9 Tiny Black Bugs In Houses Near Windows

Tiny black bugs in houses near windows either indicate that bugs are trying to get inside the house, or they already are inside your home.

In the spring and summer months, I noticed a ton of small bugs congregating on my windowsills and window frame.

And, because of my negligence, many of these bugs even caused an infestation.

I dug deep to find out what are these bugs. And my research eventually revealed that there are not one, not two, but 9 little black bugs on the windows.

In this guide, I’ll share my research findings and will also reveal how to prevent these bugs from invading your house.

Let’s dive in.

Clover Mites

Clover mites are tiny dark red arachnids that appear black. And these mites gather in the house near windows during the late spring and fall months when the temperature abruptly rises and falls.

Clover mites are extremely tiny bugs, growing only up to 1/30th of an inch in size. So, they’re microscopic bugs that can be difficult to detect when their numbers are low.

On the window sills, when they gather in large numbers, clover mites appear as tiny black dot-like insects or specks of dirt appearing to move slowly.

Clover mites, under the microscope, look like spiders with eight legs. They’ve a pair of long frontal legs that appear as a pair of antennae.

These mites enter homes in large numbers turning into a complete nuisance. Homes with highly fertilized grass lawns and clover trees face the brunt of clover mites every season.

Clover mites in the house can show up randomly anywhere, including your bed.

And these mites leave behind a reddish stain, which is very hard to remove, if you crush them.

Clover mites don’t bite. They’re harmless arachnids. And the best part is that they can’t even breed inside the house. So, there’s no chance of infestation either.

Black Carpet Beetles

Adult black carpet beetles are oval-shaped with body size ranging from 3 to 5 mm, which is 0.10 to 0.12 inches.

They’re dark brown or black with a pair of wings that enable them to fly. These beetles have shiny shell-like exterior with six short legs and a pair of short antennae.

Adult black carpet beetles don’t have the appearance of a typical beetle because their body is a bit more elongated than rounded.

The reflecting light from the window glass or the artificial light from your home attract the carpet beetles.

Adults can easily fly indoors through the open doors and windows. They can also crawl through the holes and gaps on the window sills to make their way indoors.

The adults are harmless insects. They don’t bite or cause any diseases.

But these beetles lay eggs on natural fabrics such as woolen carpets and silken clothes because their larvae, which is also known as “woolly bear” feeds on them.

The carpet beetle larvae are fabric pests and food pests that can cause significant damages to natural fibers, especially animal origin fibers such as wool, and stored foods.

The larva also feeds on dead insects, broken human hair, pet hair, dead bugs, and on stained fabrics. That’s the reason they can also crawl onto your bed while scavenging for food.

The adult beetles eat pollen and feed on the flower nectar outdoors.

Skin contacts with the hairy bristles of the carpet beetle larvae can cause allergic reactions, including dermatitis and respiratory allergies.

The presence of the carpet beetle in the bed can take you aback because it’s shape and size can easily trick you into thinking that it’s a bed bug.

Fungus Gnats (These Are Not Fruit Flies)

Fungus gnats are tiny black flies that look like mosquitoes. They’re 2 to 5 mm in size (0.08 to 0.2 inches) and they’ve slender, elongated bodies with long legs and a pair of long antennae.

Fungus gnats have a pair of transparent dark Y-shaped wings with visible veins on them.

These flies are not strong fliers like mosquitoes. They’ve an erratic zigzag flight pattern which makes them appear as jumping bugs rather than flies.

Fungus gnats are associated with damp soils beds, compost piles, and decaying organic wastes where they lay their eggs.

Fungus gnats gather around windows while they’re trying to make their way inside the house to reach the light source. Yes, glowing light bulbs attract fungus gnats.

If you’re seeing fungus gnats indoors, then chances are they’re breeding in the soil beds of potted plants, drain wastes, and litter boxes if you have any.

These flies lay their eggs in the damp soil beds. Fungus gnat larvae, which are tiny white legless worms with a small black head, hatch out of the eggs.

Fungus gnats are nuisance flies in the house. They don’t bite and they don’t carry any diseases either.

However, their larvae can inflict damage to plants by feeding on their roots.

Many other household fly species such as fruit flies, phorid flies (which are also known as scuttle flies) and drain flies can also be in house near windows.

But these flies aren’t black. A fruit fly is a yellowish-tan fly with red eyes. Phorid flies are tan or brown, and drain flies are light tan to gray with a fuzzy appearance.

Fungus gnats are common in the kitchen and because of their shape and size, they’re often confused with fruit flies. But they’re not.

Carpenter Ants

Carpenter ants are bigger than any other ants that infest homes. These ants are black with body size ranging from 6 to 12 mm (0.24 to 0.47 inches).

These ants have a well-defined rounded thorax and prominent head with visible elbow-like antennae. Unlike termites, carpenter ants have narrow pinched waists.

