what is this thing??

patty_b · June 1, 2014

I have had issues with things making mounds around my tomatoes every year. There are air holes all though our sandy soil. I know I have lots of ants around but not sure what is doing the mounds. This year I planted super deep so that the surface roots would not get disturbed as quickly and will fill in as the plants grow. Seems to be working kind of good. I no more than get all the mounds flattened out until they reappear, so something is making a home in the rows. This is the second one of these creatures that I have spotted. It hops like a toad but does not look like the toads that I was use to seeing. Anyone familiar with these? Do they cause harm or good? I am surely not fond of looking at them!

madddawg · June 1, 2014

Looks like a promo for the new movie poster for the movie "Toadzille"!

JamesL · June 1, 2014

Definitely a toad, definitely a good guy. They eat all the bad guys. Cutworms, slugs, caterpillars. You want them around!
Can't really help you with an ID other than to say it doesn't look like an Eastern Spadefoot.

Redbaron · June 1, 2014

It's a toad and your best friend! I don't know exactly how many bugs that toad eats, but it is significant! I have them and also even a few tree frogs in my crops! Boy they sure do help a lot! Probably this: Fowler's Toad

(Bufo fowleri) But I am no expert on toads!

JLJ_ · June 1, 2014

BEAUTIFUL Toad . . . very good creature . . . not sure what it is sitting on or if the light by which photo was taken gave accurate representation, but could it be a Fowler's Toad?

http://ohioamphibians.com/frogs/fowlers_toad.html

There's one with different coloring here . . . also other toads.

http://trekohio.com/2012/03/17/ohio-frogs-toads/

Fortune smiles on you to give you such a magnificent garden companion!

JLJ_ · June 2, 2014

If it is Fowler's, you have a multitalented friend, not only an effective, environmentally friendly bug exterminator, but also does sheep impersonations. .wav file and other info here. (Also mentions that they dig burrows to hide in during the day, so you'll want to be careful not to dig where you'll hurt your new pal(s).

http://www.marshall.edu/herp/old/fowlers.htm

Another image and some additional info

http://srelherp.uga.edu/anurans/buffow.htm

More images and info Also says that it is believed that Fowler's can cross with nearly related American and Woodhouse's toads, increasing variability of appearance

http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/h...cies/bfowl.htm

Info about and images of Fowler's western relative, Woodhouse -- perhaps Redbaron is more likely to have Woodhouse's Toad? Can it also baaaa, I wonder?

http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/h...cies/bwood.htm

kath · June 2, 2014

So cute- Love to find toads in the garden!

Here's a source that lists all the Ohio possibilities, including Fowler's, etc.:

http://ohioamphibians.com/frogs/frogspecies.html

moray-eel-bite · June 2, 2014

I think this is likely a gray treefrog... have a look at the fingers... they have suction discs.

http://dnr.wi.gov/eek/critter/amphibian/gray.htm

Also, the pattern is irregular. Fowler's toad has a more regular pattern.

Cheers.

patty_b · June 2, 2014

I did not know there were so many different types of toads! I would never hurt one, but not likely to be picking one up either. This one was in my jugs that I had winter sown hibiscus. I popped the top off and he took a big jump! I need to figure out if I should leave the mounds alone or continue searching for what is under them. I never seem to find anything in the mounds. The moles are easy to track by their tunnels but this has me puzzled. And so many tiny air holes? I do see ants and spiders?

CrazyAboutOrchids · June 2, 2014

I had one of those this year here in CT! I was pruning winter damage off some front shrubs and mulching the beds. He sat on a branch of one of the plants and did not move all day, even when I pruned around him. I knew he was alive because of his eye lid movement. Never saw anything like it, but he was a cool companion for the day. I figured he was nocturnal since he didn't move all day, but was gone the following morning.

PS; In looking back at the links above, mine was definitely not a Fowler's - it was a Grey Tree Frog.

patty_b · June 2, 2014

I thought mine was probably Grey tree frog also...just small.

kurt · June 2, 2014

http://www.fondrenpetcare.com/bufo_toad.htm

Just be real careful of this beast in the bufo family.

patty_b · June 2, 2014

I am going to post these pictures that I just took in case anyone else might deal with this. All my craters were swept this weekend, pushing the sandy mounds away from the stakes and tomato stems. There was only a few rebuilt this morning and a few random air holes... The tomatoes tops do not seem to wilt unless the mounds are up next to the stems, but it is a constant watch when I first plant or it's a big mound.

Worth1 · June 2, 2014

Its a bird.
Its a plane.
Its a frog.
A frog?

No its lttle ole me Under Dog.

Da da da de de de dada daaaa Under Dog.

Da what are we going to do boss?

Thats right Cad what will we do.
when I get sweet Polly pure bred in my clutches and capture under dog.
We can set up my weather machine and rule tbe world.

Have no fear under dog is hear.

Help help under dog help.

But Bullwinkle a moose cant fly.

Shut up Rocky.
Don't tell me to shut up you stupid moose I'll sick Boris and Natasha on you.

Oh yea that does it I'm calling super chicken.

Where did under dog go?

I dont know but commander McBrag is here to tell a story.

We were in the darkest jungles of Texas when we were attacked by a tax collector.
The only thing that saved us was my quick reflexes and a bottle of 100 year old scotch.

We got so drunk we fell in a river and sailed away in a coconut shell.

Worth.

Zana · June 2, 2014

Quote:

Originally Posted by Worth1

Its a bird.
Its a plane.
Its a frog.
A frog?

