Homeowners may have to deal with the most annoying small brown bugs in house, whether it's in the kitchen or living room. Some of the most common small, tiny, brown bugs in the house include the drugstore, cigarette, and confused flour beetle. These particular beetles are attracted to pantries and your kitchen cabinets or drawers because of their love for all things flour, cereal, or spices. We're going to teach you how to find these bugs, figure out what species you're dealing with, how to control pest populations, and protect your home from them!
Identification
Before learning how to get rid of bugs in the house, you need to take note of an insect's physical characteristics and habits so that you know how to effectively control an infestation.
Types of Small Brown Bugs Commonly Found in Houses
There are different small brown bugs in house but the ones you'll probably have to deal with include:
- Drugstore beetle: this tiny, brown beetle is usually found in dried plant products and was named after being found in pharmacies feeding on the herbs used in medicine.
- Cigarette beetle: these are small reddish-brown beetles, that are 2 to 3 mm long, also infest dried plant products, and are very similar to drugstore beetles.
- Indeanmeal moth: also known as the pantry moth, the larvae of this insect feed on different grains, dried, fruits, nuts, and cereal
- Sawtoothed grain beetle: this is a flat, brown beetle that also infests grains and cereals in pantries or other food storage areas.
It's important to keep in mind that not all small brown bugs in house will be these specific bugs and you might just have ants, cockroaches, or spiders in the room. We recommend reaching out to a professional pest control expert if you're having trouble identifying the bug you're dealing with.
Prevention
If you want to learn how to keep bugs out and how to inspect your home for an infestation, we're giving you our tips and tricks
Tips for Preventing Small Brown Bugs From Entering the House
Some things that you can do to prevent small brown bugs in house from happening in the first place include:
- Store food properly: keep bugs from getting into your food by storing pantry items like wheat and sugar in the refrigerator or in sealed containers.
- Inspect items: take a good look at everything you bring into the house and make sure that they're bug-free, especially if they were kept in the garage or shed.
- Bug repellent: use bug spray that you can buy from the pharmacy or home improvement store.
- Caulk: caulk the cracks and crevices around windows, doors, and baseboards to keep pests out of the house.
- Clean: regularly vacuum, wash the dishes, sweep the floor, or clean surfaces around the house to get rid of any food scraps or crumbs that can attract pests.
- Keep windows and doors closed: when insects are more active, like in the summer, keep your windows and doors closed.
If bugs still find a way into the house, think about hiring a professional pest control service.
How to Inspect for Small Brown Bugs in the House
To check for small brown bugs in house:
- Start by taking a stroll through the rooms and other areas of your house to check for any signs of an infestation. Pay particular attention to the kitchen and pantry, as well as other areas where food is cooked or stored. Look for signs of damage, such as holes in food packaging, and live bugs
- Next, check out frequently ignored regions like the attic, crawl spaces, and basements. These places may act as a haven for little brown bugs and the origin of an infestation. Look for droppings or exoskeletons, as well as any entryways, such as cracks in screens or walls.
- Then, look for other entryways. Examine the windows and doors and the space around them for gaps or cracks in the walls or foundation.
- Inspect food items in your storage for little brown bugs. You should look for tiny holes or a musty odor.
- Dispose of infested food right away.
By routinely checking your home for signs of an infestation, you can control these small pests before they become a big problem.
How to Get Rid of Small Brown Bugs in House
There are non-toxic methods to get rid of these small brown insects which include exclusion techniques, using essential oils, diatomaceous earth, traps, and boric acid, getting rid of potential food sources, or lowering moisture levels in your house. Then, there are chemical products that you can use like permethrin, herbicides, or pyrethrins. You can also invest in the services that pest control specialists provide.
Natural Remedies
The best way to get rid of small brown bugs in house without the use of chemicals includes:
- Exclusion techniques: you can definitely lower the possibility of an infestation by blocking entry points and removing potential nesting or resting places. Learn how to caulk like a pro to seal gaps around pipes and vents, fissures, and cracks near windows, doors, and utility lines. Use weatherstripping, door sweeps, window, and door screens to keep the bugs out too.
- Reduce moisture levels in the house: to make your home less attractive to pests, fix any plumbing or roof leaks, use a dehumidifier, properly ventilate moist environments like the bathroom or laundry room, and get rid of standing water in sinks or tubs.
- Have a cleaning routine: keep food preparation and storage areas by vacuuming, wiping up spills, and cleaning up crumbs or food scraps.
