Tiny black flying bugs on window sills, in the dead of winter - Ask Extension
Hello! Hoping someone may be able to help me identify and destroy these pesky things! They've been a nuisance for over a month now.I've attached a pic...
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Tiny black flying bugs on window sills, in the dead of winter #224063
Asked January 09, 2015, 8:28 AM EST
Hello! Hoping someone may be able to help me identify and destroy these pesky things! They've been a nuisance for over a month now.
I've attached a pic I found on the web and they look exactly the same, however they arent just on the window sills. They are attracted to light and are all over my apartment!
I've tried making traps of all sorts and they are not attracted to them at all. I wake up in the morning and they tend to be all over the (freezing cold, snow covered) windows.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
I've attached a pic I found on the web and they look exactly the same, however they arent just on the window sills. They are attracted to light and are all over my apartment!
I've tried making traps of all sorts and they are not attracted to them at all. I wake up in the morning and they tend to be all over the (freezing cold, snow covered) windows.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Cook County Illinois
Expert Response
Hi --
Without a more detailed photo of the insect, it's hard to make a reliable identification! These critters are so small that when we blow up the image, the features of the bug are blurred. It also helps to have a size reference in the picture -- often a penny -- though the window screen holes do give some indication of size.
That having been said, it looks like you may have an infestation of "springtails" here. One telling characteristic is that most springtails jump rather than fly (though their "jumps" can be huge relative to size, looking more like "flights"!), hence the nickname. They are attracted to light, do collect in areas of moisture (which would include indoor windows/sills where condensate may be found), and may find cold more hospitable than many other insects might (indeed, one species is known as a "snow flea"!).
The North Carolina State University department of entomology has a nice overview of Collembola, as this large order of "springtail" insects is more formally known:
http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/course/ent425/library/compendium/collembola.html
For the most part, these insects are more "pesky" than true "pest" -- they're annoying, but not harmful. Of more importance is that when they collect indoors, it may be a signal that that there's a moisture problem going on. They need some organic material and plenty of water, so they don't typically survive in "normally dry" indoor conditions. It's not unusual to spot a few around overly-moist houseplant pots, but a springtail party elsewhere in the house suggests that an investigation of moisture levels and sources might be in order!
Getting rid of springtails will entail finding their source and means of survival. When the bugs have no source of plentiful moisture or organic matter, they will cease to be a problem. Until you can identify these, simply vaccuuming up the "party" will be your best means of temporary control. While there are insecticides labeled for use on springtails, the vacuum will achieve the same result without introducing the hazards of using pesticides indoors. Once excess moisture is alleviated and any associated mold or other organic residue is eliminated, springtails should disappear on their own without chemical intervention.
If this identification doesn't seem correct, do try to get a detailed photo of your invaders! Unfortunately, from a distance, many bugs do look "just like" others, but the telling pieces and parts -- legs, pincers, wing characteristics, antennae segments, that sort of thing -- are really hard to see, especially on tiny critters such as springtails. In this case, we're working as much or more on behavior as on physical characteristics, but with more physical detail we may be able to give you a more confident identification.
Without a more detailed photo of the insect, it's hard to make a reliable identification! These critters are so small that when we blow up the image, the features of the bug are blurred. It also helps to have a size reference in the picture -- often a penny -- though the window screen holes do give some indication of size.
That having been said, it looks like you may have an infestation of "springtails" here. One telling characteristic is that most springtails jump rather than fly (though their "jumps" can be huge relative to size, looking more like "flights"!), hence the nickname. They are attracted to light, do collect in areas of moisture (which would include indoor windows/sills where condensate may be found), and may find cold more hospitable than many other insects might (indeed, one species is known as a "snow flea"!).
The North Carolina State University department of entomology has a nice overview of Collembola, as this large order of "springtail" insects is more formally known:
http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/course/ent425/library/compendium/collembola.html
For the most part, these insects are more "pesky" than true "pest" -- they're annoying, but not harmful. Of more importance is that when they collect indoors, it may be a signal that that there's a moisture problem going on. They need some organic material and plenty of water, so they don't typically survive in "normally dry" indoor conditions. It's not unusual to spot a few around overly-moist houseplant pots, but a springtail party elsewhere in the house suggests that an investigation of moisture levels and sources might be in order!
Getting rid of springtails will entail finding their source and means of survival. When the bugs have no source of plentiful moisture or organic matter, they will cease to be a problem. Until you can identify these, simply vaccuuming up the "party" will be your best means of temporary control. While there are insecticides labeled for use on springtails, the vacuum will achieve the same result without introducing the hazards of using pesticides indoors. Once excess moisture is alleviated and any associated mold or other organic residue is eliminated, springtails should disappear on their own without chemical intervention.
If this identification doesn't seem correct, do try to get a detailed photo of your invaders! Unfortunately, from a distance, many bugs do look "just like" others, but the telling pieces and parts -- legs, pincers, wing characteristics, antennae segments, that sort of thing -- are really hard to see, especially on tiny critters such as springtails. In this case, we're working as much or more on behavior as on physical characteristics, but with more physical detail we may be able to give you a more confident identification.
