Are you seeing these creatures in your home? Carpet beetles are found inside homes, warehouses, museums, and other buildings. Once inside they may cause serious damage to clothing, furs, carpets, and other stored fabric items.
Tiny round bugs seem to magically appear in homes, even clean ones. You may spot a few crawling on the floor, hiding in corners, or accumulate around windows. Some are harmless while others like bed bugs can cause skin irritation and discomfort. Properly identifying tiny round bugs is key to controlling an infestation. This guide will walk you through the most common types found indoors, what attracts them, and how to get rid of them.
Why Do Small Round Bugs Invade Homes?
Many insects and arthropods have rounded bodies that allow them to wedge into narrow spaces. Their small size also enables them to sneak into homes through cracks, crevices, open doors and windows. Tiny round bugs enter homes for food, moisture, warmth or simply shelter Common invaders include
Carpet beetles
Carpet beetles are about the size of a pinhead and vary in color from solid black to mottled. They feed on materials containing keratin like wool silk cereals, dead insects and skin flakes. Carpet beetle larvae appear fuzzy due to tiny hairs covering their bodies.
Fleas
Adult fleas are only 1/16 to 1/8 inch long. They survive by feeding on the blood of pets and humans. Fleas reproduce rapidly, with females laying up to 50 eggs per day. They spread indoors by hitching a ride on pets.
Bed bugs
Measuring just 1⁄4 inch long, bed bugs feed solely on blood. They hide in cracks and crevices in bedrooms. Bed bugs can survive up to a year between meals.
Spider beetles
Aptly named for their spider-like appearance, spider beetles grow to about 1/8 inch long. They infest pantries and feed on cereals, grains, nuts, spices, dead insects and more.
Booklice
Booklice appear as tiny white bugs, often clustered together. They eat fungi, mold and substances containing starch. Booklice thrive in damp areas prone to mold growth.
Clover mites
Shaped like apple seeds, clover mites are very small and reddish-brown. They do not survive indoors for long without humidity. Clover mites feed on plants and occasionally wander inside.
Carpet beetles, booklice, spider beetles and clover mites do not bite humans. Fleas and bed bugs will happily feast on human blood. Properly identifying the species invading your home will enable you to take appropriate control measures.
How to Get Rid of Tiny Round Bugs
Eliminating tiny round bugs requires diligence and patience. Here are tips for managing common household invaders:
Reduce clutter: Bugs hide and thrive in clutter. Regularly declutter pantries, closets, basements and other areas prone to bug infestations. Get rid of unneeded items like rarely worn clothing, old books and papers.
Clean and vacuum: Use your vacuum cleaner’s hose and crevice tool to extract bugs from cracks and crevices. Vacuum upholstered furniture regularly.
Wash items: Tiny bugs can latch onto clothing and fabrics. Wash items showing signs of infestation in hot water if possible. Dry cleaning also kills bugs.
Discard infested foods: Throw away any dried goods and packaged foods showing bugs. Give your pantry a thorough cleaning before restocking.
Seal entry points: Caulk and seal cracks around baseboards, light fixtures, pipes and windows. Install weatherstripping around doors.
Use pheromone traps: Pheromone traps contain synthetic versions of chemicals bugs release to attract mates. They draw in both male and female insects.
Employ natural repellents: Diatomaceous earth sprinkled in infested areas kills crawling insects through abrasion and dehydration. Essential oils like peppermint, lavender, tea tree and eucalyptus also deter bugs.
Hire a pest control professional: For severe infestations of biters like bed bugs or fleas, you may need professional-grade insecticides and steam treatments to fully eradicate them.
With vigilance and prompt treatment, even the most stubborn tiny round bugs can be vanquished from your home. Always properly identify the species before undertaking control measures. Misidentification can lead to ineffective or unnecessary pesticide usage. Familiarize yourself with each type of bug’s appearance, habits and weaknesses to choose the right management approach. Patience is key, as most bugs will not disappear right away even after implementing repairs and treatments. But sticking to a regimen of cleaning, sealing and monitoring for bugs will provide lasting relief in time.
How to Kill Carpet Beetles Myself
If you are a homeowner knowledgeable of carpet beetles, you’d probably have an idea of how to prevent and eliminate them from your home.
Hygiene and cleaning are some of the best ways to attack beetles before they become a serious problem.
If an infestation is detected early, you can wash and clean affected items and send out those items that need to be professionally cleaned. You can also thoroughly clean and vacuum the affected areas and follow these Do-It-Yourself solutions to get rid of carpet beetles.
What do Carpet Beetles Look like?
Carpet beetles are little round bugs that are up to 3.5 centimeters long, black with a yellow and white mottling of scales on their backs, and thick yellow scales on their legs.
They look a lot like mini ladybugs but are black with yellow spots, and their larvae look hairy and brown in color.
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FAQ
What are the little round bugs in my house?
Carpet beetles are little round bugs that are up to 3.5 centimeters long, black with a yellow and white mottling of scales on their backs, and thick yellow scales on their legs.
What are the tiny rounded black bugs?
If you have encountered tiny black beetles in your house, they are most likely carpet beetles or weevils. Most carpet beetles are black, although some are lighter in color or spotted. This black hard-shelled bug feeds on animal products like pet hair and feathers, fibers like silk and wool, and even grains and spices.
What are the tiny little speck bugs?
Which tiny black bug looks like a speck of pepper? If tiny black specs appear in your food products, such as flour or dried oats, they are most likely weevils.
What is a very small round bug with spots?
furniture carpet beetle: Adults are 1/16-inch to 1/8-inch long, nearly round and whitish, checkered with black spots, each outlined with yellowish-orange scales. The bottom surface is white and the legs have yellow scales. Larvae are about 1/4-inch long, elongated and oval, and thickly covered with brownish hair.
Are tiny round bugs a pest?
Various types of bugs make their way indoors. Some of these are pests while others are occasional intruders that cause no damage to the home. Tiny round bugs are constantly present in homes. Not all of these are pests but correct species identification allows you to take the right measures in dealing with them.
Are tiny round bugs harmful?
The good news is most tiny round bugs indoors are harmless. The bad news is some of the most damaging indoor bugs such as carpet beetles are tiny and round. Here are some of the typical species of tiny bugs with a round shape you may find inside of the house, their diet, and the main reasons for being indoors.
What makes tiny bugs hard to identify?
Minuscule bugs like ticks, fleas, pantry bugs, and bed bugs may be pear-shaped but hard to identify correctly because they are so tiny. Also, where you find the bug in your house can be a clue to its identity.
What are some common places for tiny bugs to hide?
Beds are one of the most common places for tiny bugs to hide in. Sheltered and easily to crawl into, beds also offer an ideal place for small bugs to lay eggs in. Correct species identification is needed when it comes to getting rid of these bugs as many aren’t bed bugs just because they live on the bed.
How can you identify tiny bugs in your house?
To identify tiny bugs in your home, look for their physical characteristics and where they are found. Some bugs prefer food products, like weevils in flour, while others gravitate towards fabric, like carpet beetles. For example, which tiny black bug looks like a speck of pepper?
Which tiny house bugs can infest pantries?
Tiny house bugs like beetles, weevils, and ants can infest pantries and kitchen cabinets in the home. Additionally, small black or brown bugs like mosquitos, ticks, bed bugs, drain flies, or common houseflies can sting, bite, or spread diseases.