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Small crawling bugs in bathroom and kitchen #865886

Asked April 25, 2024, 1:48 PM EDT

I have microscopic bugs in my bathroom and kitchen.  I will include a video and some pictures.  They seem smaller than small ants.  I have tried various home remedies and chemical sprays to remove this bugs.  How do you suggest I eliminate them?

Attached are pictures and here is a link for the video.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/TPsbebEJSLFAQZ4h8

Thanks.


Weld County Colorado

Expert Response

Hi Jeff, 

Based on your picture, those are ants. The video resolution is a little too low to make an ID, but it's probably an ant as well. 

There are several methods to controlling ants which should be done simultaneously for the best control. I am listing them in order of importance. 

Exclusion: the ants are entering through an unsealed crack on the home's exterior. These are usually gaps along doors/windows/vents. Seal these up with caulk.

Cultural control: Ants often enter homes to feed on food scraps and water. All food should be stored in air-tight containers. Any food that falls on the floor should be cleaned up immediately. Ants will also feed on dog/cat food sitting in their bowl. Only fill those bowls at feeding times, and keep them as clean as possible. Fix any leaky faucets, ants will drink from these. 

Chemical control: sprays will kill the ants you see, but they do nothing to target the colony. You are much better off using an insecticide-laced bait. That will attract the ants to the insecticide and they will bring some of it back to their nest to feed the colony. This will poison the entire colony, providing better long term control. 

The most popular insecticide for this purpose is the active ingredient Boric Acid found in Terro Liquid Ant Killer (which is the most widely available version of this insecticide). Other active ingredients that you could look for are Diflubenzuron (Dimilin) , Triflumuron (Starycide), Hydroprene (Gentrol, Gencore), Kinoprene (Enstar), Methoprene (Precor), Fenoxycarb (Varikill, Insegar, Logic) and Pyriproxyfen (Distance, Nylar, Nyguard, Sumilarv). 

An Ask Extension Expert Replied April 25, 2024, 6:08 PM EDT

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