No its lttle ole me Under Dog.

Da da da de de de dada daaaa Under Dog.

Da what are we going to do boss?

Thats right Cad what will we do.
when I get sweet Polly pure bred in my clutches and capture under dog.
We can set up my weather machine and rule tbe world.

Have no fear under dog is hear.

Help help under dog help.

But Bullwinkle a moose cant fly.

Shut up Rocky.
Don't tell me to shut up you stupid moose I'll sick Boris and Natasha on you.

Oh yea that does it I'm calling super chicken.

Where did under dog go?

I dont know but commander McBrag is here to tell a story.

We were in the darkest jungles of Texas when we were attacked by a tax collector.
The only thing that saved us was my quick reflexes and a bottle of 100 year old scotch.

We got so drunk we fell in a river and sailed away in a coconut shell.

Worth.

Interesting....LOL

If that's what comes of you dabbling in 100 year old Scotch...going to have to find you more, Worth. I'm still chuckling. thanks.

June 1, 2014	#2
madddawg Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Missouri Posts: 407	Looks like a promo for the new movie poster for the movie "Toadzille"! __________________ I grow a garden not just for the food I harvest, but for the creation of life itself. Johnny Cash

June 1, 2014	#4
Redbaron Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 4,488	It's a toad and your best friend! I don't know exactly how many bugs that toad eats, but it is significant! I have them and also even a few tree frogs in my crops! Boy they sure do help a lot! Probably this: Fowler's Toad (Bufo fowleri) But I am no expert on toads! __________________ Scott AKA The Redbaron "Permaculture is a philosophy of working with, rather than against nature; of protracted & thoughtful observation rather than protracted & thoughtless labour; & of looking at plants & animals in all their functions, rather than treating any area as a single-product system." Bill Mollison co-founder of permaculture

June 2, 2014	#6
JLJ_ Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Wyoming Posts: 759	If it is Fowler's, you have a multitalented friend, not only an effective, environmentally friendly bug exterminator, but also does sheep impersonations. .wav file and other info here. (Also mentions that they dig burrows to hide in during the day, so you'll want to be careful not to dig where you'll hurt your new pal(s). http://www.marshall.edu/herp/old/fowlers.htm Another image and some additional info http://srelherp.uga.edu/anurans/buffow.htm More images and info Also says that it is believed that Fowler's can cross with nearly related American and Woodhouse's toads, increasing variability of appearance http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/h...cies/bfowl.htm Info about and images of Fowler's western relative, Woodhouse -- perhaps Redbaron is more likely to have Woodhouse's Toad? Can it also baaaa, I wonder? http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/h...cies/bwood.htm Last edited by JLJ_; June 2, 2014 at 12:42 AM.

June 2, 2014	#12
kurt Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Homestead,Everglades City Fl. Posts: 2,500	http://www.fondrenpetcare.com/bufo_toad.htm Just be real careful of this beast in the bufo family. __________________ KURT

June 1, 2014	#3
JamesL Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 1,992	Definitely a toad, definitely a good guy. They eat all the bad guys. Cutworms, slugs, caterpillars. You want them around! Can't really help you with an ID other than to say it doesn't look like an Eastern Spadefoot.

June 2, 2014	#7
kath Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: zone 6b, PA Posts: 5,664	So cute- Love to find toads in the garden! Here's a source that lists all the Ohio possibilities, including Fowler's, etc.: http://ohioamphibians.com/frogs/frogspecies.html

June 2, 2014	#8
moray-eel-bite Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 47	I think this is likely a gray treefrog... have a look at the fingers... they have suction discs. http://dnr.wi.gov/eek/critter/amphibian/gray.htm Also, the pattern is irregular. Fowler's toad has a more regular pattern. Cheers.

June 2, 2014	#9
patty_b Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 487	I did not know there were so many different types of toads! I would never hurt one, but not likely to be picking one up either. This one was in my jugs that I had winter sown hibiscus. I popped the top off and he took a big jump! I need to figure out if I should leave the mounds alone or continue searching for what is under them. I never seem to find anything in the mounds. The moles are easy to track by their tunnels but this has me puzzled. And so many tiny air holes? I do see ants and spiders?

June 2, 2014	#10
CrazyAboutOrchids Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Zone 6 - CT Posts: 155	I had one of those this year here in CT! I was pruning winter damage off some front shrubs and mulching the beds. He sat on a branch of one of the plants and did not move all day, even when I pruned around him. I knew he was alive because of his eye lid movement. Never saw anything like it, but he was a cool companion for the day. I figured he was nocturnal since he didn't move all day, but was gone the following morning. PS; In looking back at the links above, mine was definitely not a Fowler's - it was a Grey Tree Frog.

June 2, 2014	#14
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Its a bird. Its a plane. Its a frog. A frog? No its lttle ole me Under Dog. Da da da de de de dada daaaa Under Dog. Da what are we going to do boss? Thats right Cad what will we do. when I get sweet Polly pure bred in my clutches and capture under dog. We can set up my weather machine and rule tbe world. Have no fear under dog is hear. Help help under dog help. But Bullwinkle a moose cant fly. Shut up Rocky. Don't tell me to shut up you stupid moose I'll sick Boris and Natasha on you. Oh yea that does it I'm calling super chicken. Where did under dog go? I dont know but commander McBrag is here to tell a story. We were in the darkest jungles of Texas when we were attacked by a tax collector. The only thing that saved us was my quick reflexes and a bottle of 100 year old scotch. We got so drunk we fell in a river and sailed away in a coconut shell. Worth.