LoisCroft Loc: Jonesborough, Tennessee

About a month ago, I noticed a perfect cone shaped pile of what looked to be a light colored sand on my front porch (I live in Tennessee). It was under the bottom of the railing, which is a 2x4 about 4" from the concrete floor. The pile was about 2.5-3" high. There was very little clearance above the pile, not big enough for anything but a bug, I would think. I felt the underside of the 2x4 expecting to find a hole, but nothing.

I remember my aunt in Florida telling me that her friend found something like this inside her house. She had been taking a nap, it wasn't there when she lay down. She indicated hers as being 4 or 5 inches high.

This morning I found another one outside on the patio table. This was about 3/4" high. I felt the "sand" that made this and it was gritty, but a little softer than regular sand. Above the pile is a metal pergola with a sunshade made of fabric.

The picture below shows the most recent and smaller pile. I destroyed the shape when I felt the "sand". Not a good shot as it was on a glass top table.

Anyone have any idea what this might be? I'm a little concerned that something might be eating my house.

Ron 717 Loc: Pennsylvania

No picture

Bangee5 Loc: Louisiana

That picture would have helped. BTW, did you happen to look up at the ceiling above the pile? That is, if there is a ceiling. It could have been made by wood boring wasp.

GrandpaJack Loc: Eastern Iowa

Carpenter ants.

LoisCroft Loc: Jonesborough, Tennessee

Thanks!! Will call the bug guy tomorrow.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Termites, is my guess.
--Bob

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

:thumbup: :thumbup:

Rick Spencer Loc: East Tennessee

Carpenter bee's in Tennessee

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

Two guesses: carpenter ants or wood bees. They both make those little piles of sawdust. If wood bees, you'd see them flying around. They're big guys which look like bumblebees.

LoisCroft Loc: Jonesborough, Tennessee

I actually have seen those bees around my wood fence. Also noticed a sign advertising "Bore Bee Removal". Both are good suggestions, I hope it's not termites, but I guess the bug guy can take care of it. Thanks!

Dkmccp

certainly could be carpenter bees....I've had to deal with them before and sprayed for them which took care of the problem. Weird thing is that I discovered them...swear it's true...because I could HEAR them chewing wood. Was bizarre....

oregon don

are you sure it's not some really really small midget poooing on the table?

I know , it is really sick.....lol

flathead27ford Loc: Colorado, North of Greeley

My guess as well. :-( Cheers.

elwynn Loc: Near Atlanta, GA

Might be carpenter bees. If so get rid of them fast. I had them and the woodpeckers found them first. Woodpeckers did more damage than the bees.

GeorgeH Loc: Jonesboro, GA

Sounds like carpenter bees. They're big dudes, easily the size of a bumblebee. Getting ride of them is difficult; my sister and her husband in Arlington, VA ended up having their cedar siding replace with Hardiplanks, a cement composite material. They'd tried all the suggested remedies, except filling the holes with caulk while on a ladder 2 stories high.

Sadly the buggers can cause structural damage if there're too many tunnels in structural wood.

Back in the day my father built a redwood sided house, this was when redwood was affordable. Great stuff! Easily worked, termite resistant, but not carpenter bee proof. So, when the siding needed a new coat of the pigmented stain we used he'd mix in some Chlordane, which was legal at the time. Worked beautifully! We'd see a little bee corpse and above it a small gnawed depression in the siding.