Think It's Just Dirt? It Could Be a Termite Tunnel
Found a brown, muddy trail running up your wall or around your home's foundation? Don't knock it down just yet! It could be a termite mud tube, a tunnel that subterranean termites build to travel between their underground colony and a food source. These tubes are usually brown or grey, about the width of a pencil or finger, and can appear on brickwork, timber posts, foundations and even inside your home. So, what should you do if you find one? → Leave the mud tube intact. Disturbing it could cause termites to retreat and move elsewhere. → Check nearby timber for hollow sounds, blistered paint or discarded termite wings. → Take clear photos of the mud tube and its location. → Avoid DIY chemical sprays. Killing visible termites doesn't mean you've eliminated the colony. → Arrange a professional termite inspection to find out how far the activity has spread. A single mud tube won't tell you how much damage termites may have already caused behind your walls or under yo...