Most of us can identify a rodent problem by the droppings or know a spider when we see one. But sometimes, the rest of the pest and insect world can be a mystery. So what about tiny brown bugs?
Tiny brown bugs could be roaches, carpet beetles, or something else. And there are many methods for getting rid of them, including calling in professionals.
Read on to find out more and see if you can identify those small brown bugs in your home and how to get rid of them.
Tiny Brown Bugs in My Home
Like us, insects have a certain purpose on this earth (though some I can’t understand), but that rightful place is outdoors, not in our homes.
But, as you know, if you are reading this article, insects make their way inside quite often. But we can do things to prevent this from happening; a lot of it depends on what those tiny brown bugs are.
The Carpet Beetle
These little pests can be one of the most destructive insects in your home, at least to your personal effects. They thrive in clothes, bedding, carpets, and furniture.
Do Carpet Beetles Like More Than Carpets?
The larvae and young carpet beetles feed on the natural fibers of silk, leather, wool, and even pet hair. Carpet beetles are also fond of plants and flowers.
Are Carpet Beetles Very Small?
Carpet beetles won’t grow much past 4mm long as mature insects. Its body is an oval shape, and you’ll notice black, white, and orange stripes on its shell.
The eggs of the carpet beetle are even smaller at less than 1mm long.
Are They Carpet Beetles?
You will likely see them in and around light, so check near window sills. You’ll also notice the telltale signs of holes and damaged fabrics around the home.
What Gets Rid of Carpet Beetles?
- Vacuuming regularly
- Wiping down surfaces
- Steam cleaning
- Vinegar
- Call a Professional
Most importantly, keep a clean home. Vacuuming regularly means there is less debris for them to feed on, and you will also be vacuuming any eggs.
Make sure you clean any dirt or food residue that is building up. Steam cleaning your hard surfaces, such as floors, will aid in removing any eggs or adults.
Vinegar is a great tool for riding your place of carpet beetles. Wipe your windows, shelves, and drawers with a vinegar mix. When in doubt, always call in the professionals!
The Weevil
If you have ever seen bugs in your bags of flour or rice, you most likely have weevils. These guys can reproduce very quickly and set up shop in your kitchen without being invited.
Why Are Weevils in My Food?
Weevils are notorious for invading your pantry and snacking on cereals, corn, flour, and other foods. And what’s worse is that they not only feed on your food, they live in the containers.
The female will chew a hole into a seed or piece of cereal and lay her eggs. When they hatch, they will immediately begin feeding on the rest of the food in the container.
How Can I Identify A Weevil?
Weevils are between 1/8 and 1/4 inch long and are easily recognized by their long noses. The larvae will look like tiny white grubs. The Rice Weevil can even fly!
How Do I Know if I Have Weevils?
Weevils are pretty easy to spot. You’ll see the tiny brown bugs in your dry foods or around the shelves of your pantry. You may also notice damage to food packaging or fine dust in and around the container.
How Do I Rid My Home of Weevils?
- Store food in an airtight container
- Throw out contaminated food
- Vacuum pantry
- Use Vinegar
- Call a professional
The Fruit Fly
Nothing is more annoying than those dang fruit flies that appear almost instantly. They love fruit, seem to hover around sink drains, and can be a pest.
Why Are Fruit Flies So Attracted To Fruits?
I guess the name makes sense because these bugs appear out of nowhere if fruit is involved. They are attracted to the fermenting fruits and the high fructose, which also explains why they love red wine so much.
Females are especially attracted to overripe fruits like bananas and lay their eggs on the surface, producing up to 500 at a time! Gross!
And their life cycle is rapid, as they can reproduce in just two days, which explains why they seem to come in droves!
How Do I Know They Are Fruit Flys?
Most of us know we have fruit flies simply for the smarm of reddish brown bugs hovering over your fruit. They are small at less than 1/8 of an inch but are easily identifiable.
Is Eliminating Fruit Flies Easy?
- Keep clean surfaces
- Remove clutter
- Throw out old fruit
- Use Apple Cidar Vinagear
Your best defense against fruit flies is to prevent the problem in the first place, and you can do this by ensuring all your counters and surfaces are clean.
Remove clutter and wipe things down consistently. Throw out any rotting or old fruit immediately.
Good old ACV (apple cider vinegar) is the most popular way of ridding your home of fruit flies. Fill a glass with ACV and cover it with plastic wrap, securing the edges with a rubber band.
Now poke tiny holes in the wrap, releasing the scent of the vinegar, which attracts the fruit flies. However, once they get into the glass of vinegar, they can’t escape, and their eggs will quickly die off.
It’s a bit disgusting using this method, but it works!
The Ant
The ant is another pest that seems to show up almost immediately. In search of food or a place to nest, ants love almost anything, including human and pet food.
Why Are Ants in My Home?
When food gets left out, ants come to indulge. They may think of themselves as a bit of a clean-up crew, but we certainly don’t feel that way.
You will notice them more in the summer when the weather is more favorable. They sometimes head into bathrooms or other humid areas for water, and heavy rains can also drive them into your home as they look for a place to relocate.
Is There A Certain Kind of Ant I’m Seeing?
If you see ants creeping around your kitchen, you probably see the Pharaoh, Little Black, Odorous House, Pavement, or Argentine Ant. These are all tiny, at around 1/8th of an inch, and black or brown.
How Do I Eliminate Ants?
- Keep food in airtight containers
- Wipe in and around appliances
- Seal cracks in the foundation
- Use bleach or vinegar
- Call a professional
With many pests, the first step is making your home undesirable for them. Keep all your food in airtight containers, and wipe in and around your appliances.
Wipe down counters, and don’t leave any food, including pet food. Seal up cracks in your foundation and walls. If you see that notorious march of ants, wipe the surface with bleach or vinegar.
You can also use ant baits which do contain an insecticide, so be careful if you have pets or small children. If the problem gets out of hand, you should call a professional. Usually, a once-a-month treatment is all you need.
The Cockroach
The cockroach has to be the one bug that gives everyone the creeps, and we immediately associate them with dirty areas. Cockroaches are also a problem because they can trigger allergies or asthma in some folks.
Does Having Roaches Mean My House is Dirty?
Not always, so do not panic. Even folks who clean regularly can find cockroaches to be a problem. They seem to manage to find food and water in almost any situation.
And they can easily find their way into your home through cracks in the foundation, hitching rides on clothing or suitcases, squeezing through windows, or climbing up pipes.
What Kind of CockRoach is It?
The most common type of cockroach found in kitchens is the German Cockroach. They are small, around 1.6 cm, and tan or brown colored. You may have difficulty seeing them in daylight as they thrive in dark places such as under refrigerators or stoves.
You will not only see the roach itself, but it’s waste in and around areas they are active.
Can I Get Rid of Cockroaches?
- Store food in airtight containers
- Seal cracks in the foundation
- Vacuum
- Wipe down counters
Prevention is key here! Store your food in airtight containers and keep your pet food covered. Seal cracks in the foundation or plumbing. Vacuum and wipe down counters regularly.
With a cockroach invasion, it is best to call a professional as the problem can get out of hand quickly.
Conclusion
Our homes are not complete unless they have unwanted guests, it seems. But by recognizing those tiny brown bugs you are seeing, you stand a better chance of being able to rid yourself of the problem.
Alright, that’s it for this article, here are a few hand-selected articles that you might also find interesting reads:
What Are Those Tiny Black Bugs in the House That Bite?Tiny black bugs in kitchen cupboards – What To Do Next
What Are the Tiny Jumping Bugs in My House?
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