Skip to main content

Small, tiny, little black bugs in homes

carpet beetle
varied carpet beetle

I am a volunteer in the "Entomology (Study of Bugs)" section at a site called AllExperts**. The site allows users to ask questions of volunteer "experts" in a variety of categories.

As a volunteer I get a variety of interesting and sometimes funny questions but one category stands out because of how often it is asked, often using very similar words. The question starts out something like "I have [small or tiny or little] black bugs on the walls in my ____________. They crunch when I squish them. What are they?" Sometimes the question includes a picture but often it does not. While there are many insects that fit this general description the one that you are most likely to find in the typical home are dermestid beetles, commonly called carpet beetles (see photo above). Carpet beetle adults can be all black to mottled grey, white, and brown, and round to oval in shape. They are all fairly small.

carpet beetle larva
 

 

 

 

 

Carpet beetles are very common and you can find a few in almost every home. Carpet beetle larvae (often described as "fuzzy", see picture above) feed on a wide variety of plant and animal material including hides, hair, dried plant fibers, grains and so forth. Our modern homes are full of this sort of material - such as wool, silk, natural cloth fibers, cereal and even dry pet food. Animal skins and mounted animal trophies can be damaged by carpet beetles as well. Containers of dry pet food kibbles are among the most common sources of these beetles.

While carpet beetle infestations tend to grow more slowly than some other pests their damage can be significant. In fact certain dermestid beetles can be especially damaging in museums and other places where animal and plant materials are stored for long periods.

Carpet beetle control

Don't be overly concerned if you find a few carpet beetles on the walls of your home. They pose no threat to the home's structure and they won't bite. Normal cleaning and proper food storage is usually all that is needed to keep carpet beetles under control. Do not resort to insecticides and never use mothballs (see this article about mothballs and their dangers for more information).

If you find beetles regularly or discover an infestation in stored food, take a look at our control suggestions (green box near bottom of that page) for carpet beetles in your home.

** Unfortunately the AllExperts site is no longer online.

__________

Comments

Bobbie said…
what is small round black bug (little smaller than regular size tick) with solid black hard shell? It was stuck to my leg like a tick. Would not brush off. came off pretty easily with tweezers. Did not sting, hurt, etc. until about 7-8 hours later. Got a perfectly round very red place with definite bite mark. No "bulls eye". am taking Doxycyline (10 days).
Help, please!
Bobbie,

This does sound like a tick. If you have a picture send me a copy at livingwithbugs@gmail.com and I'll confirm.

Jack DeAngelis
Caitlin147 said…
I have had very very tiny black shiny things on my bedclothes for months. I wash them all the time and it doesnt come off. At first, it doesnt look like anything. It kind of looks like ink spots, but nothing like that has been near my bed clothes. its really hard to get off. Like i said, its very tiny, shiny, black, and flat. When you try to pick it off or anything, it leaves an ink looking mark there. Any idea what it could be?
Caitlin147,

Your description does not sound like insects or mites, both of which would be easily washed off. My guess is it is some kind of stain. Sometimes mold can leave behind a dark stain. Is the ceiling damp and moldy? Sorry I can't be more specific.

Jack DeAngelis
Evan said…
I have these very small black bugs that usually infest my basement. Ive asked around and others have said they come from outside and someone is bringing them inside. They usually hide in fabrics but are not carpet bugs. They do get on skin and when you remove them, it gets very itchy and a bump accumulates. Ive tried on numerous occasions to get rid of them but all have been miserable fails. Any thoughts?
biyu said…
Within the last month proudly only sence the heatwave started we have had a bug issue in the house there have been many centipedes and a few I don't know they seem centralised in the living room (where I sleep) by the couch and the tv tho there have also been many in the foyer and dining room and a few in my moms room these are all carpeted rooms all connected carpet as well there is also a vent between the dining room and my moms room I have not seen any in the bathroom or kitchen

Apart from the centipedes there were these little round (side-side like worms kinda? But hard?) black bodied things with White bellies a black centipede looking thing (I had only seen orange/red) and a long black thing that was on my arm that I would guess measured something like 1x3-5 cm

The room was somewhat messy before we cleaned and I bombed it about 5 times with a raid all purpose spray the room is presently fairly clean (my seeds are boxed up in plastic containers my computer is on something not sitting right on the floor the tv and tables all have "stuff" on them and are somewhat organised there is a stack of books on the floor if that contributes? The house thermostat was also showing it was at 80 degrees (f) in the dining room if that helps any? There are also 2 outlets that don't have covers one not far from where the most recent bugs were found alive (the 4 kills were made right near it) in the living room there's also another in the foyer if that can help?