- Essential oils: use peppermint, citrus, or eucalyptus oil in water to make a repellent spray, or use a diffuser. You can also make carpet powder by adding a few drops of essential oil into baking powder and vacuuming it after application.
- Other natural repellents: you can use put bay leaves and cloves in your pantry to protect the area from bugs.
- Diatomaceous earth: use diatomaceous earth around windows and doors as well as other areas where you've seen the bugs out and about or use food-grade diatomaceous earth in cereal, wheat, pasta, and other food items to stop an infestation.
- Traps: you can buy sticky or pheromone traps to capture bugs as well.
Chemical Remedies
Despite the fact that natural solutions can help with a pest infestation, there are instances where chemical products are needed to get rid of bugs once and for all. You can use insecticide, pesticide, herbicide, or bait traps to lure insects in, trap them, and poison them. The most effective chemicals that you should look for when dealing with small brown bugs in house include:
- Permethrin: This insecticide overstimulates an insect's nervous system, which results in paralysis and death.
- Pyrethrin: this is another neurotoxin that can kill insects on contact or when ingested
To protect yourself, your family, and the environment from potential harm, it's crucial to apply pesticides responsibly:
- Choose a pesticide, insecticide, or herbicide that's specially formulated for the species you're trying to kill and only in the recommended dosage.
- Wear protective clothing, gloves, goggles, and a mask when applying chemical products to prevent contact with the skin and eyes.
- Avoid using chemicals near food preparation, storage, or consumption areas.
- Keep the area well-ventilated before and after using a chemical product.
- Keep chemicals away from pets and children. They should be kept in high, out-of-reach areas or in a locked cabinet.
For both natural and chemical treatments, you can reach out to a pest control specialist at any time for advice or assistance.
Professional Treatment
It's important to get professional help to deal with small brown bugs in house when needed. Experts can identify the type of pest you're dealing with and be able to implement the best treatment strategy. Qualified exterminators also have the equipment and chemicals that only they are licensed to use to deal with a current infestation and prevent future bug invasions.
You should reach out to a professional pest control specialist if:
- You don't know what insect species you're dealing with.
- You have a severe infestation on hand.
- Even after using natural and chemical products, the bugs keep coming back.
- You're unable to identify the bug infestation's source.
Bottom Line: Small Brown Bugs in House
Small brown bugs in house or other types of homes are on the rise. The confused four, drugstore and cigarette beetles are the most common pests in your food storage areas that can be exterminated with natural alternatives, pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, and with expert help.
While these choices are great, you can prevent a bug problem from happening in the first place by making sure that your home is clean, the moisture levels are on the lower side, all potential bug entrances are sealed, food is stored properly, and you have regular inspections.
FAQs on Small Brown Bugs in House
What kind of tiny brown beetles are typically found inside homes?
The drugstore beetle, the cigarette beetle, the confused flour beetle, the Indianmeal moth, and the sawtoothed grain beetle are the most common small brown bugs in house.
What harm to homes can small brown bugs cause?
These tiny, brown bugs can eat your pantry items, chew through packaging, and contaminate food with their shed skin and feces.
Where are little brown bugs most frequently found in homes?
The most frequent hiding places for little brown bugs in homes are the kitchen and pantry.
How can I recognize the tiny brown bugs in my house?
You can take note of a bug's physical features and habits then compare them to insect guides online or consult a professional pest control specialist.
How do I get rid of little brown bugs in my house?
You can use sticky traps, pesticides, essential oils, diatomaceous earth, and boric acid to get rid of these bugs.
How can I keep little brown bugs out of my house?
Keep food items in sealed containers, and routinely check your pantry and kitchen for signs of pest infestation.
What are some safe, all-natural ways to get rid of house-bound little brown bugs?
Having routine inspections, keeping food in airtight containers, and using essential oils or diatomaceous earth are safe extermination methods.
What essential oils can I use to ward off little brown bugs?
You can use peppermint, citrus, or eucalyptus essential oils.
Which insecticides work well to get rid of little brown bugs?
To get rid of little brown bugs, use boric acid, diatomaceous earth, permethrin, or pesticides containing pyrethrins.
What are some safety precautions for applying insecticides inside a home?
We recommend contacting a pest control expert, wearing protective gear, reading product instructions, and keeping the area well-ventilated for your safety.
How can the amount of moisture in a home be decreased to make it less alluring to tiny brown bugs?
You can fix leaks and other plumbing issues, get rid of standing or still water or use a dehumidifier to lower moisture levels in your home.
