I do not know how long this has been on the tree trunk/bark. It appears to be mud as opposed to disintegrated tree bark (but it could be). It runs from the base of the tree which is in pea gravel up to the main fork in the tree. I do not see any insects (termites or ants) and the neighbor closest to this tree is repairing termite damage as I type. We recently renewed our termite contract which called for a retreatment of the property. My husband pointed out the tree and was told it was okay. Any help is appreciated. Image link:

Actually, I think they were shorter. I looked on the web last night after reading on GW that it may be Lobolly and found other possibilities. I thought it may be Ponderosa until I discovered they grow primarily in the north west. Then I wondered if it was Pinus echinata, the Short Leaf Pine. The bark certainly looks similar and the bark is why I liked it so much. Since I'm also trying get my hands on Long Leaf Pine, I guess the next step will be a search for the SC Forestry Service. Thanks again for the help! Sandi Here is a link that might be useful: Short Leaf Pine

That's one of the many leaf-roller caterpillars. Messy, aren't they? And yes, the dark pellets are frass (insect poop). The adults will be a rather plain moth...and that's when the egg laying comes in. Those teeny babies nicely pictured in that one image hatched from eggs laid on that leaf. If you learn to look for the small eggs and remove them, you'll not have the caterpillars. Bt can be used to control this caterpillar pest, though it is not particularly effective when they are at the large stage. It's most helpful on the little guys. Bt is relatively safe to use (some people have allergic reaction), and is easily washed off. These (and other) caterpillars have a very wide array of natural predators and parasites to help you keep them under control. Rather than cutting away branches and tons of leaves, just remove the caterpillars. They don't sting or bite. And do an egg search. Attached is a fact sheet about the specific leaf-roller I believe yours to be. Florida is one of the many states in which it is found. The squiggly lines pictured in a couple of your images are from leaf miners, very commonly found in tomatoes. Simply remove affected leaves....or just ignore them. They rarely do enough damage to cause problems for the crop. Here is a link that might be useful: Click here

Carpet beetle larvae. They are harmless but eat natural fibers like clothes or rugs. Pesticides are not usually recommended unless it's a bad infestation. Vacuuming and cleaning is the best method to rid. Maybe boric acid or diatomaceous earth would also help. I will let you do the research from there!