About all I know is pound them with the raid and they will eventually die

(help please?)
klh213 said…
I keep seeing these small black bugs on my pillows during the day. Very round/oval shaped. Not flat like bed bugs with little legs under the shell. Its pretty hard to kill (sorry) with a hard body. Been seeing them everyday for about a week. I live in University Park, Illinois a small suburb of chicago. My bed is by a window but I am getting a bit concerned.


Please Help!
klh213 said…
I keep finding these little round black bugs crawling across my pillow case during the day. Usually one every day. Its black with a hard shell and round with legs under the shell. Doesn't look like a bed bug and is hard to kill (sorry) because of the hard shell. Less than a millimeter long. My bed is by a window and I live in a south suburb of Chicago Illinois. It has been very hot lately and I have noticed this bug quite frequently and now I am getting worried...

Please HELP!
Anonymous said…
klh213, I had one today as well. I live in Harpers Ferry, WV. ANy news???
Anonymous said…
Mine were carpet beetles! Only had two and they seem to be gone now.
arafsky2011 said…
i live in northern virginia. in my bedroom, i notice that there are tiny black bugs about 1/4 - 1/2 cm long and that do not bite. they ar round. its not an infestation because i only see a couple once in awhile. i do not know how they get in because they travel on my carpet near my wall. i have no cracks or anything for them to get into. i keep my room clean. i do notice that they tend to always show up when my room gets really hot. and sometimes musty.

please let me know if you can idenify these bugs and let me know how to get rid of them!!
cherryblast said…
I am having the same type of bug in my upper part of the house. Mostly, I am finding them in the bedrooms. I don't believe they ate carpet beetles. They are pretty small, have wings, but yet don't try to fly away. I haven't been bitten they are just a nusiance. Help I do not like bugs!
Emma_tuck said…
I found what looked like these guys but smaller, in my bed this morning!!! I thought it was just tiny black bits off my wooly socks but i looked closer and it had legs and noticed they where every where, stripped the bed and hoovered everything!! Thought they were bed bugs but they were more beetle like, and jet black. do they crawl into beds??? ps. i cheked my hair jus in case its nits lol
Katie said…
I also found lots of tiny round shiny beetles, smaller than a poppy seed, on our air mattresses when we camped out for 2 weeks. I wouldn't have noticed them except that I became worried when 3 of our family members developed a lot of red itchy bumps around our ears and neck.
Alcinda said…
I keep finding these teny tiny black bugs on our pillows. They are the size of the period on this page. They are not bed bugs as we had those several years ago and I know what they look like. These are smaller and don't bite but crawl on your face at night. I need to kn ow how to get rid of them.

