OMG. Are these termite mud tunnels?

[heliocentric]

I was cleaning the screened in porch today and found these mud-like tunnels behind the patio furniture on one side of the porch. The tunnels are along the bottom where the wood frames meet the porch. I picked at one (2nd photo on the top) and it came away along with part of the wood. The wood feels soft and rotten.

I assume it's termites, but does anyone know? If so I'm going to be super angry because I had an exterimator come out last fall because I saw a swarm of insects on the porch wood. The woman said that she didn't see any sign of termites and I probably saw nuisance ants which are harmless. If they were termites and damaging my house for months because she was a lazy or inept I'm going to freak out.

Please ignore the cobwebs. That's part of what I was trying to clean before I got sidetracked.

[mrs.jacinthe]

Honestly? It seems likely.

I'd call a different company to come out and inspect (carefully) and then I'd call the first company and ask them to pay for at least part of the repairs due to their inspector's negligence.

[heliocentric]

mrs.jacinthe, that's not a bad idea to try to get something from the first place. I'll try to find the report they gave me. Thanks.

[arch01]

Seems likely-I agree with mrs.jacinthe's advice.

[housegeek]

You might try some DE in the meantime?

[katie4253]

Get it checked. But, our mud tunnels didn't look like that.

[heliocentric]

katie4253, that makes me feel a little better.

I cracked one open and it seems solid--no tunnel that I can see and no sign of insects or larvae. I also don't seen anything coming out of the ground or elsewhere. DH thinks it's some kind of fungus and the wood just rotted from age (we have replaced other wood on the porch due to rot, so it's possible). Fungus, though?

I will still call someone to inspect. I want neither insects nor fungus nor rot!

[heliocentric]

housegeek, what is DE?

[housegeek]

Apr 23, 2014 12:34:29 GMT -5 heliocentric said:

housegeek, what is DE?

Diatomaceous Earth, its a mechanical insect killer.