# What is colonizing my bathroom? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 2, 2008, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-colonizing-my-bathroom/470655 "2008-11-02T00:11:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Washoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecae2f/32.png) [@Washoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washoe)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-colonizing-my-bathroom/470655/1 "2008-11-02T00:11:34Z")
Several years ago, one of these [mysterious pod piles](http://www.hamiltonroots.com/Pods.JPG) materialized seemingly overnight in my bathroom (warning: BIG ASS FILE—I left it non-resized in case anybody needs to examine detail). Now there’s another one. I think it’s in the exact same place. The floor casing behind it is 1 ¼" , so the pile is perhaps ¾". Note how it appears to be spilling out of a nail hole in the casing—\*or is that a nail hole \*(cue in creepy music…)? What in the name of all that is holy is setting up housekeeping there? It sure doesn’t look like termite detritus, but that’s the only thing I can think of. Ants are a huge problem in my neighborhood, but I haven’t seen many lately. It’s been there about two weeks or so, I think, if that helps. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-colonizing-my-bathroom/470655/2 "2008-11-02T00:19:27Z")
To me, those look like seeds. If so, I’d suspect you have a mouse or something similar that’s trying to store goodies away for the winter. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-colonizing-my-bathroom/470655/3 "2008-11-02T00:24:32Z")
Set up mousetraps first, look towards carpenter ants/bees/termites later. Or alternately, hire a pro exterminator to identify this accumulation of whatever it is. Almost looks like grainy brown mustard seeds. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-colonizing-my-bathroom/470655/4 "2008-11-02T02:04:02Z")
They look like feces to me. But I’m not sure whose. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-colonizing-my-bathroom/470655/5 "2008-11-02T02:19:08Z")
[Drywood termite frass](http://www.emorybrantleyandsons.com/new_page_1.htm) (fecal pellets) ---
**Author:** ![JKilez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e5b9ba/32.png) [@JKilez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKilez)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-colonizing-my-bathroom/470655/6 "2008-11-02T02:33:59Z")
Wow, you sure are lucky to have those termites keeping the ants at bay. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Washoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecae2f/32.png) [@Washoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washoe)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-colonizing-my-bathroom/470655/7 "2008-11-02T03:04:26Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > [Drywood termite frass](http://www.emorybrantleyandsons.com/new_page_1.htm) (fecal pellets) Yep, that’s exactly what it is. I Googled up other pics and they look exactly like what’s on my bathroom floor, right down to the hexagonal shape and the two pit-shaped indentations on each pellet. Far be it from me to second-guess the Creator, but that’s a hell of a way to design a poop. I would have sworn they were mustard seeds myself. Drat. Well, at least I don’t have to catch a mouse. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-colonizing-my-bathroom/470655/8 "2008-11-02T03:08:59Z")
Termites: the best argument ever for renting. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2008, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-colonizing-my-bathroom/470655/9 "2008-11-02T03:10:06Z")
> [@Washoe](#): > > Yep, that’s exactly what it is. I Googled up other pics and they look exactly like what’s on my bathroom floor, right down to the hexagonal shape and the two pit-shaped indentations on each pellet. Far be it from me to second-guess the Creator, but that’s a hell of a way to design a poop. I would have sworn they were mustard seeds myself. Drat. Well, at least I don’t have to catch a mouse. No, just several thousand termites. gnawgnawgnawgnaw