Alcinda
Alogsdon@liberty.edu
Anonymous said…
Im have small tiny black bugs infest my home &, its my whole house. I just noticed them about a week or so,me and my daughter been getting bitten. So I chose to not sleep at home til I figure what they are and how to get rid of them. When I went home yesterday I could feel them biting my lower shins and feet, and crawling. Ive seen them, theyre small black with antenna. When I try to grab one, it crawls so fast. They dont look like bed bugs, I know how they look. Someone please help me please I want to go home already.
Unknown said…
I have these tiny black bugs they look to have 6 legs that are well cloaked by it's shell kind of like one of those rolly polly bugs except it's pure black and I find them in the cracks between the wall and the carpet. Any enlightenment? I'd like to know what I have and how serious it is.
Unknown said…
The first thing I would suggest, James, would be to call an ant control service, they usually have something for other similar bugs. If that doesn't work, they should be able to enlighten you on what they are.
Rhonda Clarke said…
Someone pLEASE HELP !!!!!!
I have the little brown bugs all over my house , on my dogs , I mean everywhere !! I cean & clean & clean with bleach , spray pesisides crap in my house , was my babies 3 times a week !!!! They leave either tiny black eggs or poop everywhere. I m going damn crazy
WTF are they & how do I treat them ? I'm going to burn this damn house down soon 😁
djbeast said…
I also have the small black beetles.They are biting the dog and us.They are mostly in my sons bedroom.Where the dog also sleeps.Help.(not a tick ,flea or bed bug.)
Unknown said…
i found this large ish bug in my home it was about 5 - 6 CM long jet black fast as lightening i first seen it near my fridge / freezer i went to get something heavy to kill it with but it moved b4 i could get close enough to kill it and it disappeared some were in my home i could not get a pic of it as it was to fast any idea what it could b or how to kill it i have an idea as were it could b but i dont wanna go pulling my home apart just to find it and not kill it as its so fast i've looked up on other web sites for bugs and roaches but nothing seems to mach what i found roaches have about the right sort of size but there not jet black and generally not supper fast i don't really wanna spend a fortune on something that wont work and since i don't know what it is i don't know what i could use to kill it other than something big and heavy when and if i see it again
Unknown said…
I have a real tiny bug on my bed it only goes to my blankets and a couple pieces of clothing that are clean. I don't see no other color they come and go like a few a day can u tell me what it maybe. Sorry I won't be able to get a picture. I do kill them with my finger.
Unknown said…
Megacopta cribraria bug
Anonymous said…
No see ums! They are terrible! They are almost impossible to get rid! Good luck!
Unknown said…
Some mornings I wake up and turn my phone screen on to see a very tiny bug that has almost a clear like body I don't have bites of any sort and I only see 1 every week or so. Please help
Niya T said…
My son and I spent a couple days over a family member house. Yesterday morning woke up itching on my hand and my Shin. Red itchy spots. Looking around the bed didn't see nothing. Woke up this morning and have bites on my neck,back,and chest. My son has bite marks on his arm... look around the bed again and saw two tiny black round bugs with long legs. I smashed one and saw blood. Can you please help me identify this bug and to see if my son and I need any treatment. . Please help... thanks
Unknown said…
My dog had a similar bug on him today it was below his eye i thought it was a tick but it was shiny black about the size of a small tick and when I rubbed it didn't come off but when I scratched it came off easily never saw one like that before I live in western pennsylvania if that helps any
Unknown said…
I found a couple bugs on my dog they look like a tiny black shiny beetle but they jump like a flea they are a little bigger than a flea help I treated him for fleas but these bugs are not affected by flea and tick medicine my poor dog is scratching like crazy and I'm pretty sure they are the cause cause I see no fleas on him
Unknown said…
What are small round white bugs with black spots? I found these in my room on the ceiling light
Unknown said…
Can u please tell m what a small white bug with black dots is because I found 2 of them in my room around the light
Gina said…
Just found this bug that kinda looks like a tick. I have it in a bag but don't know how to attach pix. It was crawling across my living room floor, where my daughter was playing. when I killed it black stuff came out. Please tell me it's not bed bugs!
Unknown said…
I found tiny long black bugs under the couch, under bed and on shelf in kitchen but always near crumbs...they are slow and I kill them with my finger...any suggestions what they are and what to do to get rid
Unknown said…
what are these tiny long slow black bugs under couch n beds once on a shelf but always near crumbs? I can kill with my finger. what should I do??
I and my guy went to the movie theater. We both had itchy back of our heads. Two days later I wake up in my bed in my apartment to fund a tiny bug just an inch from my eye. There were about 6 on my pillow case. I then brushed my hair over the bright white mattress cover and there were about 6 or so that fell on the cover. They moved slowly and were very small black dots only a touch bigger than a period mark. I did take a couple pictures. I first thought bed bugs but they were not red brown. I have a mattress cover designed to keep bed bugs from getting into the mattress. Hours later I found a more elongated [1/4 inch) and when I squished it, it left a small blood stain. I put the bed coverings in my car and parked it outside (Arizona) for several hours. Then washed in hot water and hot dryer. I did get lice shampoe and comb in case that is what they are. I sprayed around the bed and outside edge of mattress cover. There are no signs elsewhere. I have only three little bumps in three very different parts of my body and that is it. I swear I could feel bugs walking on my scalp. After using the lice shampoe that went away. There was one larvae looking thing in one of my pictures I did not notice until I blew it up. What are these things?
Unknown said…
I have a sore in my head that won't go away is it a bed bug bite because we are having our house disinfected next week because we've seen some please reply as quick as possible
Unknown said…
Sorry,but it sounds like bed bugs .If you mash them and it's blood,its bed bugs
Unknown said…
Sorry,but it sounds like bed bugs .If you mash them and it's blood,its bed bugs
Unknown said…
I found one exactly like Caitlin 147 described. Tiny, shiny, and black. It doesn't look like bed bug pictures, but it did come toward the blow dryer (bed bug test). What is this???
What u r describing sounds like mites. Bird or mouse/rat mites.
They r are very very tiny. And itch like crazy. Go outside and look for birdnest in the eaves of ur house. Or even up on top of a window ac unit.
Check ur attic to make sure no birds r roosting in there. Bird mites r becoming a people problem. Many drs even bug specialist think these mites don't consume human blood. In 1959 it was found they do. It was also thought these mites counxt reproduce on humans or when consuming human blood they can.
When the birds finally leave the nest,the mites that r in the nest go looking for a blood meal. These mites can infest a whole house. Reg bug killer provided by exterminators only works for a few days. Then the mites come back with a vengeance. Is ur bed next to a window?
Also check the vent in ur bathroom. Birds often build nest in /under the cap
Also these mites can carry bacteria and even mold spores that cause lesions.
Really I'm not trying to scare u, but this is an often misdiagnosed problem
And drs r still using old outdated information. Read about it. If u want more info then respond to my post. Becareful of people selling cures that don't work. I'm not selling anything.
Take care, hope this situation has resolved itself.
You need to read about bird rat mites. I wrote abit about these mites to a different poster. Read that. If it sound like it explore more.
These little buggers itch like crazy for some. Others just feel the crawling sensation. Check ur body often for these tiny little mites. They r often mistaken for a freckle. Some family members get too while others do not.
There does seem to be a mold issue often but not always related. Check for birds nest on or near ur house.
Pets can also be affected by these mites.
Unknown said…
Last night I saw a small black bug. It was completely black and at first I thought it might be pepper that fell on the paper towel, I went to brush it off but it started crawling, it was circular I guess similar shape to a lady bug much smaller though and entirely black. It didn't move too fast or fly away so I was able to smash it with my finger, but I have no idea what it was/is and hope I don't find more of them.
What state or region of the country are you?
Unknown said…
I do know that you can smell bed bugs and carpet Beatles are little shiny black bugs.

