Wildlife in old carpet

[posie]

There is an old large rolled, then folded, carpet which is laid on the ground here, it is on a sandy area, which was a menage, with weeds, and grass grown up around it. It has been there for probably 3 years, maybe 4.

I gently lifted it on one side, and of course several 'insects' showed themselves, some skuttling away...I felt quite guilty at disturbing it them..

But the thing that amazed me was that sand was falling out from within the folds, it seemed to be full of sand, in lots of the folds, which I only discovered because where it was rotting away, it tore a bit before I could replace it...I did not mean to change anything..

Now, when this carpet was put there it was clean of sand, rolled up and folded into three....so my question is...Who or what carried millions of grains of sand into the carpet?

The other most noticeable thing about it was the fungi growing between the layers of fibres, some had obviously tried to reach the outside and had 'stems' 2or 3 inches long, with tiny 'top bits' on..

Does anyone have any ideas?


Posie

[fairplay]

Hello Posie,

I would think ANT's are the likely culprits - lots of them - unless you missed a rabbit burrow entrance nearby.

For fungi to be trying to grow between the layers of the carpet makes it sound like the carpet is of a natural material (organic) and not nylon, but I have no idea what the fungi are.

Neil.

[posie]

Thanks Fairplay, probably ants then, as no rabbit burrows anyway, but the sand has been taken into the 'folds' of a rolled and then folded carpet..
I cannot look without unfolding and then unrolling it, which would destroy the habitat..

Possibly a wool carpet...

Posie

[fairplay]

Hmmm....... perhaps not ants then as the emerging adults would need to be ably to fly away easily (not that I know much about ants).
But it is amazing how far ants will carry sand to make a nest.

Neil.

[thunder]

Originally Posted by posie

Now, when this carpet was put there it was clean of sand, rolled up and folded into three....so my question is...Who or what carried millions of grains of sand into the carpet?

Might have been worms. I have often found worms in folds of stuff in the garden, or in narrow cracks.

Worms swallow soil, and excrete it. Soil contains grains of sand (usually). So so does worm poo.

henrya

[Harold Smith]

Sand is very mobile, particularly when it is dry. Apart from insects and other wildlife bringing sand into the folds of the carpet, either deliberately or accidentally, it is possible that a lot of the sand is wind blown. Sand grains are very light and it is amazing how they can get into the smallest of crevices. After 3 or 4 years a lot of sand can accumulate.

Harold.

[posie]

Thankyou for the replies, ..Posie