Metal garage, 20x40 with 10 ft ceiling. Sprayed inside (walls and ceiling) with closed cell foam insulation. The back 1/3, along the underside of the ridgeline and where the wall meets the ceiling is infested with tiny bugs that have bored into the foam. There is dead bug and foam litter all over the floor in this area. I have tried spraying the foam directly with insecticide, as well as spraying the ridgeline and end of the roof outside over the problem areas. I also have set off foggers. Neither has made a substantial difference. I can't identify the little buggers because what I see are pieces in the mess on the floor. Looks like something tiny and possibly winged. I don't ever see bugs crawling around.
Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

Thick latex paint would probably offer protection to the surface. How to get at the critters that are inside, I do not know.

Latex paint greatly reduces ability for the foam to burn, so it should help with insects. Several layers of paint is warranted.

Bifen, get it at tractor supply or Amazon. It’s the best killing stuff I’ve ever used. Spray it all over inside and outside…takes months to break down as long as it stays dry-like soffits…

Identify first. Then eliminate. Otherwise you are just guessing. No using of fire or flamethrowers.

Thanks for the suggestions. I wish I could identify the darn things. I'll look closer at the debris piles to see if I can get a whole specimen. I had not thought of paint, that might be a good idea. And I will look for Bifen. Maybe spray paint the problem area on the ceiling then treat from above with Bifen.

what have you sprayed with already?
If that's not killing them, we can maybe narrow down what it is (or at least isn't)

quote:

Thanks for the suggestions. I wish I could identify the darn things

^^^^^^^^^^^
tAKE A PIC AND THEN SEARCH GOOGLE IMAGES.

Get a few sticky pest strips. (fly paper) and see if you can get a few good specimens.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Good idea

If you are on FB. Antmans Hill is a great insect identification group with a good picture

There haven't been any insects flying around in the garage. The only "bodies" I see are pieces of insects mixed with the foam debris where they've bored it out. No insects crawling on the walls either. If I could get a complete specimen identification probably wouldn't be too difficult. At this point I'm considering digging out a big chunk of foam in one of the areas they seem to be in and hope I get some good specimens to identify.
Thank you for the suggestions!

It may be the type of wasp(s) that make an egg tube and stuff it with other insects as food for the larva when it hatches.

In Florida, a wasp does this and stuffs little tan spiders in the mud casing.

Maybe others chew off hard parts of other insects.

Are the bores left open or look like they have been sealed up?

If sealed, taking a core using a hole saw or something similar?

quote:

Originally posted by sigmonkey:
It may be the type of wasp(s) that make an egg tube and stuff it with other insects as food for the larva when it hatches.

In Florida, a wasp does this and stuffs little tan spiders in the mud casing.

Maybe others chew off hard parts of other
insects.


Are the bores left open or look like they have been sealed up?


If sealed, taking a core using a hole saw or something similar?

There are very tiny open holes in the foam. I have not seen any insects entering or exiting the holes. Just copious amounts of debris covering anything under the area.
I'm ready to nuke the buggers.

Got a webcam you can put in place and focus on the area in question? Maybe borrow one?

quote:

Originally posted by gocatgo:...
I'm ready to nuke the buggers.

Get some Borate and a sprayer.
Add a few drops of liquid soap or surfactant to break the surface tension of the spray.

I thought I'd mention the following given you can't find anything to photograph to help identify what's causing the problem...

Before spending $$$ on (what are probably expensive) chemicals that may or may not work, consider having a professional exterminator asses the damage and tell you what's causing the issues. Perhaps they could make the initial treatment and you can take it from there (if you want to apply chemicals)

quote:

Originally posted by SR:
I thought I'd mention the following given you can't find anything to photograph to help identify what's causing the problem...

Before spending $$$ on (what are probably expensive) chemicals that may or may not work, consider having a professional exterminator asses the damage and tell you what's causing the issues. Perhaps they could make the initial treatment and you can take it from there (if you want to apply chemicals)

This may be wisest at this point. Get a pro out there, have them make an assessment and treat. Once you know what you have going on you can take it from there, and at this point it may be cheaper than taking guesses and trying different treatments on your own that may or may not work.

I'd suggest a pro as well, you need to know whats getting into the foam, it's possibly carpenter ants, could be termites, boring their way in to a nest area.

You screw with the nest and not properly and they can divide up and you end up with multiple nests that are really difficult to detect and eradicate.

I'm of the don't try it yourself since you don't know camp. Call a pro...

That's a good point about calling a pro. Honestly I hadn't considered it. And perhaps they have a less toxic way of solving the problem, I really don't like to use toxic chemicals if I can avoid it.
Thanks guys, I think this is above my pay grade to solve.