What's digging holes in my indoor potted plants?

Question

I have a indoor basil potted plant in an office environment and over the weekend holes appeared on the surface of the soil, as if something dug them. The pots are next to a window, but it's closed at the weekends.

A few times I've I noticed cockroaches in the bathroom, but it's 10-20 feet away and the office is locked and the door is well sealed. It's an old building, I can see some holes in the ceiling, where the pipes are.

Do cockroaches like to dig holes in potted planets, or could it be something else?

How do I get rid of them?

Click below images to enlarge...

Answer 1

Having looked at the photos you kindly uploaded, I honest don't think cockroaches are the pest digging holes in your indoor pots.

If I had to guess (and at best it's an "educated guess"), I would say the digging pest in your indoor environment is a mouse.

"Educated guess" = If you're aware of a cockroach problem in the building, then without much doubt the building would also have a mouse problem...

Q. And how do i get rid of it / them?

I suggest speaking with the boss and make them aware of the cockroach (and most likely mouse) problem. Under "Health & Safety" I don't believe it's something they can ignore ie They will have to get in a pest control "professional" to deal with the problems (cockroaches, mice, etc). It isn't a problem you or your co-workers should have to tackle, or an environment you should have to work in (IMHO).