What Are the Tiny Jumping Bugs in My House?

There are a variety of bugs that are well-known for jumping around the inside of homes, causing the owners anxiety and frustration.

Some of the most common tiny bugs that can infest a house are Fleas, Springtails, and Click Beetles. 

While any type of infestation can be scary, most of these little jumping pests are relatively harmless and can be easy to identify and remove once you know exactly what to look for.

Here are three of the most common jumping bugs and how to tell one from the other.

Fleas

The most common tiny jumping bugs found in most homes are fleas. The chances of having a flea infestation are much more likely when you have pets, but this isn’t always the case.

Fleas can travel from one house to another or can come in on clothing after spending time outside.

Sadly, these bugs are very hard to control, and the infestation can get out of hand quickly if you don’t act right away and know what you are doing.

Most of the time, the best way to get rid of fleas that are inside a home is through professional help.

What Do Fleas Look Like?

Fleas are extremely small, nearly microscopic bugs, measuring around ⅛ of an inch at adulthood and half that size when they are younger. 

These little pests are usually a dark color, frequently noted to be reddish-brown.

Fleas have flat, narrow bodies that allow them to easily move through fur and feathers easily, as these creatures prefer living on their food source (or their host), which is animals and birds.

Fleas do not have wings and cannot fly; however, they have very strong hind legs that help propel them more than a foot in any direction, which is nearly 200 times their own size.

This helps them get around your home quickly and easily.

Are Fleas Dangerous?

For the most part, fleas are more of a nuisance than they are dangerous, at least to humans. Fleas prefer to feed on the blood of your dog or cat and have very little interest in biting you. 

However, it does happen, and if you are sensitive to it, you will notice little welted bite marks, most commonly on your legs and ankles.

You may also see some rashing or swelling from bites near your armpits, waist, elbows, and knees.

Because fleas prefer their host to be furry animals, you will notice you have fleas in your home when Fido starts to scratch like crazy and cannot seem to calm the issue.

Fleas can cause a lot of problems for pets; besides red itchy bumps, your pet can have some awful reactions to fleas, including

• Allergic Dermatitis
• Anemia
• They can become lethargic
• Hair loss
• White or pale gums

If your pet is experiencing any of these issues, the little bugs you see jumping around are probably fleas.

Where Can You Find Fleas?

If you believe your home is infested with fleas, a great way to detect them is by standing in the middle of your room without any socks or shoes on.

If you have an infestation, you will see fleas begin to jump on your feet.

You can also find fleas on your pets; check for black pepper specks in their fur, which is the flea’s droppings. You may find this and the fleas in your pet’s bedding or in yours.

Fleas are often located in dark spaces and rarely lay their eggs on the host animal.

How to Get Rid of Fleas From Your Home

There are multiple ways you can attempt to get rid of fleas if you feel your home is infested with this little black bug.

• Over-the-counter sprays- You can purchase over-the-counter treatments that are made of chemicals and that are chemical-free. Follow the directions provided by the manufacturer 100% and be careful when using in occupied homes.
• DIY formulas– There are many different DIY flea treatment formulas you can try if the infestation isn’t bad. Some options include vinegar, baking soda, Demetrius earth, steam cleaning, consistent, multiple, daily vacuuming, etc.
• Pest control- If you have tried everything you can and you still have a flea problem, calling in the professionals may be your best bet. Fleas are great at hiding and lay one egg each hour, making it extremely difficult to stop the cycle.

Springtails

Springtails are mainly outdoor insects that prefer to live in moist and humid areas such as gardens, composts, and woodpiles.

These tiny creatures rely on plenty of water to survive, so you probably won’t find them in hot, dry locations.

These creatures are very harmful to crops and are often referred to as agricultural fleas, as they will attack and destroy plants and leaves quickly and in clusters.

Unfortunately, Springtails have no qualms about living in human-inhabited homes and will produce quite the infestation if given a chance.

What Do Springtails Look Like?

The average Springtail measures about 1/16th of an inch long and is often a very light color,  mostly white, light brown, or cream.

However, there are a select few types of Springtails that can be a darker brown or even black.

These little bugs have six legs and four segmented antennae on top of their oval heads. You will also notice that the Springtail has a soft body (unlike the flea) and a tail-like appendage connected to the back of their body that hides underneath them, called a furcular. 

