What you need to know
- There are several types of little black bugs that can be found in your kitchen, but the most common culprits are moths, beetles, mites, weevils, fruit flies, flies and ants.
- Homeowners can prevent bug infestations by keeping food containers sealed, keeping kitchens clean, and controlling humidity levels in the air.
- Small insect infestations can be dealt with by homeowners using a few items that are probably already in the house.
- For larger or persistent pest infestations, your best bet is to hire a pest control professional.
Q: I recently noticed some little black bugs in my kitchen that just won't go away. How do I get rid of them? Do I need to call an exterminator or can I deal with them myself?
answer: From bugs in the pantry to tiny brown ants on your kitchen counters, tiny black bugs in your kitchen are no small problem. Once you've identified the bugs in your kitchen, it's time to get rid of them from your home. If you're wondering how to get rid of bugs in your home, the guide below will help you identify what kind of bugs you have and know how to eradicate them and prevent them from coming back. To get rid of the pesky bugs, you'll need to inspect and clean areas that are frequently infested by the bugs, followed by either DIY or professional treatment by the best pest control companies (such as Orkin or Terminix).
| insect | color | Food Sources | Infected Areas |
| moth | brown | Dry foods, grains | Pantry, cupboard |
| Grain mites | brown | Dry foods, grains | Pantry, cupboard |
| Weevil | brown | Dry foods, grains | Pantry, cupboard |
| beetle | Brown, Black | Grains, Fiber | Pantry, closet, carpet |
| Drosophila | black | Spoiled fruits and vegetables, sugary liquids | kitchen |
| Black ants | black | organic matter | Kitchen, windows and doors |
| Cockroach larvae | brown | Breadcrumbs, oil, organic matter | Kitchen, under the sink |
| Drain Flies | black | Decomposition of organic matter | Sink drain, garbage disposer |
| Stains | Silver gray | Organic matter, paper products | Damp places |
Moths, beetles, grain mites and weevils are common around food storage areas.
Dry foods are a major food source for moths, beetles, grain mites and weevils. If you see signs of these insects in your cabinets or pantry, from webs to cocoons to live insects, you should cull foods in your dry pantry to prevent the problem from becoming more serious. If you see signs of insects in containers, you should throw out the contents. If the containers are reusable, it is important to clean them thoroughly before using them again.
You can get rid of moths, beetles, grain mites, or weevils by cleaning your shelves, cupboards, or pantry to remove any trash or crumbs that may invite these insects. Keeping your pantry or food storage area cool also helps, as grain beetles and moths generally thrive in warm environments. Storing dry goods safely in airtight plastic or glass containers can also help prevent bugs from infesting flour and other pantry foods.
Carpet beetles commonly feed on textile products, but will also eat dry food items.
Carpet beetles do not pose a health risk to humans, but they can be a nuisance if they infest carpets, clothing, or food storage. These bugs are small, oval-shaped insects that are usually 1/16 to 1/8 inch long. They are called carpet beetles because they feed primarily on natural fibers such as wool, fur, feathers, and silk. However, they may also eat food items such as cereals and spices.
Signs of carpet beetles include irregularly shaped holes in your carpets, rugs, clothing, or upholstery. You may also notice shed skin and droppings in your cabinets or pantry. If you see these signs, regular home cleaning and maintenance can help get rid of the tiny black bugs. Vacuuming frequently and storing clothes and food in airtight containers can help prevent eggs, larvae, and adult beetles from remaining.
Fruit flies seek out the sweet smell of ripe or overripe fruit.
The kitchen can be a magnet for bugs because of easy access to food. Fruit flies are a type of winged black bug that buzz around fruits, vegetables, and other organic matter in the center of the house. If you see tiny bugs in your kitchen that are tan to light brown in color and about 1/8 inch long, they could be pesky fruit flies. These tiny bugs in your kitchen feed on fresh or decaying fruits and vegetables, so it's best to store these foods in a cabinet or refrigerator where bugs can't easily access them. Sugary substances like juices, sodas, and alcoholic drinks also attract fruit flies.
Fruit flies can be controlled with insecticides, fly traps and bait. Once the current flies are gone, you can prevent re-infestations by removing any rotting fruit and vegetables and cleaning up drink and food debris as soon as you notice the little black bugs in your home.
Black ants live in colonies and infestations of these insects can spread quickly.
