Termites visible inside bedroom


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Old 09-19-19, 10:41 AM
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Termites visible inside bedroom

What does it mean when you can see a bunch of termites inside your house ?

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Last edited by PJmax; 09-19-19 at 07:23 PM. Reason: enlarged picture
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Old 09-19-19, 10:46 AM
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Are you certain they are termites?

I once lived in a house that was infested. One spring I came home and the whole house was littered with wings. Luckily we caught it before too much damage was done.
 
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Old 09-19-19, 10:47 AM
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If they really are termites you probably have a big problem.

BTW, your pictures didn't make it.

Putting pictures in your post
 
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Old 09-19-19, 12:23 PM
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I was just told it’s been an ongoing issue that’s gone ignored for a few years now. Once every couple months these would be swept off the floor
 
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Old 09-19-19, 07:25 PM
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Looks like sawdust. Sawdust alone would not confirm termites. Could be ants in the wall.
 
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Old 09-20-19, 04:34 AM
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Whether it's carpenter ants or termites, you seem to have a problem and the solutions are similar. Remove the trim piece and see what's behind it.
 
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Old 09-20-19, 04:36 AM
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Whatever the insect species you need to have it treated as they appear to be eating wood. Usually 99% of what they do is out of sight. So, if they appear year after year it could be quite an infestation. Not good as it can lead to very expensive structural repairs. Have an exterminator inspect your home ASAP.
 
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Old 09-20-19, 05:35 AM
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Picture needs to be more in focus and closer-up but it sounds like it is loose material as opposed to dried mud which would indicate ants of some sort as opposed to subterranean termites. If you live in a location where dry wood termites are present then that possibility needs to determined as dry wood termites do make "frass" and fecal pellets.

We should always include geographic location for insect/rodent issues as that alone can include/eliminate various species right away.
 
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Old 09-20-19, 04:03 PM
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The area would be Van Nuys/Los Angeles..... California.
 
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Old 09-21-19, 10:43 AM
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That part of the west coast, maybe all of it, is also drywood termite country so you need to get this diagnosed properly. Big difference in treatment and cost between drywood termites and ants. Very different treatments too.

If you carefully sift through the frass, do you find ant body parts? If so, that would indicate ants as the ants will remove their dead along with their chewings.

If you take the "frass" to a local county agricultural extension office, they should be able to ID it or at least send it off for proper and objective identification. They aren't sales driven so they are a good place to start.
 
 

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