There can be two reasons for the presence of carpenter ants near windows. First, they’re making their way inside the house through any hole or gap in the windowsills.

Second, there’s an existing nest in the windowsills or window frames, especially when there’s a moisture problem in the window.

The nests of carpenter ants have a queen ant which is the biggest ant in the colony. The size of the queen ant can reach up to 18 mm (0.7 inches).

These ants nest in wooden structures and eat protein rich and sugar rich foods in the kitchen. Unlike termites, they don’t feed on the wood.

However, their presence in the house can be a risk to the structural integrity of the house because they can make the beams and joists weak by nesting in them.

Their presence also indicates that there’s a moisture issue in the house which is attracting these ants.

Pill Bugs      

Pill bugs, which are also known as roly-polies, are not insects. They’re tiny isopods closely related to crustaceans like shrimp and crabs.

They got their name from their ability to roll like a pill or ball if you threaten them.

They have a round and a bit elongated bodies with segments resembling an armadillo. Their sizes range from 12 to 15 mm (0.47 to 0.60 inches) and they’re dark brown or dark gray.

They possess two antennae at the front of their head, though these are not always immediately visible. They also have compound eyes, gill-like breathing structures called pleopods, and a pair of tail-like structures known as uropods.

Pill bugs habitat is moist and dark environments with decaying organic matter as their food source.

Moisture attracts these bugs to the house.

So, their presence around the windows indicates dampness in the windowsills due to condensation, recent rain, or a nearby water source or organic waste pile.

Extreme weather conditions, such as dry weather or cold, can also make them to congregate on the windows trying to make their way inside the house.

The presence of these bugs is a nuisance. They don’t cause any structural damage and they don’t carry diseases.

Carpenter Bees

Carpenter bees are robust and stout bees that people confuse with bumblebees. Adult carpenter bees grow up to 25 mm (1 inch) in size.

They’re black with shiny hairless abdomen. But there are overlays of metallic blue or metallic green color giving them an iridescent appearance.

Some of these bees can exhibit yellow, orange, or white hairs on their thorax. The male bees, which are bigger than the females, have white or yellow markings on their head making them appear as blackish-yellow insects.

Carpenter bees nest in the wood. They’ve strong mandibles that they use to drill holes into the wood to lay their eggs.

So, wooden windowsills and window frames attract them, especially if the wood is old, damp, and unpainted.

The reflecting light from the window glass also attract these bees because they think it’s a water source reflecting the sunlight.

These bees aren’t harmful to humans, but they bring some risks with them.

They’re a threat to wooden structures. The females dig tunnels inside the wood to create a nest. That can compromise the structural integrity over time, especially if the tunnels are numerous and the bees have used it repeatedly.

But unlike termites, carpenter bees don’t cause any wood infestation. And they don’t kill livestock either.

The males are extremely territorial and intimidating. They hover around the nesting site protecting from any intruder such as birds and rodents.

This behavior can cause the male bees to bite humans with their mandibles.

It’s important to note that the male bees don’t have a stinger. The females have it. And females rarely use it unless you try to handle or provoke them.

Carpenter bees bites or stings can cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. These allergic reactions resemble the reactions from stings from other bees.

If there’s a carpenter bee nest on the windows that you’ll notice holes on the window sill.

Springtails

Springtails are tiny jumping bugs that live in decaying organic matter and in plants.

These bugs are absolutely harmless. And they are always on the lookout for the moisture sources during the dry season.

Extreme heat outdoors can make these bugs jump from the plants near the windows and end up on the window sills.

They can also enter homes through the windows. Once inside, they’ll move to your bathroom, basement, and kitchen where there’s high water usage and food sources such as molds and fungi.

Springtails come in different colors ranging from black, white, brown to metallic colors like green and blue.

An adult springtail grows up to 2 mm or 0.4 inches in size. It has six legs, a pair of long antennae and there’s a spring-like organ, known as furcula, tucked under it’s abdomen.

You can’t see the organ. They use the furcula to push themselves against the surface and jump. It’s a typical behavior of theirs when they’re escaping predation or moving from one place to another.

Springtails in the house don’t cause any damage. They don’t bite and they don’t bring any health risks either.

However, they can end up in unlikely places, like your bed, while they’re looking for their ideal place in the house to hide.

Booklice

Booklice are tiny moisture bugs that feed on the molds and fungi that form on the damp surfaces. Despite their name, they’re not true lice like head lice or pubic lice, that infect humans.

They got their name as booklice because of their lice-like appearance and because of their frequent presence in books, cardboard boxes, and other paper products with molds and mildew.

Booklice are tiny bugs with soft elongated bodies resembling baby palmetto bugs. They’re extremely small bugs that grow between 1 to 2 mm (0.04 to 0.08 inches) in size.

These small bugs are light-colored, ranging from translucent white to tan or gray, depending on the species or on their diet.

Some booklice can become dark brown or black bugs if they consistently feed on the black molds that form on places like bathroom, kitchen, and basement.

