Maybe carpenter ants.

hohadcr · 08-01-2012, 01:18 PM

The structure and flooring of my 2nd flr is all wooden. Overnight, I have some strange dust accumulated on my dinner table on 1st floor.

Any input will be helpful.

Looks like the dusts are directly under right one of the black steel brakets for the sturcture.

Pics are: my wooden floor/structure, and all the dusts.

Are the dusts from ants from the 2nd flooor? what kind of ants? how to kill them?

chrisn · 08-01-2012, 06:22 PM

dust? looks like a freekin woodpecker was up there

dougp23 · 08-01-2012, 08:10 PM

My limited experience with carpenter ants tells me that sawdust is much too coarse for them. Usually, with CA's, it's very fine and powdery.

Someone else who knows more will weigh in soon! In the meantime, clean that up and see if more shows up the next day.

hohadcr · 08-01-2012, 11:02 PM

my plan is to keep all there so I can see the accumulation. OR should I clean it out first..?

hohadcr · 08-02-2012, 09:08 AM

more dusts after 2nd night.

joecaption · 08-02-2012, 09:28 AM

It's not ants, they would not leave big chips like that.
Call an exterminator.
Whatever it is, is distroying the strutual aspect of the home by remove that much wood.
Rats and squrrels will tear wood up like that.
Not saying that what it is but I've seen it before.

chrisn · 08-02-2012, 06:05 PM

Whatever it is needs to be delt with QUICK or you will be looking at the sky through the roof soon

dougp23 · 08-03-2012, 08:25 AM

I agree with the others - call an exterminator! They'll walk in, take one look, and say "Oh that's xxxxxx", and start a treatment plan.

I really don't think it's carpenter ants, but whatever it is, is eating wood, and that's never a good thing. make that call!

hohadcr · 08-03-2012, 09:07 PM

We have opened the metal rackets and exposed all wood on the ceiling. No obvious big holes. Couple of ants fell down. Carpenter ants.

If they were squirrels or mice, we should have seen visible routes,. no?

chrisn · 08-04-2012, 06:54 AM

Well, al I can say, at least from my monitor, that "debris" is bigger than any ants I have ever seen

08-01-2012, 01:18 PM	#1
hohadcr Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 252	Maybe carpenter ants. The structure and flooring of my 2nd flr is all wooden. Overnight, I have some strange dust accumulated on my dinner table on 1st floor. Any input will be helpful. Looks like the dusts are directly under right one of the black steel brakets for the sturcture. Pics are: my wooden floor/structure, and all the dusts. Are the dusts from ants from the 2nd flooor? what kind of ants? how to kill them? Attached Thumbnails

08-01-2012, 06:22 PM	#2
chrisn paper hanger and painter Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Hagerstown MD Posts: 5,851	Maybe carpenter ants. dust? looks like a freekin woodpecker was up there __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

08-01-2012, 08:10 PM	#3
dougp23 Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 401	Maybe carpenter ants. My limited experience with carpenter ants tells me that sawdust is much too coarse for them. Usually, with CA's, it's very fine and powdery. Someone else who knows more will weigh in soon! In the meantime, clean that up and see if more shows up the next day. __________________ Pardon any typos, my IPad has a mind of it's own for spelling corrections!

08-01-2012, 11:02 PM	#4
hohadcr Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 252	Maybe carpenter ants. my plan is to keep all there so I can see the accumulation. OR should I clean it out first..?

08-02-2012, 09:08 AM	#5
hohadcr Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 252	Maybe carpenter ants. more dusts after 2nd night. Attached Thumbnails

Maybe carpenter ants.