Question
Hello Jim,
My home is 3 years old, and I've had no problems with pest until this year.  I was invaded by earwigs, but I think I have that under control, and the temperature is also helping.  I have over 20 holes in the soil up against my foundation.  These holes look like entries because there isn't any loose fill around any of the holes.  There are no holes on the North side of the house, the other three sides are what's affected.  The sizes range from 1-inch to 2-1/4 inch in diameter.  My land is still raw, meaning there is no greenery around my home or anywhere on my one acre.  I am however, surrounded on three sides by others folks property that is still unbuilt, and overgrown.  I've had two different exterminating companies out here, and they do not know what is causing these holes or earwig problems.  They said my crawlspace is dry and clean, meaning no skins or seeable insect casing, and both said they didn't see any spiders. Can you help me identify the possible pest that is making these holes, and which product I might use?  I'm located in Loretto, TN 38469.

Thank You, Linda

Answer
sounds to me like cicada holes. Here is a web link to pictures of these holes.
http://threewebe.typepad.com/photos/brood_x_cicadas/dsc01176.html

Here is also a web link to information on a number of animals that will make hole. Cicadas to me fit best.

If you have heard the loud buzzing this summer this is a sign of cicada populations being higher than normal. here in Alabama we have had a large population and we have these holes in out yards.


While the familiar green-and-black Dog-Day Cicadas are present every July and August in small numbers, the Periodical Cicadas appear, simultaneously, only once in seventeen years in any given area. Periodical cicadas do not emerge everywhere at the same time. Twelve broods of 17-year cicadas appear in different areas of the northeastern U.S. in different years, emerging from late May through June. Their bright red eyes and reddish markings distinguish the Periodical Cicadas from the Dog-Day Cicadas which emerge later in the summer (July through August) and have green markings. Each brood actually consists of up to three separate species which all emerge together. Each looks slightly different and the males of each species court their ladies with a different serenade. If a human takes the time to listen and try to sort out what seems to be cacophony, he or she can easily distinguish these three songs.

In late-April and early-May, just before the adult Periodical Cicadas are due to emerge, people may see numerous mud 揷himneys?in their yards, especially if there is a tree nearby. Each of these is caused by a cicada nymph (a young cicada who lives underground) pushing mud up out of its burrow following rainy weather. Sometimes, if the chimney is quickly broken off, the nymph can be seen retreating down its tunnel.

A web link to information from Tennessee

http://web.utk.edu/~extepp/cicada/Cicadapage.htm

I really would not be concerned about control sine the insect has emerged from the holes and has laid its eggs and these have hatched and the larvae has returned to the ground. Cicada do little damage except for a few possible twigs on trees dying. They will do no damage to the house or the lawn. So really no treatment is needed.

Here is the link that was left out.

http://cufan.clemson.edu/hgic/factsheets/hgic2364.htm