Unknown bugs in barn?

[RoadBeater]

I keep getting these piles of whatever by some of the posts in my barn. Trying to figure out what type of critters they might be. Barn is about 9 years old. If I sweep it up, it will reappear within a week. Any ideas?

 

[adam0872]

Do you have a lot of humidity in your barn? It might be barn siding bugs I don't recall the technical names for them. I'd put some type of shelak on the wood it might help control the pests

 

[grtpumpkin]

Need a close up of those. Can't really see them. Do you have any standing water nearby? Looks like some kind of flies with wings? Possibly drain moth flies if you have standing water nearby. I used to work for a pest control company. I'd like to see a close up of one of those. Identification is key to eliminating them.

R-

 

[RoadBeater]

Here's a close up. I've never seen anything moving. it just looks like a pile of sand. I do have slope away from barn, but next to a farm field, and do get alot of runoff, so there isn't standing water, but sure there is wettness from time to time.

 

[rburke65]

Take some to your local soil n water extension service, or to your local exterminator and ask them what ya need to "wack em".

 

[LS6 Tommy]

It's hard to tell from your pic. If it has the consistency of sand, it's something pushing spoil up out from the seams from underneath as they dig, like ants or termites. If it's like sawdust, it's "frazz" from something chewing on the wood. You name it, carpenter ants, carpenter bees, who knows. Most likely not termites.

Tommy

 

[grtpumpkin]

The picture is too blurry I cannot make it out. That may need to be seen under magnification also. Those look pretty small. Looks like there are fragments of the pink insulation also. Do you keep getting sand or sawdust piles? Your also in Ohio I see so they may just be something specific to your area. You mentioned it's near a post. Possibly a species of beetle. Here in NH the most common problem we have is with ants & termites for wood destroying insects. Sawdust & sand piles are a telltale sign. Another possibility that comes to mind are powder post beetles. It's fairly common around here in old barns. Might be worth consulting with an entomologist in your area. Local schools may be able to help also. Or you can always call a pest control company in your area to have a look. Of coarse they'll want to charge you.
R-

 

[wssix99]

The Ortho Bug ID tool is great for stuff like this: https://www.ortho.com/smg/library/shelf/pest-id/insects/11000008/30600007/

 

[MrBalll]

I'm with LS6 Tommy on this one. Just almost looks like dirt to me. Unless you are trying to photograph whatever is in that 'circle' of small rocks towards the center of the photo. Too blurry to tell.

 

[Sawdustmaker]

Kinda looks like cricket droppings. They are small, round and black. Just a guess. Check with Ag Extension Office.

 

[SteveCh]

The photos are useless. If you can get a clear, magnified shot it should be easy to identify them.

 

[theoldwizard1]

If your barn is reasonably well sealed (no big holes), get a 6 pack of bug bombs. Set them all off and close the door. Anything NOT deeply buried in wood/dirt will be dead.

Wait until the weather warms up a bit and insects are more active. You might have to repeat the treatment in 3-4 months,

 

[RoadBeater]

Thanks for all the input, I figured maybe some one had run into this before. Like I stated earlier, I've not seen any critters, but just this pile of sand at some of the posts. It's sealed up reasonably well, but not heated or cooled. I'll have to check with the extension office first.

 

[yhprum]

When I lived before crickets were everywhere outside and would leave poop like that that almost looked like coffe grounds where the were nesting. Any around?

 

[SouthLake]

spray a mix of 2oz / gallon of Talstar... begin Bug-ageddon, end all bugs. repeat every 3 months.

recommend this be applied far from drinking sources, and that you have already had children or do not plan to reproduce. wear a respirator. keep pets away...

 

[classic boost]

i have that same problem. in my case, it's piss ants. at least that's the critters i see moving about in the "sand". i coated the area with seven dust.

 

[CN Spots]

That last one looks like they have wings but it's hard to tell. Look at one under a magnifying glass and see. Do a google image search for flying termite and compare. They will swarm every spring but I've never seen the pile of dirt with them in it.

If you're not what that stuff is, take the pile outside and try to burn it. If it burns, it's wood. Not, it's dirt.

 

[CNGsaves]

+1 to "nuke the hell out 'em" with Sevin or some other strong pesticide.

If all else fails, spray diesel fuel in those cracks !!

 

[Falcon67]

Might be carpenter ant debris - that untreated lumber laying on the concrete would be ripe for that.

 

[forAK]

In the first pic, the "dirt" or "frass" is on top of the foam. Maybe you need to look up and see if anything is falling.

 

[RoadBeater]

Hi. So just an update, The material doesn't burn. (That was a fun experiment!), I had sprayed brake cleaner there before. (obviously didn't help). I talked to the extension agency, they claim they look like pavement ants. A little google search, this kind of makes sense. I'm going to hit the inside and outside with seven and see if this helps out.

Thanks again for all the suggestions.

 

[grtpumpkin]

If it is ants get some advion ant gel. Stuff is awesome for ants. They eat it like candy. Guaranteed to kill them.

http://www.domyownpestcontrol.com/a...erm=advion ant gel&utm_content=Advion Ant Gel

I think Amazon sells it also.