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I live on 4th floor of a seven-storey building. It's been a month since I noticed these strange things growing on my ceiling. It looks like mud when observed closely.

At first I cleared it with brush which can be seen in the picture as light stains. But it grew again. The darker one is how it looks like now.

The other side of the wall from which this thing grows is the bathroom. Above the bathroom there is a small compartment for storing things. The door of the compartment can be seen in the picture.

I've never seen anything like this. What is this thing? And how can I get rid of it? As mentioned above clearing with a brush doesn't help.

mud-like

close-up

Saikat Ashraf
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3 Answers3

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It may not be termites but it looks likes some kind of insect infestation. I would contact either the building owner or a local pest exterminator. What ever the tunnels are made of is likely building material. I would recommend doing this quickly before there is structural damage to the building.

mikes
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Not that it's for sure termites. But this is how termites get place to place in well lit areas. You'll commonly find these types of tunnels from the ground, up the cement portion of a foundation, and into the structure. Since not all insects like light, this is how they do it.

For sure call an exterminator for a full evaluation.

Tim Meers
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Those are mud tubes created by ground termites. They search for food during the day and go back into the ground at night, then start the process all over again the next day. That is why the tubes keep coming back after you sweep them away with your broom.

There is a white looking termiticide chemical (that the termites think is food) you can squirt into the termite holes in your ceiling and they will take it back to their nest in the ground and it will kill them.

Robert Holland
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