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Yes those are wood bores or whats left of their activity! Termites make dirt tube.

We found termites in our house, they were eating through our bamboo flooring. Hired a pest company who did the job, then signed up for an annual contract. They put bait stations every ten feet around our house. We renewed the contract for another year, this year we purchased our own bait stations on eBay and didn't renew the contract. We live on social security and lucky to get a 2% raise while prices rise.

crazy2medic wrote: Wed May 06, 2020 6:25 am Yes those are wood bores or whats left of their activity! Termites make dirt tube.

Well this is a twist. I'm glad I posted here.

What should I do, if anything?

My neighbor's wood fence was getting all eaten up. Turned out they had also moved into my house. I also had "old damage" and found loose WINGS stuck to the house paint some season when they emerged. I called the exterminator who did the perimeter job and he also advised me I could also do it myself.
Taurus SC (same chemical as Termidor SC, exterminator said it was Fipronil, same chemical as in flea collars) solved both issues there's youtube videos on how to do it yourself trench/trenching tool & 5 gallon bucket , or a sprayer that mixes the right proportion. I believe it is listed for wood borer use also.

Additionally I drilled small holes in the sheetrock and treated inside the walls with Boracare which prevents rot, mold etc in case of water as well as containing a Boric acid Borax Boron mixture that lasts forever and can kill roaches spiders termites scorpions earwigs centipedes etc etc but isn't too harmful to people ... we wash clothes with borax... it kills plants though, follow all label directions on anything you do yourself, if that's what you decide to do.

crazy2medic wrote: Wed May 06, 2020 6:25 am Yes those are wood bores or whats left of their activity! Termites make dirt tube.

Thank you so very much.

Thought to call up a friend who I remembered did pest control and he said the same thing. And that it's not even worth treating because they probably have already moved on.

Really appreciate you all. Saved me a lot of time/money.

That’s one of the really great, extra benefits of this forum. Members look out for members.

I concur. Wood boring beetles.

SQLGeek wrote: Wed May 06, 2020 11:44 am

crazy2medic wrote: Wed May 06, 2020 6:25 am Yes those are wood bores or whats left of their activity! Termites make dirt tube.

Saved me a lot of time/money.

Had I been the buyer, paying for the inspection, I would have filed a complaint against the inspector on my property for sale where he recommended a full house tenting and fumigating. I was told by one of the other inspectors that only a few in the state have licenses for that procedure, since the chemicals are extremely toxic. They told me that it was a highly regulated practice, tenting, and that the licensee has to certify to the state that the house needs fumigating before it can be done. Fumigating without infestation to support the need is against state law.

Zombified wrote: Wed May 06, 2020 3:43 pm I concur. Wood boring beetles.

Thank you as well.

Is there anything that should be done or is the damage done, replace the boards and call it a day?

Unless you just don't like the look of them you can leave them in place or you can replace the pickets, your call

Glad I could help!

My wife said she kind of likes the look haha.

Archery1 wrote: Wed May 06, 2020 4:12 pm

SQLGeek wrote: Wed May 06, 2020 11:44 am

crazy2medic wrote: Wed May 06, 2020 6:25 am Yes those are wood bores or whats left of their activity! Termites make dirt tube.

Saved me a lot of time/money.

Had I been the buyer, paying for the inspection, I would have filed a complaint against the inspector on my property for sale where he recommended a full house tenting and fumigating. I was told by one of the other inspectors that only a few in the state have licenses for that procedure, since the chemicals are extremely toxic. They told me that it was a highly regulated practice, tenting, and that the licensee has to certify to the state that the house needs fumigating before it can be done. Fumigating without infestation to support the need is against state law.

I had Fumigation license, very dangerous stuff, methyl bromide is used, leaves no residual at all, but if you bust a can in an enclosed space you won't live long enough to open the door if you don't have a mask on!