I found a mysterious ‘trail’ in my linen cupboard – then I discovered the disgusting reason it was there

US
By James

By Shania Obrien for Daily Mail Australia

Published: | Updated:

A mum was shocked to discover the reason behind a ‘sinister’ trail in her linen cupboard.

Karen from Adelaide was recently cleaning her house when she found a strange pile of mud in her cupboard.

The mother was confused because it seemed an unlikely place for dirt to end up, but a quick community consultation revealed the truth: Karen’s house was infested with termites.

Before identifying the source of the concert, Karen shared a photo of the path snaking out of her wall.

The image showed a wooden frame that appeared to be covered in dark mud.

A mother was shocked to discover something ominous in her linen closet

“I just found this in my linen closet,” she said. ‘I’m not sure what it is. At first I thought it was a wasp or ant nest, but now I’m worried it might be termites.’

Karen eventually called pest control, who revealed she had an “aggressive” case of termites.

The professionals suspected that the creatures had been in the home for years and that a five-year solution of anti-termite fluid used by the previous residents had expired.

Many were sympathetic to Karen’s dilemma.

‘DO NOT REMOVE OR DISTURB IT!’ one warned. “Let the pest come in to set bait. If you mess with them, they go somewhere else.”

Another advised: ‘The old double brick houses were sometimes filled with slabs and termites have invisible access between the brick and the slab joint. Having your plans ready for the inspector will make it easier for them to look at possible entry points.”

Signs You Have Termites (and What to Do About It):

Signs You May Have Termites

  • Mud paths leading along the sides of buildings
  • Accumulation of dried mud in the joints of door or window architraves
  • Blistering on the architrave of doors, windows or skirting boards
  • Damp spots or moisture stains on walls
  • Weak tapping or chewing sounds behind plaster walls
  • Power outages and buildup of earthy materials around electrical outlets
  • Soft floorboards
  • During the spring and autumn evenings, large swarms of ‘flying black ants’ may actually be termite alates released from the nest. This is a strong indication that termite colonies are present

What should you do if you suspect you have termites?

DO NOT

  • Try to guess what they are – even if you only suspect they’re termites, follow our DO checklist below
  • Disturb them or investigate further – it will deter them and make them more difficult to treat
  • Try to kill them with pest sprays, homemade compounds or DIY methods from the internet – the only effective treatments for termites are through licensed pest control professionals
  • Ignore them

DOING

  • Stay calm
  • Take action immediately
  • Check your meter cupboard for a termite or white ant treatment sticker. This will list any treatments or inspections previously carried out and the company that carried them out that you should contact
  • If there is no meter cupboard sticker, contact an expert and have them carry out a full inspection of the activity in your home
  • Have the technician explain the inspection process, the extent of termite activity, the treatment options and how they work
  • If there appears to be damage, the technician reports on the extent of the damage
  • After the termites have been treated, you should have a termite inspection at least every year

Source: Termitrust

Many were quick to identify the problem as being caused by termites in the forest

Many were quick to identify the problem as being caused by termites in the forest

The trail in Karen’s hive is either a buildup of termite feces, also known as frass, or a mud sinker, also known as a shelter tube.

Shelter tubes are small tunnels that the pests create to move around the house, protected from sunlight and other ants.

According to Forensic Pest Control ServicesMud tubes are a sign that subterranean termites are present and are a ‘red flag’ for infestation.

“If you discover a mud tube, chances are the termites have already made a home in your home, and it is critical to work with a professional termite control officer for total eradication,” the professionals said.

‘You can prevent sludge pipes, however, by avoiding damp dirt around your home.’

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