persimmons with marks

[lugubres]

Hi has this happened to anyone? My persimmons have some markings (as if they lost a bit of their skins). I don't know if it's caused by bugs/pest or a natural phenomenon. Only the ones placed in the basement have that "look". The ones stored upstairs are fine.

Can anyone shed light on this?

Thanks
lugubres

[therealdoctorlew]

Those are rat nibbles. Rats will observe a new food, later take a nibble, and then, if not made sick, a few days later will eat. This is a survival instinct that protects them from poisonous foods. Your persimmons are on the line for conversion from novelty (nibbles) to food (disappearance). On the other hand, you could use the nibbled ones as bait.

[pdxgastro]

Just as one suspends one's food supplies when camping in an area known for bears, you might want to store these beauties (I love persimmons) somewhere where the creatures cannot get to them. (hang the crate from the ceiling, maybe?)

[lugubres]

thank you everyone for the replies. therealdoctorlew, what can I do deter them? I will keep the persimmons upstairs from now on. Will they do the same to my Gala apples? please help. thanks in advance.

[therealdoctorlew]

Rats eat anything. Including apples. Nothing that humans can eat is safe unless it is inaccessible in an unenterable ungnawable container (metal). Your only solutions are an exterminator or do-it-yourself. Since the rat has nibbled the persimmons, they are now ready to be bait. I am not an expert in all the ways to kill vermin, so I suggest you look up or get instructed in the gentle art of rodenticide. My choice in the past has been the poison food (blue pellets) available in most supermarkets and hardware stores and placing it next to the approved bait (your persimmons, my winter squash, same idea).

[Stephanie Wong]

Beware of poison! You don't want the vermin to die somewhere within your house walls & stench up your residence. It can be surprising where dying rodents go to die.

[alkapal]

i had a tiny mouse issue in my house. the sticky traps will get them, and you know where the dead/dying critter is (stuck on trap). downside: not-dead-yet critter crying while stuck to trap, looking pathetic.

i confess that i gave up on these traps because i could not bear it. i even rescued two mice on a couple of occasions. even gave chest pumps to revive after i had removed them from the trap and cleaned them off (that stuff is awesomely sticky). not kidding. my husband already knows that i am half-crazy. (sometimes, i'm whole crazy).

[lugubres]

again thank you everyone. Now I'm scared. I think the fruit store (it's also a wholesaler) might have rat / mice issue. From now on I will throw out any fruit container from that store before I bring them home.

[lugubres]

Thanks pdxgastro, so are persimmons prone to be eaten by any insects or bug? If so which kind?

[ipsedixit]

Yes, if left on the tree too long, birds and lots of critters will feast on them.

[pdxgastro]

Holmes would say 'if the holes were not there before you put them in the basement, then the holes must have been made by someONE or someTHING in the basement.'