Article for Termites
Mud Tube Mystery: Telling the Difference Between Termite and Mud Dauber Mud Tubes
If you have spotted mud tubes in or outside your home, you need to identify the insect that made them, and quickly. Two of the most common mud tube builders in Australia are termites and mud daubers. It helps if you are able to distinguish between the two types of mud tubes.
Fortunately, it isn't that difficult to tell a mud dauber tube apart from a termite tube.
Mud Dauber Tubes
Australia is home to many species of mud daubers. Mud daubers are part of the wasp family; however, unlike other species of wasp, mud daubers are solitary. In other words, they do not live in a colony side by side with other wasps. Black or metallic blue in colour, the females of this species build mud tubes in sheltered areas, such as under eaves or on a shaded wall.
Once built, the mud dauber deposits her eggs, and then fills the small tubules with paralyzed insects, which will become food for her young when they hatch. These mud tubes tend to be small, often not more than a few inches in length. Small openings will also be visible if the female and her mate have not yet finished building the nest.
Termite Tubes
The main difference between termite tubes and mud dauber tubes is their size and length. Termites build mud tubes so that they can safely travel from one area to the next. The mud tubes protect them from predators and from the sun, both of which can kill them. This means that unlike a mud dauber nest, termite tubes originate in one place and end in another.
For example, you might see a termite mud tube coming up from the soil and extending up onto your house' siding. These tubes are generally long and thin and may end when a tube encounters wood. At that point, the termites begin to devour the wood.
Call a Pest Inspector if You Suspect Termites
Once you have correctly identified the insect responsible for the mud tubes, you can then call a pest inspector. However, if you suspect the mud tubes belong to a mud dauber; your home is not in danger. Termites, however, are another matter. If a mud tube is within your home or on an outside wall, they may have already begun to damage your home.
Termites can cause massive damage in just a few months. If in doubt, take a picture of the mud tube and send it to a pest inspector for identification, or describe the tubes over the phone.