Help? Do we have termites?

[bridegirl]

I just found 4 piles that look like wood dust, each with a perfectly round very small hole in the middle, in the wood floor in our dining room?!?!?!?!?!?

Can termites bore up from under the floor? There are no signs of bugs anywhere, just holes and piles. So gross!

If anyone knows anything about this, please advise! I just left a message for a termite guy but of course it's Saturday and no one is around.

Thanks so much for any information,

Susy

 

[ducklite]

Termites live in the ground. They come up during the day to feed, then return back to the ground at night. It could very well be termites, but the description of perfectly round holes make me lean more towards Carpenter ants. They are equally destructive, although generally easier to treat.

Call an exterminator tomorrow.

Anne

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Could be carpenter ants...

 

[bridegirl]

Thanks so much, I'm going to google carpenter ants right now

Pixie dust,

Susy

 

[The Mystery Machine]

My sis had them and they were living in the bathroom in the pipes and underneath the shower and bath. They do like a water source so I would go checking out your sinks, etc...

 

[bridegirl]

Just read up about them online, sounds like just what I found

But there isn't any water near there at all? Unless it's underground, under the dining room?

There has been alot of rain here in LA recently, could that do it?

And it said they look for sweets, we did have some Halloween Candy in there, could that be it?

Thanks,

Susy

 

[ducklite]

Water source doesn't need to be a pond, lake or river. It can be in yoru basement, like a French drain or sump pump. It can also be wet wood--like if you've got a leak between your walls that is keeping the studs damp, that's all it will take.

Anne

 

[goofy4tink]

We had bugs that were either termites or carpenter ants in one of my windows. Seems they had build a nest inside the casing of my vinyl window. I went online to try and figure out which it was. I called our exterminator..we have a yearly contract with them (such a great idea!!!). He said they sounded like termites. He came out and said.."The good news is that they aren't termites. Good news because it would have been over $1000 to get rid of them....way over!! They are carpenter ants, which are covered in your contract." He sprayed some dust into the windows and that took care of the little 'buggers'. Hope for carpenter ants!!!!