krysanic Posted December 17, 2009 Report Posted December 17, 2009 Could someone please help me identify these brown granules? I have found twice since moving into a new home (new to us, built in 1955) a few months ago. I have only found them in one bedroom in the house and only in one corner of the bedroom which happens to have two exterior walls. Thank you so much for any help/suggestions you can offer. Click to Enlarge 6.12 KB Click to Enlarge 5.65 KB
Richard Moore Posted December 17, 2009 Report Posted December 17, 2009 Most likely termite fecal matter being expelled from the galleries. You need to call a pest inspection/control contractor, and I would do it sooner rather than later.
Scottpat Posted December 17, 2009 Report Posted December 17, 2009 A larger picture would help greatly! One in the 100 kb range! But as Richard said, most likely a bug who has digested it's dinner which is your house!
Les Posted December 18, 2009 Report Posted December 18, 2009 don't think it is termites. need better (larger) photo.
krysanic Posted December 18, 2009 Author Report Posted December 18, 2009 Thanks to all of you for your help. I tried to upload a higher resolution image, but it didn't turn out as detailed as I would have liked. The flash used in the picture gives the granules a more reddish tone than they do in person. The granules are all uniform in size and shape. I think I noticed some moisture under the table where I found the granules today. Is this normal for termite droppings? Thanks again for your help! Click to Enlarge 36.73 KB
Richard Moore Posted December 18, 2009 Report Posted December 18, 2009 Given where the OP lives, and his use of the word "granules", as opposed to dust, powder, etc, my money is still on termites, drywood termites specifically. Larger photos might help but, as the droppings have evidently reappeared, he clearly has some sort of active insect infestation that needs ID, evaluation and treatment from an on-site pro. I think I noticed some moisture under the table where I found the granules today. Is this normal for termite droppings? I wouldn't expect to see moisture...might it be un-related? Question...have the droppings always been found under the same table? If so, it could actually be from imported insects in the table itself. Whatever, you really need to have someone come in and take an in-person look.
Marc Posted December 18, 2009 Report Posted December 18, 2009 Fecal matter from drywood termites would have a 6 sided (or is it 8 sided?) drum shape. Marc
hausdok Posted December 18, 2009 Report Posted December 18, 2009 Hi, Looks exactly like PWDT frass to me. Do they range that far south? ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike
Jim Katen Posted December 18, 2009 Report Posted December 18, 2009 Could someone please help me identify these brown granules? I have found twice since moving into a new home (new to us, built in 1955) a few months ago. I have only found them in one bedroom in the house and only in one corner of the bedroom which happens to have two exterior walls. Thank you so much for any help/suggestions you can offer. No one can tell squat from those pictures. If you want meaninful advice, post better pictures. Take the paper towel full of stuff outside when the sky is overcast. If it's sunny, go to a shaded location so that there aren't any harsh shadows. Turn off your camera's flash and use the macro setting to take a close-up picture of the stuff. Get close. Make sure that the picture is sharp. Post a nice screen-size picture, maybe 800x600. - Jim Katen, Oregon
Brandon Whitmore Posted December 18, 2009 Report Posted December 18, 2009 Do they look like this: http://cru.cahe.wsu.edu/CEPublications/ ... eb0787.pdf Or this: http://www.entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures ... mite04.htm Or piles of these: http://images.quickblogcast.com/114070- ... ow_ant.jpg As Jim said, the picture doesn't show nearly enough detail. All I can tell is that they could be termite fecal matter or piles of dead moisture ants.
hausdok Posted December 18, 2009 Report Posted December 18, 2009 All I can tell is that they could be termite fecal matter or piles of dead moisture ants. It's definitely not dead insects. I was able to blow it up, and though the resolution began breaking down, I'm pretty certain it's Pacific Dampwood Termite Frass. I'm kind of familiar with the little suckers and what their pellets look like; for about two years I had about 5,000 to 10,000 of the little buggers living in a terrarium on my desktop. I don't know squat about any drywood termites, I've never seen one. PDWT frass is distinct and formed - not scaly and irregular like sub frass. Look for some wet wood somewhere above where you're finding the frass. Get a pick and do some pocking around. ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!! Mike
Jim Baird Posted December 18, 2009 Report Posted December 18, 2009 Hopefully you have a pest control contractor under contract already for periodic inspection. I do, and when I fould some dust left by exiting powder post beetles beside little holes in some flooring, the guy came out, looked, and advised and did not charge one dime. In my case the evidence showed the bug was gone, and he advised I forget about it.
krysanic Posted December 19, 2009 Author Report Posted December 19, 2009 Question...have the droppings always been found under the same table? If so, it could actually be from imported insects in the table itself. Whatever, you really need to have someone come in and take an in-person look. RE: your question. No, the droppings were there when we moved into the house, so they are not coming from the table, unfortunately. I will contact a professional, perhaps the guy who did the original termite inspection at the time of the sale. Or maybe I should get a second opinion given that he never mentioned seeing any signs of termites. What I am confused about is that the droppings are on the hardwood floor. I'm not a professional expert, like you guys, I'm just a first time homeowner. I don't understand where the droppings could be coming from. Perhaps the baseboards or the actual hardwood floorboards? The hardwood floor is original, red oak. I'm afraid to ask this question because it sounds ridiculous, but could the termites be in the floorboards and the droppings be coming up through the hardwood floor? I looked for tiny pinholes but couldn't see any. Again, a big thanks to all of you for sharing your expert knowledge with me and taking the time to educate me. This will come in handy when the termite inspector is giving me his opinion of the granules.
Brandon Whitmore Posted December 19, 2009 Report Posted December 19, 2009 No, the droppings were there when we moved into the house As Jim would probably do, and should have asked.........have you tasted the debris yet? Could be coffee grounds. Honestly, if you take samples of the droppings to a local University, laboratory, or pest control professionals office, etc. , you should have an answer shortly. Save the lab 'til you exhaust all other options.
davidlord Posted December 19, 2009 Report Posted December 19, 2009 Looks more like roach (or the like) droppings than drywood termite frass but the pic needs to be bigger.
pestguy22 Posted February 1, 2010 Report Posted February 1, 2010 It may be debris from Carpenter Ants being kicked out of wall. I cant really tell because picture is too small.
John Dirks Jr Posted February 2, 2010 Report Posted February 2, 2010 You don't have those camel back crickets out there do you? We have them on the east coast and their droppings look kinda like that.
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