What Are Those Tiny Little Bugs?
Table of Content
Introduction
As a pest control professional, I frequently receive calls from homeowners who report seeing tiny little bugs in their homes. These bugs are often smaller than a poppy seed, described as a tiny little black, or orange bugs all over the place. What are they?
What Are Those Tiny Little Bugs?
In most cases, these tiny little bugs are Beetles. The most common species found in Canadian homes are:
Carpet Beetles: These beetles are small, oval-shaped and are covered in scales. They are common pests and can damage fabrics, carpets, and stored food.
Grain Beetles: These beetles are tiny and are usually found in stored food products such as grains, cereals, rice, pet food and flour.
Spider Beetles: These beetles are small, brown and resemble spiders. They are commonly found in stored food and can cause contamination.
Drugstore Beetles: These beetles are small, reddish-brown, commonly found in stored food products and pet food.
Flour Beetles: These beetles are small, reddish-brown and are commonly found in stored food products such as flour, cereal, and pasta.
Cigarette Beetles: These beetles are small, brown and are commonly found in stored tobacco products.
Rice Weevil: These little bugs are reddish-brown, elongated. They particularly like stored product and seeds: wheat, rice, and maize.
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Additionally:
- Ants: In addition to tiny beetles, you may also come across other small bugs in your home, including ants. Ants are a common sight in Canadian homes, particularly during the spring and summer seasons. They can be observed marching in a line as they hunt for food. Pharaoh ants, which are some of the smallest ants, can be challenging to eradicate. It’s crucial to avoid using pesticides on these micro ants as it can exacerbate the problem instead of solving it.
- Bed Bugs: Bed bugs are small, reddish-brown insects that feed on human blood. They are typically found in mattresses, bedding, and other upholstered furniture. Although adult bedbugs are about the size of an apple seed, their youngs can be microscopic.
- Fleas: Fleas are tiny, wingless insects that feed on the blood of mammals and birds. They are often brought into homes by pets.
- Silverfish: Silverfish are small, wingless insects that are commonly found in damp, dark areas such as bathrooms and basements. They feed on paper, glue, and other organic materials. I often found them behind wall in moist area where pipe and drain come out of drywall.
- Springtails: Springtails are tiny, wingless insects that are typically found in damp soil or leaf litter. They can sometimes be found inside homes, particularly in damp basements.
- Mites: There are several species of mites that can be found in Canadian homes, including dust mites and bird mites. Dust mites are often found in bedding and upholstered furniture, while bird mites may infest homes where birds are nesting.
Where Do These Tiny Little Bugs Come From?
These tiny little bugs can be introduced to a home in a variety of ways, including:
- Infested Food: Grain beetles, also known as pantry beetles, can be introduced to a home through infested food items such as flour, cereal, grains, and pet food. The larvae of these beetles can feed on these food items and eventually emerge as adult beetles.
- Second-hand furniture or clothing: Carpet beetles can be introduced to a home through second-hand furniture or clothing. The adult beetles lay their eggs on items such as carpets, upholstery, and clothing, and the larvae feed on these items.
- Open doors and windows: Beetles can also enter homes through open doors and windows, particularly during the warmer months. Once inside, they may find suitable breeding and feeding sites, leading to an infestation.
- Plants: Some species of beetles are attracted to certain plants, and they may be introduced to a home if infested plants are brought inside.
- Pets: Pet food and bedding can attract beetles, particularly if the food or bedding is left out for extended periods of time. This can result in an infestation if beetles are not properly controlled.
To prevent beetle infestations, it’s important to properly store food items, inspect second-hand furniture and clothing before bringing it inside, seal cracks and openings in doors and windows, and keep a clean home.
Special note about tiny little bugs in used clothes and furniture:
It’s essential to note that used clothes and furniture can also harbour tiny bugs. People may find great deals on online marketplaces for gently used furniture or clothing and throw it in the hamper to wash on the next load. During this time, any bugs that may have hitched a ride on the item could emerge and start roaming around the house, multiplying if the conditions are right.
The same can happen with furniture, as there are plenty of tiny little cracks in the framing and sewing of such items for bugs to hide. It’s crucial to inspect everything that hasn’t been purchased new and consider having a pest control company inspect items before bringing them into the home. Although an inspection may cost a few dollars, it’s worth it to prevent a larger infestation and the higher cost of treating the entire house.
