Burrows under droppings in field - help please

[annsGG]

Hi all

My good lady is away at the moment and I have been left in charge of our 2 ponies, however I might be in trouble....

I poop scoop the paddock every day and a few days ago I noticed a perfectly round hole in the ground under the piles of dung, I was worried that it might be worms but I have searched the poo until I felt sick but no signs of anything, since then I have noticed they are under virtually every pile.

The holes are about the diameter of a mans thumb, we have moles but these are very small and there is no mound as such.

It may be incidental but there are swarmsd of midges all over the manure, sometimes so many that it looks like the pile is alive!!!

Should I be calling the vet, even if its not a vet problem I would still love to know just to satisfy my own curiosity (and this way doesn't involve a spade lol)

Just for reference we are near Lands End in Cornwall, ponies are both around 2yo, 1 Dartmoor filly and a Shetland gelding, live out all the time but come in twice a day for feeding, fussing, grooming, feet etc.

Thanks in anticipation

Phil

 

[Madasmaz]

I think they may be bot fly larvae burrows. We see the odd one, but it can be taken care of with a good worming program...nothing to panic over, just natures way. Found this so you can see the life cycle.

Bot fly life-cycle in horses

As an after thought, have you noticed any yellow flecks on their legs, chests and sides? You should try and get these off so they are not injested with either a bot fly knife or net-ex Bot fly spray and a cactus mitt.

 

[Eaglestone]

Funnily enough I was going to post about these last night

As I am so amazed at the size of the hole and I could put my forefinger right down the hole. Anyway I have seen the size of the Beetles that are crawling around in the dung, that obviously come up into the dropping for a root around and you can therefore appreciated why the hole is so big

Don't worry they are not worms ..... you can be rest assured

PS I will try and get a pic of one of the critters and you will see them for yourself

 

[Madasmaz]

Yep, could be beetles, but have you seen the size of a bot worm larvae...they are HUGE! And the bots are about now.

 

[Eaglestone]

[ QUOTE ]
Yep, could be beetles, but have you seen the size of a bot worm larvae...they are HUGE! And the bots are about now.

[/ QUOTE ]

... no I have not but I did see the huge beetles ... they were big and electric blue, but clearly beetles

 

[Madasmaz]

I think I might start digging next time I spot one, hole that is, I'm currious now. A UK dung beetle! LOL...

 

[spaniel]

Very common to find these holes. Dont panic they are just harmless beetles.

 

[jodixie]

Yes the holes are big black dung beetles. They are can be massive but they are doing a good job breaking down the muck

 

[kerilli]

dung beetles, definitely. i speak from experience of having peered into one of these holes once and had a dung beetle crawl out, take off, and fly straight into my hair...

 

[annsGG]

Thanks all, hope they're the beetles but will keep an eye out for those disgusting bot fly things, not having my ponies being surrogate mums for those things lol!!

Thanks for all the advice, tried phoning the vet, on hold for 20 minutes so gave up, then on the forum, sorted in minutes, brill!!!!

Phil