The furcular is what allows the insect to catapult itself so high into the air. When the Springtail gets startled or spooked, this appendage shoots out, allowing the pest to fling up to four inches.

Are Springtails Dangerous? 

Again, not at all like fleas, Flingtails will not bite humans or animals, meaning you don’t have to worry about itching and scratching red bumps and rashes or loss of fur from your pets.

Flingtails also do not spread any types of diseases and will not damage your home or furniture.

These insects prefer too much on decay and fungus, meaning the most harm it could do is feast on molded bathroom tile or a decaying house plant.

Where Can You FInd Springtails?

As previously mentioned, Springtails like to be in humid and damp locations. If you think the little bugs hopping around your home could be Springtails, you can look for them in areas of the kitchen, such as the sink or under cabinets. 

Other great places to look are the bathroom and basement. Check near water pipes, leaky faucets, indoor plants, or the bathtub grout.

How Can You Get Rid of Springtails?

There are a few different options for homeowners who feel like they are losing their house to springtails.

• Manage the Moisture- One of the easiest ways to get rid of Springtails is by managing the moisture inside and around the outside of your home. If you are able to locate the nest, you will be able to eliminate the water source and push the buts to go elsewhere.
• DIY options– A few DIY options to try include bleach, soap and water, and vinegar.
• Fumigations- You may have to turn to professionals if the problem gets out of hand. 

You can also try using a cloud of insecticide dust that will dry up your space and therefore dry up the Springtail.

Click Beetles

Click beetles are small insects that are not afraid to make a home inside the house as long as it is moist and calm at night.

These beetles do look much different than fleas and springtails, but because they are so small and quick, they can be confused for either or. 

What Do Click Beetles Look Like?

On average, a click beetle is around ½ to 1 inch in length and is a dark color, often seen as dark brown or black. These bugs have elongated bodies that are usually seen with white specks or dots. 

The specks you will find on their back were put there for a specific reason. These dots imitate larger animal eyes to keep preditors from attacking.

The Click Beetle has a skinny and slender body that is segmented and quite shiny.

The most notable characteristic of the Click Beetle is the clicking sound it makes as it is jumping into the air, touched, or finding itself upside down. 

Click Beetles mainly feed on seeds, roots, and some other types of ground pests. 

Are Click Beetles Dangerous? 

Fortunately, Click Beetles are not harmful to humans in any way, although they can be very annoying and often startle people with the clicking sounds they make when they are scared.

These sounds come from an area underneath their body that clicks as they propel upwards. 

Click beetles do not bite or sting, so there is nothing to worry about regarding illness, infections, allergic reactions. 

One thing these insects are a problem for is your indoor and outdoor plants, especially fruits and vegetable gardens.

Where Can You Find Click Beetles

Like the Springtail, Click beetles like to be in areas where it is moist, which is why they love gardens and planters.

You will also find these little pests in places around the house, such as your kitchen, bathroom, and basement.

If you suspect you have a Click Beetle problem. The best time to look for Click Beetles is at night because they are attracted to light.

Turn a nightlight on or check your window after the sun goes down and see if you find these bugs crawling around the light or the windowsill.

If you are ever unsure if these are the bugs inhabiting your home, just listen for the clicking sounds.

How Do You Get Rid Of Click Beetles?

DO you have a Click Beetle problem and wondering how to get them out of your house for good? Here are a few suggestions.

• Vacuum- Some people feel it is easiest to get rid of these insects simply by vacuuming the house often, especially in areas where the infestation is the worst.
• Avoid moisture– Try keeping excess water down as much as possible, fix leaky pipes or dripping sinks and tubs. You can even consider putting a dehumidifier in your home.
• Chemical treatments and pest control- Worst comes to worst; you can always count on the professionals or purchase some insect repellent from your local hardware or departments store.

Summing Things Up

Having a bug infestation in your home is never a good feeling; it can be upsetting and even scary.

However, for the most part, these tiny insects are pretty harmless and can be kept at bay as long as you keep the condition of your home unfavorable to these jumping pests.

Alright, that’s it for this article, here are a few hand-selected articles that you might also find interesting reads:

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