Cost for Beetle Treatment
If you have tiny bugs in your house, a pesticide treatment may not always be necessary. Simply vacuuming and cleaning up clutter can often resolve the issue. However, depending on the severity of the infestation, treatment may be required, such as using insecticide sprays, baits, or traps.
The cost of treatment varies based on factors like beetle type, infestation size, and treatment method. In general, treatment for a bungalow-type home can cost around $225, while multi-unit or complex infestations may cost thousands of dollars.
Your Involvement Will Be Required
The good news is that the treatment process is fairly simple and quick. A professional pest control provider will spray a fine mist in areas that are believed to be susceptible to beetle activity. After the treatment is completed, a few glue traps may be laid out throughout the house to monitor progress. It’s important not to throw away these monitors, even if they’re stepped on. They can reveal a lot of information if you ever need to call your pest control company again.
To prepare for the treatment, you’ll need to do some work on your end. For best results and to receive a guarantee from your pest control provider, a few things are required:
Clean up: Remove clutter from the floors and put away any valuables that may be exposed to the pesticide.
Arrange to stay out of your home for a period of 4-6 hours. This includes your pets, if you have them. It’s a great time to bring your pets to the groomer for a thorough wash, just in case some of the tiny little bugs have made a home of their fur.
Inspect all open and unopened food, especially grains, cereal, flour, pet food, rice, crackers, etc. Even if a food box is unopened and the food itself is in a plastic bag, open the box and inspect it thoroughly. Larvae could have made their way into the box attracted by the smell.
Wash and dry everything that can be washed and dried in the dryer. This includes curtains, throw carpets, bedding, pillows, and cushion cases.
Once you return to your home, life can go back to normal. As much as possible, try not to wash your floors, especially the baseboards around your house. The pest control professional will target the perimeter of your home everywhere, and it’s important to leave the residual insecticide in place. If not in direct sunlight, the treatment should be active for about 3 months.
Moving Forward After Treatment
Moving forward after treatment, it is important to ensure that the tiny little bugs don’t reappear in your house. Here are some suggestions that can help:
Avoid leaving pet food or bedding outside on the ground or on your deck. Even if you don’t bring the bedding inside your house, your pets may get invaded by these tiny little bugs and transport them inside your home.
Keep your home clean and tidy by vacuuming regularly, wiping down surfaces, and disposing of any food waste properly. These bugs are attracted to food and dirt, so keeping your house clean can prevent them from coming back.
Seal any cracks or gaps in your home’s walls, floors, or windows to prevent these bugs from getting inside.
Store your food in airtight containers and keep your pantry clean and organized. These bugs can easily infest your pantry, so keeping it clean and organized can help prevent them from spreading.
The things we don’t usually think about with tiny little bugs:
If you go for a picnic or to the beach, leave all your towels and bags outside the door until you have a chance to go through them. Don’t bring wet towels or blankets used to sit on inside the house until you’re ready to wash them. If they’re not dirty, simply tumble dry them on high heat for a few minutes to kill any insects that might be hiding in them. Never put wet towels in the hamper and wait to have enough to do a load.
Once a month, empty your vacuum cleaner filter container and wipe it down. Do your vacuuming as usual and then take the filter container and spread the contents onto a large white cardboard sheet. With a little stick or pencil, spread it around and use a flashlight to inspect for tiny little bugs. Remember that these bugs are very small, so take your time. After a while, you’ll get into the habit of this procedure and will only need 2-3 minutes to perform this inspection once a month. If you see a tiny little bug, grab a pair of tweezers and stick the bug into a container or ziplock bag. One little bug is no cause for concern, but finding more than a dozen may be a problem. Take a picture of the bugs and contact your local pest control professional to try to identify them for you.
By following these tips, you can prevent tiny little bugs from invading your home and ensure that your living space is clean and pest-free.
Conclusion
It’s important to note that prevention is key to avoiding the high cost of beetle treatment. Taking steps to keep a clean and dry home, properly storing food and pet products, and inspecting second-hand items before bringing them inside can help prevent beetle infestations from occurring in the first place.
