What kind of bugs these are and how do I get rid of them? - Ask Extension
One is light brown with light orange-ish stripes, 6 legs and two antenna, slightly less than a mm in length. They march in a line against the wall out...
Knowledgebase
What kind of bugs these are and how do I get rid of them? #331533
Asked June 12, 2016, 2:04 PM EDT
One is light brown with light orange-ish stripes, 6 legs and two antenna, slightly less than a mm in length. They march in a line against the wall outside like ants, but I have recently seen them in my kitchen and bathroom. The other is black with a pear shaped, segmented body, 6 legs and two antenna, about 2mm in length. I found him in my bathroom I'm not certain but I believe I detected a faint scent with I killed it. What are these bugs and how do I get rid of them? Do they bite? I have a cat and I'm concerned for her health and safety as well as my own. Thank you.
Fremont County Colorado
Expert Response
Neither of these are insects that bite or harm anything indoors.
It looks like the first two are some sort of springtail, a very common insect relative that lives in moist soil, feeding on decaying organic matter. Utterly harmless, but they sometime migrate indoors when it gets hot. (They will not reproduce indoors and ultimately will die out on their own.)
The third picture looks like some sort of aphid. It must have drop from a plant, as all aphids feed by sucking fluids from leaves.
It looks like the first two are some sort of springtail, a very common insect relative that lives in moist soil, feeding on decaying organic matter. Utterly harmless, but they sometime migrate indoors when it gets hot. (They will not reproduce indoors and ultimately will die out on their own.)
The third picture looks like some sort of aphid. It must have drop from a plant, as all aphids feed by sucking fluids from leaves.