Booklice gather on humid or damp windowsills, looking for fragments of molds to feed. The weather outdoors can also make them to look for an alternative residence.

Cold weather and heat outdoors make these small insects to make a move inside the house. And they appear near windows looking for a crevice to move in.

Booklice in the house will target areas where there’s high water usage. So, they gravitate towards bathrooms, kitchens, and basements where they hide in the crevices on the floor and walls.

They’ll feed on the molds that form on the shower grout, appliances, sinks, walls, and fixtures. Small dead insects also form a part of their diets.

Booklice are nuisance pests that sometimes end up on your bed.

But they don’t bring any health risks. Their numbers shoot up fast if you don’t control the humidity in the house.

Boxelder Bugs

Boxelder bugs are tiny black bugs with red or orange lines on their backs.

These bugs are active during the spring and summer months. And their size varies between 0.25 inches and 0.5 inches.

Boxelder bugs will gather on the windowsills or near the windows during late fall, especially when the window gets direct sunlight.

During the winter, you’ll notice boxelder bugs near the windows basking in the sunlight.

But it’s not that they’re taking a sun bath before winter arrives.

They’re waiting to find any thin crevice in the windows or walls to enter the house.

Boxelder bugs enter homes during the late fall because they look for a warm place to spend their winters.

That’s why, if there are too many boxelder bugs in your outdoors, then they can sneak inside the houses.

Therefore, it’s important to get rid of boxelder bugs before they invade the house.

Boxelder bugs will not cause any damage inside the house.

But like the stink bugs, boxelder bugs can also emit a stench if you smash them or disturb them.

How To Get Rid Of Tiny Bugs In House Near Windows

Hire a Pest Control Company

Your best approach to get rid of window bugs is to hire a pest control professional.

The professional exterminator will remove the bugs from their source, offering you a long-term solution.

However, if you want to go down the DIY route, then follow the steps below.

Seal The Cracks On The Windows

The cracks on the window sills are entry points for most bugs in the house. Bugs, such as junk bugs, that at times accidentally get on the windows can also use these crevices to sneak inside the house.

The cracks on the windows are also secret hideouts for ectoparasites such as bed bugs and bat bugs. Parasitic wasps can also use these tiny holes to make their way into the house.

So, seal those gaps with a reliable sealant. And ensure that you use weather strips to close the gap between the window pane and sill.

Scatter Diatomaceous Earth On The Window Sill

Diatomaceous earth is a natural way to control pests. They consist of fine sharp particles, which are known as diatoms, that penetrate the bodies of the pests and kills them by triggering a dehydration from the inside.

It also acts as a natural pest repellent.

Scatter it around the windows and let it sit to do it’s work. It’ll help you to solve the bug problem that begins from the windows.

There are also other ways to keep away bugs from the windows. One of them is essential oils.

Peppermint essential oil is a proven bug repellent. Spraying it daily on the window sill and frame keep bugs away.

Bugs like bed bugs also hate the smell of peppermint.

Control Humidity

Humidity problem in the house makes homes a magnet for many pests and insects. The humidity is mainly because of leaky pipes and choked drains.

Prolonged neglect of these issues causes the dampness to spread to the walls, windows, floors, and even to your furniture, leading to molds and fungi that attract bugs.

Not to mention, moisture attracts other bugs such as palmetto bugs and termites that bring significant risks with themselves.

So, fix any leaky pipes, repair any damages in the walls and floor, and install a dehumidifier in the house if you live in a tropical climate.

Install Window Screens With Fines Mesh

Meshed window screens prevent flies such as fungus gnats, fruit flies, and flying beetles such as carpet beetles from flying indoors.

Installing them on the windows during the spring and summer months will drastically reduce the chances of any flies invading your home.

Maintain Cleanliness

Decaying food and organic debris are both food sources and breeding grounds for bugs.

Keep your yard clean and don’t allow debris such as leaf litter and decaying wood blocks to accumulate in the yard.

Maintain cleanliness inside the home too. Bugs feed on wastes, so, ensure that the damp areas of the house, such as kitchen and bathroom, are clean without any moisture issues.

Store food, including pet food in airtight plastic containers to prevent them from spilling over and to keep pantry pests such as rice weevils away.

Remove Excessive Vegetation Near Windows

Plants and tall grasses touching the windows make it easy for the bugs to use them as a bridge to cross over to your home.

So, trim or remove any unnecessary or excessive vegetation that maybe facilitating the bugs to get onto the windows, and from there, inside the house.

Summary

There you have it, a list of 9 tiny black bugs in house near windows. There are many factors that play a role in drawing these bugs to the windows.

One of them is an infestation on your property. Other factors such as light, moisture on the window sills, and the presence of food sources in the house also draw these bugs to your windows.

So, have you been noticing any other window bugs that are black and not on the list? If yes, what are they?

Share it by mentioning them in the comments section below.