I realize I don't live in Africa but since this is the busiest forum and many of the members seem to have an interest in all kinds of creatures (even puff aders), I could use some help.

Does anyone know what kind of insect would make it�s entrance/home in my home via the method below? It looks like there are small exits/entrances (pin-size) into each one of these brown �branches� but haven�t seen anything going in and out. I thought it might be some kind of ant or something and am hoping this is just an isolated thing and not something serious. The location is kind of peculiar because it�s on the ceiling of our den about 1 foot in from the outside wall (1st floor). We have an exterminator coming soon but I�d like to have an idea of what�s going on before he shows up so I�m a little more informed about what method(s) we�ll need to take to treat the problem. TIA.

If my eyes don't deceive me, those are the excrescences of mud dauber wasps.



They will sting you with their dying breaths. Just as formidable, in their own tiny way, as big, bad, knock you down buffalo.



On the other hand, they may be termites.



In any case, chemicals and blunt instruments are definitely in order.

Thanks for the quick response. Since the pic might be deceiving, I'll also add that the "branches" are about the diameter (or smaller) of those small white pipe cleaners. Hope this helps.



I hope it's a wasp that got in and not some burrowing insect coming in from outside. I'll make sure to have a newpaper ready just in case the fight is on!!!

I think termites. It looks like termite shelter tubes.

termite web page

Another termite

Yet another

Another

Geeeezzz.....I'm thinkin' that might just be it. Thanks for the links. I'll cross my fingers!

Break them open and look inside. If there are small white ant looking bugs they are termites.

I hope I'm wrong, but I believe you have termites. If you have them coming out of the ceiling, then you've got a major case of them. Get ready for some demolition. At the very least, you'll need to tear out some drywall to inspect the structure. Termites can wreak havoc in short order.

No question about it you got termites, and what you see is only on the surface, and are swarm tunnels. I suspect the wall is in bad shape inside. An exterminater is needed in short order. $$$$$$

HURRY!

TERMITES

Do something about it fast.

Termites, Termites, and more termites

If you have termites, then you're not alone. I pay an exterminator $100 a year to crawl around under my house looking for any signs of them. Money well spent. Of course it comes with no guarantee that I'm termite free. They can come into the house virtually anywhere, they especially like the places where slabs meet such as additions. My neighbors on both sides of me have had them. Let us know how it goes and how much it sets you back. I'm sure some others on this board will face the same problem someday and need to adjust the "Africa" account in preparation of the financial hickey imposed by termites.

Everytime I think I have enough money put away for my next trip, some financial boondoggle hits.