Popular posts from this blog

Tiny, Yellow, Biting Bugs

a thrips next to a leaf vein Have you every felt a sharp pinch while outside during summer only to find a tiny, yellow, sliver-like bug when you investigate the bite? These bites are from a tiny insect called a thrips (the name is always plural; one thrips, many thrips). Thrips normally feed on plants with very sharp, knife-like mouthparts. If they happen to land on us they can bite causing a sharp, stabbing pain. The bites are annoying but completely harmless and are more common in mid- to late summer. Unfortunately, insect repellents don't work against thrips. Continue reading to discover ways to avoid thrips bites at our 'Bugs website . Thrips can be important plant pests where they damage leaves and in some cases even infect plants with a virus. Greenhouse growers in particular often treat their crops with insecticide to prevent thrips damage. drawing showing feathery wings

What are these BIG black ants in my house?

carpenter ant In early spring or late winter people often encounter these large black ants in homes. These big ants are different than the more common small, brown "nuisance ants" that plague kitchens. The big ants are called carpenter ants ( Camponotus spp .) and unlike their smaller cousins, nest above ground in cavities. Nest building and cavity expansion by these large, powerful ants can cause damage if nests occur in our homes. Most of the ants you find in homes are small, less than 1/4", and brown. There are several species of small brown ants that can nest in our home's walls or nearby soil and enter homes in search of food and water (see House Ants for identification and control). Nuisance ants are just that, a nuisance. They won't damage your home and pose no health threat of any kind.  There's another ant, however, that occasionally is found in homes that is much bigger (1/4"-5/8"), darker in color, nests in the walls, floors and c

Kudzu Bug - A Small, Brown, "Lady Bug" That Invades Homes and Gardens

Kudzu bugs clustered on wisteria. If you live in the south-eastern US you may have noticed a new insect this summer and fall (see photo): the insect is called the kudzu bug ( Megacopta cribraria ) and is characterized by - small, brownish/green in color shaped sort-of like a ladybug not seen prior to about 2 years ago invades homes in the fall congregates on garden plants, and especially, kudzu vine (For those that don't live in the southern US, kudzu is a highly invasive weedy vine, " the vine that ate the south !", that grows everywhere, on everything.) a new and important pest of soybean This true bug (Hemiptera)  resembles a ladybug (a cocinellid beetle ) in size and shape, but not color (see this page for a picture of a real ladybug/lady beetle). Also, you don't generally find ladybugs clustered together like you see in the photo. This a new "lady bug" has some unpleasant characteristics. (1) Feeds on and weakens garden plants as well a