Want to know what those tiny black bugs look like poppy seeds are doing in your home? Figure out which one it is from the five common ones in the article below.
If your home is suddenly attracting a large number of tiny black bugs that resemble poppy seeds, you’d want to find out what they are.
Many of these insects can trigger allergic reactions, leave nasty bites, or damage your home.
While there are numerous tiny bugs that are black, we’ll be checking out five insects common in US homes.
Black Weevils
Popularly known as pantry bugs, black weevils can prove to be quite a nuisance by destroying your cupboard foods and grains.
These bugs have slender, black bodies with long snouts that make them easy to identify. There are several subspecies of black weevils, such as the rice weevil, maize weevil, bean weevils, etc.
As you might notice, they’re named after what they tend to infest and feed on.
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Do they bite or harm humans and pets?
While black weevils can cause considerable damage by destroying your foodstuff and grains, they don’t bite and are harmless to humans and pets.
Can they spread disease?
None of the weevil species spread any diseases to humans or animals.
Can they get in the house?
Yes, finding weevils in your kitchen isn’t unusual as long as you have stored food grains or anything they can feed on.
How to get rid of them?
You’ll have to clean your pantry completely to get rid of these pests. Use hot soapy water to wash the insides of your kitchen cabinets after removing the weevils and their larvae with a vacuum cleaner. If that doesn’t work call your local pest company.
Where do they lay eggs?
Black weevils tend to lay eggs in the grains they infest. This is why you might find these bugs even in packaged grains.
What are they attracted to?
These bugs are especially attracted to moisture and the presence of food.
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Spider Beetles
Although spider beetles closely resemble spiders or large mites, they have six legs, and scientists classify them as bugs.
The American spider beetle, also known as the black spider beetle, has a shiny and globular abdomen and yellowish or cream-colored hair on the legs, thorax, and antennae.
The color of this bug ranges from deep reddish brown to black. These beetles feed on a variety of dry plant and animal matter, which may include dried foods stored in your pantry.
Do they bite or harm humans and pets?
You need not be afraid of spider beetles, as they neither bite humans and pets nor harm them in any other way.
Can they spread disease?
These bugs do not spread any diseases among humans. However, food infested by spider beetles wouldn’t be safe to consume,
Can they get in the house?
Spider beetles usually live indoors and stay in wall cracks, crevices, and attics.
How to get rid of them?
To get rid of spider beetles:
- Throw away all the infested food and clean the space thoroughly.
- Store your foodstuff in safer places and make sure the bugs can’t access them.
- Ensure proper ventilation and keep your home clean in general to keep away these bugs.
Where do they lay eggs?
These bugs usually lay eggs on plant leaves or in containers of stored food.
What are they attracted to?
Dark, damp, and moist areas tend to attract spider beetles, especially if there’s plenty of organic matter like bat and rodent droppings for them to feed on.
Bed Bugs
If you are already familiar with bed bugs, you likely know that these pesky insects hide in the bed and feed on human blood.
Apart from their disturbing feeding habit, their bites also result in itchy welts on the skin. Dark brown (almost black) in color, these bloodsucking insects have flattened, and oval bodies and are 0.16 – 0.2 inches long.
Do they bite or harm humans and pets?
Yes, the main issue with these insects is that they suck human blood by biting into the skin. Although they don’t live on pets, these bugs may still bite your pet on contact.
Can they spread disease?
Bed bugs do not spread any diseases, but they might trigger allergic reactions in some individuals.
Can they get in the house?
Bed bugs can easily get into your house by hitching a ride on an item you bring home from an infested place.
How to get rid of them?
A steam cleaner will help you eliminate bed bugs, with the heat killing them off. For a large bed bug infestation, you may need a pest control professional to deal with it.
Where do they lay eggs?
These insects lay their eggs on or near a bed, usually on the seams and the joints of a mattress.
What are they attracted to?
Bed bugs are attracted to carbon dioxide, blood, and warmth.
Ticks
Among the five bugs covered in this article, ticks present the biggest problem. These troublesome pests not only attack both humans and pets to suck blood but also spread a variety of diseases.
Ticks are very hard to notice due to their small size – even adult ticks might be just 0.11 inches long. Upon drinking blood, these pests bloat into globular shapes that closely resemble poppy seeds.
Do they bite or harm humans and pets?
Ticks bite humans and animals, burrowing into the skin to attach themselves while they feed. A tick bite can be very painful and cause swelling and burning.
Can they spread disease?
Ticks can spread various diseases to humans and animals, including serious infections like Lyme disease.
Can they get in the house?
Ticks mostly live outdoors, and indoor environments aren’t humid enough. However, ticks attack pets (especially dogs) very often and may carry them home. Few species of ticks prefer to live indoors.
How to get rid of them?
You may use a steam cleaner or an insecticide spray to eliminate ticks.
Where do they lay eggs?
Ticks lay eggs on open surfaces such as soil, leaves, blades of grass, etc. If you have a tick infestation in your home, the bugs might lay eggs on your clothing or in undisturbed corners of your home, garage, or dog kennel.
What are they attracted to?
Warm, moist, and shady environments attract ticks.
Black Oriental Cockroaches
A black oriental cockroach infestation in your home is a cause of concern because they carry various diseases.
Unlike most cockroaches, these nocturnal bugs are black. However, while baby cockroaches can be tiny, the adult ones can grow up to 1.2 inches in length.
Do they bite or harm humans and pets?
Oriental cockroaches bite both humans and pets, but it’s quite rare.
Can they spread disease?
This is the biggest issue with these pests – they spread various disease-producing organisms, mostly by contaminating food. They are often responsible for causing diarrhea, food poisoning, and dysentery.
Can they get in the house?
Oriental cockroaches can get in your house by crawling through cracks and holes, hitchhiking on bags, or simply flying inside.
How to get rid of them?
You can use diatomaceous earth, bait traps, or non-toxic and natural insecticides. For heavy cockroach infestations, look for pest control companies near you.
Where do they lay eggs?
Female oriental cockroaches lay their egg capsules in protected areas close to a food source. This makes filthy corners and kitchen cabinets ideal breeding grounds.
What are they attracted to?
These bugs are especially attracted to damp and dark spaces with decaying organic matter.
Wrap Up
Knowing what pests are infesting your home and taking the necessary steps to eliminate them will help keep your family, your pets, and yourself safe.
Some of the other tiny bugs that look like black seeds, such as the black carpet beetle, can also damage your soft furnishings and carpets.
Some of the food-infesting bugs even contaminate pet food. Hopefully, the information you found in this article will prove to be useful but don’t hesitate to seek professional assistance if you can’t identify the bugs.
