Termites?

[KSkarcz1993]

Hello! Are these termites? This was below a bedroom window. Temperature outside was in the 30s and the carpet was damp in the same spots as the debris...Thank you!

 

[MapNerd]

Hard to tell from just what I see in the picture. They certainly look like mud tubes which is a decent termite signal, especially if the area is moist. What does it feel like? Is it dry and flake, wet and muddy? Any eggs or anything? Are the walls soft? Do you know where the moisture is coming from? That’s the first thing to address. Termites won’t stay if there is no source of water and the moisture might do you in long before termites do!

 

[KSkarcz1993]

Thank you so much. Terrifying! The carpet was damp, which is how I noticed them. The wall did not feel soft, and I didn’t see any dripping. This is a very old 5th wheel. I’ve enlarged the photo. Thank you!

 

[KSkarcz1993]

The moisture is because it had snowed. This is in Julian California. I didn’t want to touch them.

 

["EZ"]

Could be carpenter ants too.

 

[MapNerd]

your carpet probably should probably not be wet because it snowed. You’ve likely got a leak somewhere and need to start working to discover where it’s coming from and how to seal it off. Then you need to remove coverings such as carpet or wall panels from any locations that experienced moisture. If you’re lucky, you’ll have caught it early enough and there won’t be any mold, or the mold will be very minimal.

Assuming there is no mold, you need to properly dry out the affected area for several days. If there is mold, you need to treat and/or replace depending on the severity of the case.

once you’ve solved for the presence of moisture, whatever it is will likely not stick around. Especially if you remove wall coverings, wallboards and carpets. They don’t like being out in the open and with no place else to go, they’ll go elsewhere. This will also allow you to properly inspect for damage if it is indeed termites.

Moisture and mold are the biggest RV killers. I’d be as expedient as possible with getting in there to find out more if i were in your shoes.

 

[KSkarcz1993]

Thank you so much. I’ll research this.

 

[Kevin D Pem]

It looks like wood chips to me.

Subterranean run in mud tubes. Look for tubes running up from the ground underneath. Typically you will find a nice round hole above the floor where sawdust will fall out.

Flying termites will come in in torn screens that cover vents mostly at eves or acess to an attic, still looks more like sawdust.

Flying looks similar to Flying ants with a different body structure. And Subterranean you will not be lucky enough to find unless you break a tube.

Carpenter ants, Beatles and other borer are also on the books in Jillian.

 

[KSkarcz1993]

I appreciate all the insight. We need to determine if this is salvageable or not. Are there inspections services, such as those available for home inspection? All the feedback is invaluable and will allow us to address this quickly. Thank you!

 

[KSkarcz1993]

I did do a google search on termites before I found this forum and didn’t find much at all so this so great. We were looking into getting a new geoprobe because we are not handy at all but then decided to take this off an older gentleman’s hands. Now I’m wondering if that was a very bad decision.

 

[Jack L]

Hard to tell by the picture, but what I am looking at doesn't look like termites.
Termites look similar to an ant, but they are white. There are all different kinds. Some as tiny as a 16th inch and some much larger.
if you have wood touching the ground, they can build their tunnels right up through the wood to the structural wood
If you have concrete, brick, steel , etc touching the ground check on all sides of it for thin 1/8th inch wide gray or brown ( like yarn) strands stuck to it going from the ground up to the wood work. If yes then you probably have termites.
If that white stuff is wet sawdust, you probably have carpenter ants or some other boring insect.

Jack L

 

[KSkarcz1993]

Hard to tell by the picture, but what I am looking at doesn't look like termites.
Termites look similar to an ant, but they are white. There are all different kinds. Some as tiny as a 16th inch and some much larger.
if you have wood touching the ground, they can build their tunnels right up through the wood to the structural wood
If you have concrete, brick, steel , etc touching the ground check on all sides of it for thin 1/8th inch wide gray or brown ( like yarn) strands stuck to it going from the ground up to the wood work. If yes then you probably have termites.
If that white stuff is wet sawdust, you probably have carpenter ants or some other boring insect.

Jack L

Just saw the “reply” button. Thank you!

 

[AbdRahim]

I would also consult an exterminator for expert advice and eradication, if you plan to keep the unit.

That sawdust showing up is scary. My unit is new and it seems as I find sawdust near one of the cabinets after each trip. I have no idea where it is coming from.

 

[Kevin D Pem]

And yes same inspection as a house.

 

[KSkarcz1993]

I would also consult an exterminator for expert advice and eradication, if you plan to keep the unit.

That sawdust showing up is scary. My unit is new and it seems as I find sawdust near one of the cabinets after each trip. I have no idea where it is coming from.

Thank you. We really don’t care about keeping the unit if it’s going to require extensive “treatment” but we figured we would until it no longer makes sense to. Everything in it is fastidious-like going back into time since the prior elderly owners were so neat. It’s old and has charm, but this type of stuff is beyond what we’re prepared to deal with. I didn't know exterminators would work on RVs. Just had my house exterminated last year?

 

[AbdRahim]

I would expect a good exterminater would work on anything $$.

 

[KSkarcz1993]

I would expect a good exterminater would work on anything $$.

True. That’s why I appreciate all this insight so at least I’ll be armed with some knowledge before they quote!

 

[Kevin D Pem]

I would like to tell you that I was still licensed but 78 was a long time ago.
If subterranean moving the rig will cure the infestation. Otherwise they used to tent and fumigate.

 

[KSkarcz1993]

Ha! Some of us were around in’78
I actually think we are going to have a problem. Not to bore anyone, but we basically purchased a membership site and this old 5th wheel came with it for a couple $Ks. So it’s not easily moveable at this point and we likely can’t exterminate on site. We would probably just get rid of it due to the cost of moving it plus exterminator. They took impeccable care but I guess there’s no protection against these critters. The rig is so old I think if this were a problem previously I would see other evidence of it, don’t you agree, Kevin? I did look elsewhere, and it’s only under this one window. Truthfully I would just get rid of this vehicle, but I like the charm of it and it was basically free and enabled us to get a choice spot in this RV park. So do you think calling an exterminator is the best bet?

 

[Kevin D Pem]

Ha! Some of us were around in’78
I actually think we are going to have a problem. Not to bore anyone, but we basically purchased a membership site and this old 5th wheel came with it for a couple $Ks. So it’s not easily moveable at this point and we likely can’t exterminate on site. We would probably just get rid of it due to the cost of moving it plus exterminator. They took impeccable care but I guess there’s no protection against these critters. The rig is so old I think if this were a problem previously I would see other evidence of it, don’t you agree, Kevin? I did look elsewhere, and it’s only under this one window. Truthfully I would just get rid of this vehicle, but I like the charm of it and it was basically free and enabled us to get a choice spot in this RV park. So do you think calling an exterminator is the best bet?

I think you need to know if you have a problem. After you know then it will be time to figure out what to do.