with lots of trees and flowers. All the lots are primarily woods – hardwoods with very few pines.
“We have 5 acres in a heavily wooded subdivision, 3 miles south of Oakwood in Hall County. “We are totally stumped by something that’s happening at our house and hope you can help us understand what’s going on. This garden mystery started innocently enough.
0 kommentar(er)
