Yank the ties out - they don't look structural. Avoid having wood up against your house.

If you can, pull some of the lattice off and check for signs of infestation under that porch. They make mud tubes to travel through - look for that.

If you saw the bugs inside the house, I think you need to call an exterminator for an inspection'.

What does a mud tube look like. The lattice is plastic so I can pull some off but will need hard to crawl under I know it's dirt under the porch. What should the railroad ties be replaced with? My oil tank is buried under.

Do call a pro in.

Not all termites make tubes--location is important for deciding which ones you have--but mud tubes or not, you have termites in your house.

You have winged termites which means these particular ones haven't set up a colony yet. You might be lucky! Probably not though. Odds are good they came from somewhere very very very close.

If you feel that you need something over the oil tank, go to a big box store (like Menard's or Lowe's) and look at their bricks, concrete pavers, wall stone etc.

Is this a termite issue. If so would neem oil work or another solution thanks

"Is this a termite issue. If so would neem oil work or another solution thanks "

• Why in the world haven't you done something ALREADY????????
• I wouldn't normally engage but since termites can seriously devalue or even destroy a home and op might actully be incapiable of taking care of themselves I'll take the plunge.
• Xman google "ant vs termite appearance" and note how ants are squeezed in at waste whereas termite is not. Your picture isn't clear enough to tell. The sultion for both is calling an exterminator but it's clear you aren't going to. The natural control is orange oil, the best compromise is any product containing Bifenthrin as the ACTIVE INGREDIENT.

Good grief, you still havent taken care of the issue. every day you wait, they cause more damage, and will cost you more money. They do not ever go away on their own. It will be 2 yrs in May since you posted your question. Your house could be unsafe to live in by now.

I actually opened the garage ceiling where I think they were coming from and I know around this time last year is when I noticed the bugs which I am trying to check in order for exterminator to check out as I dont know any other area they would be coming in from as I am removing rotted railroad ties outside. I now have a dog that I need to be careful with any harmful chemicals. I dont see anything wet in ceiling but I am trying to open the area to show exterminator. Thanks

Let the exterminator take over from there.

The exterminator will (should) place bait stations both around the perimeter of the house and at least one near the entry point into the house. If there is more than one site of infestation then they may put more inside. The bait stations outdoors are sunk into the ground and locked closed so there is not any danger to pets or wildlife. The interior ones will also be safe from pet access - they will attach them to locations out of reach, like on a floor joist or a sill plate (and the bait is also in containers that the dog couldn't open.)

You really need to address this quickly!!

Last year I suddenly had a crack in the basement stairwell wall - it ran horizontally across that entire wall. Termites had chewed their way in through wood just above the foundation sill plate, which had gotten wet from a malfunctioning outdoor spigot (would spray from the handle when turned on), then made their way to the main support beam that crossed the basement. The ENTIRE beam was about to collapse. We estimate that they had been in there about a year +/- at most - when the problem with the spigot handle started.

It cost nearly $14k to replace the beam and repair all of the damage to the ceiling and walls.

Dont tear anything more apart. Hire a decent exterminator, and let him/her decide what needs to be done. You are just adding more work, that may not even be necessary. If these are termites, you could have a lot of damage, since you have waited far to long. Termites can destroy a lot since the time, you last posted, and you can be sure if these are termites, then its going to cost you many times over to repair the additional damage.

X-Man do you take pride in being a loose cannon or do you consider this activity some kind of entertainment? You jumped this rabbit 2 years ago and from all appearances plan keeping it alive long as people keep taking the bait. It's time you answer a simple question. Did you google high resolution pictures of winged ants and termites as I suggested earlier? After seeing the two side by side anyone,,,,,,,and I do mean anyone including Ned in the first reader can say with 100% certainty which is which when seeing them.

Thanks all but I have exterminator coming to further assist

Good to hear. Let us know how it goes.