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small piles of soil appeared on block paving

_ben_ben Posts: 5,758
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in Advice #1
In the last few days lots of little piles of soil have appeared all over my block paving. If they'd appeared in the summer at the front of the house where it's sunny then I'd assume it was ants, but these have just appeared round the back of the house where it's shady and we never see any ants. Is there anything other than ants that causes this?

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  • Evo102Evo102 Posts: 13,630
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    #2
    Probably ants but a small chance it is a type of bee.
  • renard grisrenard gris Posts: 1,038
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    #3
    It could be a 'Digger Wasp.'

    https://images.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fc2.staticflickr.com%2F2%2F1187%2F988338677_0e13f76b17_z.jpg&f=1

    http://www.bhikku.net/photobhikku/2008/04/26.html
  • NaturalDancerNaturalDancer Posts: 5,149
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    #4
    Could be worm casts.
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 12
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    #5
    _ben wrote: »
    In the last few days lots of little piles of soil have appeared all over my block paving. If they'd appeared in the summer at the front of the house where it's sunny then I'd assume it was ants, but these have just appeared round the back of the house where it's shady and we never see any ants. Is there anything other than ants that causes this?

    The plot thickens.....
  • Fraudrey CFraudrey C Posts: 292
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    #6
    It might be pixies?
  • Pull2OpenPull2Open Posts: 15,138
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    #7
    Air holes...how many people have you buried?
  • KennedyCKennedyC Posts: 1,289
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    #8
    Bees, wasps and ants all dig holes in soil. They can leave little mounds on block paving and grass. You don't normally get worm casts on block paving.
  • Javier_deVivreJavier_deVivre Posts: 1,390
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    #9
    NaturalDancer wrote: »
    Could be worm casts.

    This is exactly what I was going to say. I get them in the rear garden too.
  • gemma-the-huskygemma-the-husky Posts: 18,116
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    #10
    I would say ants. We get them. It's amazing how sunlight and water produces vegetation from nothing.I know this isn't vegetation but the seeds drift around and create a climate for a bit of plant growth, and the ants.
  • lemonbunlemonbun Posts: 5,371
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    #11
    _ben wrote: »
    In the last few days lots of little piles of soil have appeared all over my block paving. If they'd appeared in the summer at the front of the house where it's sunny then I'd assume it was ants, but these have just appeared round the back of the house where it's shady and we never see any ants. Is there anything other than ants that causes this?

    Are the piles of soil coming up through the joins in the paving?
  • _ben_ben Posts: 5,758
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    #12
    lemonbun wrote: »
    Are the piles of soil coming up through the joins in the paving?

    They are all on the joins, yes. They look a bit like little piles of coffee granules, but when you crush them they appear to be made of soil.
  • MaxatoriaMaxatoria Posts: 17,980
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    #13
    probably ants
  • lemonbunlemonbun Posts: 5,371
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    #14
    _ben wrote: »
    They are all on the joins, yes. They look a bit like little piles of coffee granules, but when you crush them they appear to be made of soil.

    It could be moles digging under your paving.
  • RandomSallyRandomSally Posts: 7,071
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    #15
    lemonbun wrote: »
    It could be moles digging under your paving.
    They'd have to be pretty tiny though to get soil up through a crack between paving slabs.
  • lemonbunlemonbun Posts: 5,371
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    #16
    RandomSally wrote: »
    They'd have to be pretty tiny though to get soil up through a crack between paving slabs.

    Moles are a big problem in our garden. When we get rid off them under the grass, they find a way to dig under the patio. A tiny mole hill between the patio slabs is a sign.
  • burton07burton07 Posts: 10,871
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    #17
    It'll be ants.
  • Frankie_LittleFrankie_Little Posts: 9,271
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    #18
    lemonbun wrote: »
    Moles are a big problem in our garden. When we get rid off them under the grass, they find a way to dig under the patio. A tiny mole hill between the patio slabs is a sign.
    I have moles - my garden looks freshly dug sometimes when the little blighters have been busy. I live in the arse-end of nowhere though, where manicured lawns are a rarity, so I really don't mind.
  • JanieBJanieB Posts: 3,425
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    #19
    Ahh a childhood memory. My gran used to have those worm casts all over her back garden and I used to call them "coggly mud" that is what it is! Coggly mud!
  • simon_vale1simon_vale1 Posts: 627
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    #20
    lemonbun wrote: »
    It could be moles digging under your paving.

    Or Trevor Jordache coming back from the dead 😃
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