White Mass on treated board - Ask Extension
What is this white egg mass on top of my treated lumber stair rail? Its 1 inch long oval. 1/2 inch wide. My photo wont upload. How do i destroy it, i...
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White Mass on treated board #938457
Asked July 07, 2026, 8:49 PM EDT
What is this white egg mass on top of my treated lumber stair rail? Its 1 inch long oval. 1/2 inch wide. My photo wont upload. How do i destroy it, if needed. Im on the macomb orchard trail.
Macomb County Michigan
Expert Response
Hello
To attach a picture it must be 8 mb or less. Here are instructions that might help- please try again.
1.Follow the link in your email into your question on Ask Extension
2. Scroll down to the empty Reply box. You can type an additional reply there.
3. Below the reply box is a area “ Drop files here or choose them”. Click on the blue “choose them”
4. Follow the prompts into your photo or picture file on your device and click the photo.
If you can’t get a photo attached try contacting our Garden Helpline on Monday, Wednesday, Friday from 9 am-Noon at <personal data hidden>
The help desk often has a business email you can email your pictures to.
Your description does sound like an insect egg case of some sort. I would scrape it off and deposit in soapy water to destroy the eggs, if all attempts to identify it don’t work out.
To attach a picture it must be 8 mb or less. Here are instructions that might help- please try again.
1.Follow the link in your email into your question on Ask Extension
2. Scroll down to the empty Reply box. You can type an additional reply there.
3. Below the reply box is a area “ Drop files here or choose them”. Click on the blue “choose them”
4. Follow the prompts into your photo or picture file on your device and click the photo.
If you can’t get a photo attached try contacting our Garden Helpline on Monday, Wednesday, Friday from 9 am-Noon at <personal data hidden>
The help desk often has a business email you can email your pictures to.
Your description does sound like an insect egg case of some sort. I would scrape it off and deposit in soapy water to destroy the eggs, if all attempts to identify it don’t work out.
