Some tiny black bugs have invaded your home. So naturally, the first thing you want to know is what they are. There’s only one problem. That is, you might have any of a variety of different bugs in Anaheim that fit that description. Therefore, it might help to know how we determine what type of bug infestation you have and some possible answers to your question.
How Pest Control Technicians Identify Bugs
When you have worked in the pest control industry for a while, you usually have no problem identifying bugs. It becomes an intuitive process such that you may know the problem as soon as you see the first signs of an insect. However, a lot of knowledge lies hidden underneath that intuitive leap. Through years of training and experience, our technicians learn to identify bugs by:
- Their shape, size, and color
- How many legs and wings they have
- The way they move
- The habitats they prefer
- Their nests
- Their mating habits
- How fast they multiply
- Whether they bite
- What they eat
- The state or region where they live
- How they respond to light
- Any sounds they might make
As your technician listens to your story and explore your home for signs of bugs, they rely on their knowledge of bug identification to find the answer you need. Then, knowing what bug it is, they can suggest the best way to eliminate the tiny bugs.
A Brief List of Tiny Black Bugs
Although many different types of tiny black bugs could show up in your house, some are more common than others. This list includes some of the possibilities.
Pantry Insects
The term “pantry insects” describes many different types of bugs that munch on staples in your pantry. Pantry insects include flour beetles, weevils, and others. You can avoid these by getting lids that fit tightly.
Spider Beetles
These bugs are reddish-brown, but in the right light, they might appear black. If you have an infestation of spider beetles, it usually means your living space isn’t clean enough. However, spider beetles don’t cause the health hazards that bed bugs do.
Black Pepper Mites
Named for their pepper-like appearance, these parasitic mites live in animal nests. So, if rodents or birds live in your home – either with your permission or not – black pepper mites might move in with them.
Fleas
You might think you would know a flea when you saw one. However, if you’ve never had an infestation before, their appearance might surprise you. Fleas have a dark color. They also jump, a behavior we look for when identifying bugs. Fleas can be a health hazard, and if you have fleas but don’t have a pet, it usually means you have an infestation of mice or other rodents.
Pillbugs
Pillbugs, also called roly-polies, have hard shells and curl up in a ball when you touch them. They prefer wetter habitats and live on rotting vegetation.
Bat Bugs
Bat bugs look and behave very similarly to bed bugs in Anaheim. Their body hair, which bed bugs don’t have, is a noticeable difference for the trained pest control expert.
Carpet Beetles
Carpet beetles are tiny and black, and they love to feed on carpeting and clothing, and even pantry items. Relatively harmless, carpet beetles rarely show up in large numbers. Usually, all you need to get rid of them is to clean the area where they live.
What to Do Next
If you can identify those little bugs, the next step is to determine the extent of your problem. Ask yourself these questions:
- Does the pest pose a health risk?
- How large is the infestation?
- How long has it been since you first noticed them?
- Do you know how to get rid of them, or can you find safe self-help instructions online?
- Have you already tried to get rid of them?
Suppose you determine that the problem is significant and beyond your ability to fix it. In that case, the best thing you can do is talk it over with local pest control experts and commercial pest exterminators like ours at A-1 Bonded Termite. We can quickly identify the bugs for you and recommend the best treatments for that pest and your situation.