termites or what?

[1922bigsix]

A granular substance mixed with some insect parts and fine hairs accumulates under the seat cushions in my 1922 Studebaker. At first I thought this was due to deterioration of the burlap in the seat cushions but now I think it may be due to an insect infestation. I've attached a picture that I took through a microscope which includes the edge of a dime for size reference. What is causing this and how do I treat it?

Tom

Edited May 6, 2012 by 1922bigsix
no photo (see edit history)

[Bleach]

No photo. Try again.

[1922bigsix]

The internet is wonderful. The granular powder appears to be fecal droppings of dry termites. Has anyone treated this condition in an automobile?

Tom

[Pete O]

I doubt they'd be termites- unless there's a different species of termite than we have here in the northeast that I don't know about. The termites we have up here need to be able to return to the soil for moisture. They build mud tubes up the side of the concrete foundation to get from the ground up to the wood in a structure so that they have a sheltered, direct path back to the soil.

[Guest BobD735]

Hi,

The droppings appear to be from termites to me. A friend of mine had a similar problem with his wooden structured car. His neighbor was having a termite problem with his house, and was having it tented. He got permission to park his car in his neighbor's house.

Problem solved.

Bob

[ply33]

I doubt they'd be termites- unless there's a different species of termite than we have here in the northeast that I don't know about. The termites we have up here need to be able to return to the soil for moisture. They build mud tubes up the side of the concrete foundation to get from the ground up to the wood in a structure so that they have a sheltered, direct path back to the soil.

Depends on the part of the country you are in. Here in California dry wood termites are the problem and the solution for homes is to tent and gas them.

Hi,

The droppings appear to be from termites to me. A friend of mine had a similar problem with his wooden structured car. His neighbor was having a termite problem with his house, and was having it tented. He got permission to park his car in his neighbor's house.

Problem solved.

Bob

Sounds like a good idea to me as long at you have an attached garage or the detached garage is being tented.

[Pete O]

Dry wood termites- you learn something new every day! Wow, it's not bad enough that metal rusts, but you have to worry about termites attacking the wood too.

[Guest]

Here in California we have both types of termites. Twice a year these guy's will come out of the ground and evacuate a whole nest and swarm. This happens in spring and fall right after a rain when the humidity is just right. I was helping a friend remodel a house one year and we were framing a second story of the house and his six car garage when this happened. We thought we got all the timbers coated with this green creosote (now illegal), but some termites managed to get into the first floor of the garage framing and eventually made it's way into my friends restored 37 Ford woody. We ended up bagging the house and the garage with the car in it.

That experience was the most helpless feeling. Can you imagine framing with these guy's flying around you. I thought my buddy was going to have a heart attack.

D.

[Durant Mike]

Looks kind of big for termite droppings, but could be. I dable in antique furniture restoration and have done quite a few pieces. I am working on an antique pie safe, restoring it and converting it to a wine cabinet. Some of the wood had insect damage. There are two known critters that attach wood in furniture. One is a dry wood termite the other are wood boring beetles. At least hear in the South you can tell the difference is that dry wood termites usually leave a pellet or saw dust residue on the floor at the base of the furniture. The beetles will leave a small hole in the wood. These dry wood termites and beetles will enter the wood and remain dormant for sometimes 5 to 7 years then reemerge, mate and eat some more and then go dormant again. Furniture restorers often use heat, freezing or spaying the wood with borate. Look on the internet for dry wood termites and it will give you some ways to treat the problem.

[Guest bofusmosby]

The average dry wood termite colony will usually take 2-4 years before some of them grow wings, emerge from the wood and swarm to another location. The termites do NOT lay dormant. They are still eating the wood. Just because you don't see them, does not mean they are dormant.

Well, my house had another swarm of those little buggers this past week, so my house will be tented again for the 4th time in 13 years.

[1922bigsix]

According to Arrow Pest Control in Kansas City, the granules are due to deteriorating burlap, not drywood termites. A happy ending.