Nocturnal, rhythmic scratching

Surrealean

I will likely regret asking this.

For the past several years now, my sleep has been disturbed regularly by a very distinct, creaking, scratching noise. It always follows a distinct number of beats, and then stops (typically 5 beats), in a manner that reminds me of crickets.

I've nearly convinced myself the noise must be biological in origin, but - though others have remarked on it - no one has ever successfully found what is making the noise or known what it was. It only ever occurs after dark, and I have had the distinct displeasure of finding it in two separate abodes in Galway, and one in Limerick; between these I stayed in Dublin for a year and never noticed the noise once.

Is there some logical explanation to be had? Some incredibly annoying katydid or wood-devouring beetle? There's a vent in my bedroom in the very general direction of the noise which I think may be hiding the culprit but I can't very well pry the thing off the wall. I realise this thread is a) vague and b) likely makes me look a little mad, but I just want whatever it is out. It's nearly 3am, I need to sleep!

aidoh

Rats/mice?

kylith

Probably a wood boring beetle. Apparently deathwatches are quite noisy.

periodictable

Surrealean wrote: »

I will likely regret asking this.

For the past several years now, my sleep has been disturbed regularly by a very distinct, creaking, scratching noise. It always follows a distinct number of beats, and then stops (typically 5 beats), in a manner that reminds me of crickets.

I've nearly convinced myself the noise must be biological in origin, but - though others have remarked on it - no one has ever successfully found what is making the noise or known what it was. It only ever occurs after dark, and I have had the distinct displeasure of finding it in two separate abodes in Galway, and one in Limerick; between these I stayed in Dublin for a year and never noticed the noise once.

Is there some logical explanation to be had? Some incredibly annoying katydid or wood-devouring beetle? There's a vent in my bedroom in the very general direction of the noise which I think may be hiding the culprit but I can't very well pry the thing off the wall. I realise this thread is a) vague and b) likely makes me look a little mad, but I just want whatever it is out. It's nearly 3am, I need to sleep!

Sound of the death watch beetle

http://www.arkive.org/death-watch-beetle/xestobium-rufovillosum/video-09a.html