Kitchen ants are a common kitchen pest, but they are no small problem. They can get into your home and multiply quickly once they come into contact with food and water sources. Black ants get in through doors, windows, and cracks in floors. And once they get in, the queen ant will keep sending more ants in her path, so just killing a few is not an effective way to get rid of them.
Instead, to completely get rid of the tiny black bugs in your kitchen, you must kill the ant colony in which the queen lives. This can be accomplished by tracking the ants to their nest and destroying it with pepper, vinegar, boiling water, or diatomaceous earth. You can also place ant bait near the ant nest. The ant bait will encourage the ants to ingest the harmful liquid, which they will then carry back to their colony, eventually killing off the entire colony.
Are there any ants?
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Cockroach larvae and drain flies are often found near sinks and garbage disposals.
As the name suggests, drain flies are small, black insects that are attracted to organic matter in moist environments such as household drains and garbage disposals. They are more likely to occur near plumbing leaks or poorly maintained drains. These insects have hairy wings and resemble small black moths, but are usually gray or brown in color. The best way to get rid of drain flies is to keep your drains and garbage disposals clean by using the best drain cleaners or hiring one of the best drain cleaning services.
Cockroach nymphs are smaller and wingless than adult cockroaches and feed on decomposing organic matter near sinks and garbage disposals. If you find small brown bugs in warm, moist environments around your home, such as under your bathroom or kitchen sink, you may have a cockroach infestation. Baits, traps and insecticides may be enough to get rid of a few roaches, but if there are multiple bugs, it may be a more serious problem. A professional pest control company is best suited to deal with persistent cockroach infestations.
After treatment, you can prevent an infestation of drain flies and cockroach larvae by cleaning up crumbs and other dirt, sealing entry points, and eliminating clutter that could serve as hiding places.
Stains gather in humid places.
Silver or gray-colored, long, slender bodies covered in scales make silverworms easy to distinguish from other bugs. At about 1/2 to 1 inch long, silverworms prefer dark, damp places with high humidity, such as basements, bathrooms, attics, laundry rooms, and kitchens. Silverworms are nocturnal insects, so they spend most of the day hiding in cracks and crevices, making them more likely to be found at night. Silverworms feed on starchy substances found in paper, books, cardboard, and fabrics. The best way to get rid of silverworms is to control the humidity levels in your home by using a dehumidifier or improving ventilation. Removing food sources and cleaning dark areas as often as possible will help get rid of the wriggling bugs.
Keeping your kitchen clean, sealing food, and controlling moisture can help prevent pests from entering your kitchen.
A not-so-secret way to get rid of the little black bugs in your home and kitchen is to eliminate their food sources. Many little bugs come into your home looking for crumbs, organic matter, rotting fruits and vegetables, and paper products, so regularly cleaning and properly storing your fruits and vegetables can help reduce the number of little bugs in your home.
Many people already have products at home that can help control pests in the kitchen.
You may not necessarily need to go to the hardware store to get rid of those little black bugs in your bathroom or kitchen. You may already have some of the following ingredients, all of which can help keep them away:
- Borax: You can get rid of cockroaches by mixing borax and sugar and sprinkling it around areas where you find them.
- baking soda: Sprinkling baking soda near ant entrances will help keep them away.
- garlic: The smell of fresh garlic or garlic powder will repel most insects.
- Peppermint oil: Mix a few drops of peppermint oil in water and spray it in common insect infested areas to keep them away.
- Neem Oil: This natural oil disrupts the insects' feeding and reproductive cycle, so you can mix it with water and spray it wherever bugs are present.
- Diatomaceous earth: Diatomaceous earth is a natural insecticide that can be spread over doorways, baseboards, under appliances and in areas where pests may travel to kill small insects.
- Insect Trap: Sticky traps, funnel traps, and light traps can be placed around the perimeter of your home to lure and kill the insects.
- Bay leaves: Placing a few bay leaves in your pantry or closet space can help repel all sorts of pests, from beetles to moths to weevils.
If you are having difficulty getting rid of pests in your kitchen, it is best to contact an experienced pest control professional.
When it comes to dealing with tiny bugs in your home or tiny black bugs flying around your sink, DIY methods may not be enough. In such cases, it is a good idea to contact the best pest control companies to come and see your home and come up with a treatment plan. Not only can these professionals perform a formal inspection, but they can also provide you with an estimate of how much the treatment will cost, especially for those who will require multiple treatments. They also know exactly what types of tiny black bugs you have and how to get rid of them. Moreover, the professionals are equipped with the latest equipment and solutions to target the pests and solve the problem quickly.
