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.”
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.’