Signs of termites: I spotted this ‘mysterious’ marking in my home before I received an urgent warning about what it really was
A mum was left scratching her head after discovering a strange trail along her skirting boards at home.
The Victoria woman was stunned to see a line of tiny spots on her skirting board all the way to the floor.
Many warned that she should call an exterminator, as this was a sign that her house was infested with termites.
‘Does anyone have any idea what this is?? Any help would be greatly appreciated,” she wrote in a message to Bunnings mothers Australia.
Some were stunned and shared their suspicions, including white ants and cockroaches.
A Melbourne mother was stunned to find a row of millions of strange tiny spots on the floor of her home
“Oh, I would cry!” said one woman and another joked, “I think the upside-down portal might be near your house!”
Many were quick to identify the problem as being caused by termites in the forest.
“That’s a termite straw, which indicates you have an active termite infestation,” one member responded.
“Get it looked at by an exterminator right away,” a second advised, and another laughed, “Or an exorcist.” That looks creepy.”
‘They do a lot of damage, you little buggers. We caught ours quite early, we found them by accident when replacing a light switch and they had eaten almost all the wood in one wall,” one person explained.
Many were quick to identify the problem as being caused by termites in the forest. The path consisted of an accumulation of termite feces, also called frass or shelter tubes
The trail is either an accumulation of termite feces, also known as frass, or a mud sink, 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 spokesperson said.
‘You can prevent sludge pipes, however, by avoiding damp dirt around your home.’