7 Tiny Black Bugs In Kitchen Sinks

The kitchen is one of the most overlooked places in your homes that bugs can infest.

The wastes choking the sink drains become the feeding and breeding grounds for many bugs and flies.

In this guide, you’ll find out seven tiny black bugs in kitchen sinks and drains that can become a nuisance in your home and kitchen.

You’ll find out why these sink bugs target your kitchen sink and how to get rid of quickly and safely.

Keep reading.

7 Tiny Black Bugs In Kitchen Sinks And Drains

1. Drain flies
2. Fungus Gnats
3. Flies
4. Springtails
5. Black ants
6. Baby cockroaches
7. Weevils

One common thread that runs across these bugs is moisture bugs.

It means that moisture is a critical element for them to survive. That’s one of the reasons for seeing these tiny bugs in the kitchen sink.

They also look for food sources in your kitchen to feed. That can lead to both damage and contamination of your stored food. 

However, there are other reasons too. 

Let’s find out how and why these small bugs infest kitchen sinks.

Drain Flies – The Tiny Black Moth-Like Flying Bug In Kitchen Sinks

The most common tiny black bugs in the kitchen sink are the drain flies.

Drain flies are tiny fuzzy black flies that resemble moths. They infest choked kitchen sink drains.

Drain flies look like small black specks of dirt with wings crawling on the sink’s surface.

Drain flies will lay eggs on the slime and sludge, blocking the drains. The gunk choking the drains is damp and has organic wastes.

These features make your kitchen sink drains ideal for drain flies to lay their eggs.

And these wastes are a delicacy for the drain flies’ larvae too. 

The larvae that hatch out of the eggs feast on these wastes blocking the drains. They also feed on the thin layer of waste deposits on the drain’s interior. 

The drain fly larva looks like a tiny creamy worm that sometimes ventures out of the drain holes, searching for an alternative food source.

They’ll feed on the food droppings and food stains on the kitchen sink.

These larvae can even get on hard surfaces like kitchen countertops and floors.

Drain flies are common in the bathroom too.

They can lay eggs and breed in the waste choking the bathroom sink drains, bathtub drain, and shower drains.

The tiny larvae of drain flies come out of these drains and scavenge for food on the bathroom floor. 

You can see these tiny worms curled up on the shower grouts. They’re feeding on the wastes stuck in the grouts in this position. 

When these larvae mature into adults, the adult drain flies emerge out of the drain holes. 

You notice these fuzzy black flies on the kitchen sink at that time. 

These flies can be either drain flies trying to sneak inside the drains to lay eggs or recently matured drain flies.

Drain flies thrive in the damp slime and sludge that chokes the drains.

So, they always have pathogens stuck in their bodies.

That makes the carriers of bacteria that can cause diseases if you consume the food they sat upon. 

However, drain flies are nuisance pests. They don’t bite. 

The problem is that their numbers shoot up quite fast and suddenly they’re in every room of your home. 

Drain flies can also infest bathroom, basement, laundry room, and basement drains. 

The oddest way of drain flies infestation spreading in your home is when they nest in the wastes choking the wastewater disposal drains of your property.

As their numbers increase, they follow the opposite direction of the wastewater flow and emerge out of the sink drain holes inside your home.

Many people confuse drain flies with fungus gnats. It’s because fungus gnats can also be in your kitchen sink. 

Fungus Gnats In Kitchen Sinks

Like the drain flies, fungus gnats can also lay eggs on the scum and sludge that form on the interiors of the sink drains.

Fungus gnats are tiny black flies that breed on the organic wastes like compost piles, leaf litter, and damp soil beds.

So, the wastes choking the kitchen sink drains are their one of the go-to food sources and egg-laying grounds.

They look like mosquitoes. But fungus gnats don’t sting.

These are nuisance flies that sneak inside homes by following the glowing light bulbs inside your home.

So, you may also notice them flocking on the windows trying to make their way inside your home.

Light attract fungus gnats.

So, they can also be in your bedroom buzzing around the light bulbs and acting like a nuisance.

When inside, fungus gnats gravitate towards the damp areas of your home.

So, your kitchen, and bathroom too, is the area they’ll target.

Fungus gnats will feed on the food wastes in the kitchen trash bins. Food stains on the kitchen sinks and kitchen countertops are also their food sources.

As fungus gnats feed on the damp organic wastes, so they can also get inside appliances like refrigerator, dishwasher, and coffee maker.

They’ll get inside these appliances to feed on the food stuck inside them. Not to mention, the damp interiors of these appliances also attract the fungus gnats.

Both fungus gnats and drain flies are not strong fliers. They’ve a zigzag flying pattern and their flight path doesn’t last long.

So, when they take off, it looks like they’re jumping bugs.

Black Flies In The Kitchen Sink

House flies, phorid flies, and fruit flies can also be on your kitchen sink. The stench of rotting food and food stains attract these flies to your kitchen sink.

These are common domestic flies that invade homes when there’s a damp waste problem in your property.

When they’re inside home, these flies will target your kitchen because that’s where the food wastes are.

Adult And Baby Cockroaches In Kitchen Sinks

The reasons for cockroaches infesting drains are the same as the reason for drain flies.

Sewer roaches or drain roaches will lay their eggs on the gunk that chokes the drains because both the adult and baby roaches feed on the slop.

Moisture is a vital element for roaches’ survival. 

And your kitchen sink is an ideal source of moisture for them because of regular water usage.

To top that up, the stored food and food wastes in the kitchen are also food sources for roaches. 

The wet food crumbs and the food stains on the kitchen sink draw the baby roaches from the drain.

These baby roaches are curious, and once they’re out, they’ll look for alternative food sources. 

And they can get into your kitchen pantry and kitchen cabinets looking for food.

Those drains can be the primary source of cockroach infestation in your home. 

Baby roaches look like bed bugs, but they’re not flat like bed bugs. 

Drain roaches are oriental roaches, which are dark brown. And they’re pretty standard in southern states like Florida, Louisiana, and Texas.

Their babies look like the miniature version of oriental roaches, and they’ve got a pair of visible antennae. 

The sink drains in your bathroom, laundry room, garage, and basement can be the nesting grounds for drain roaches.

Tiny Black Ants In The Kitchen Sink

Unlike the drain flies and the cockroaches, the black ants don’t build their nests inside the kitchen sink drain.

They nest in the thin gaps and cracks on the kitchen floor, kitchen cabinets, kitchen furniture, and even inside the walls.

The food waste and the food stains on the kitchen sink draw these tiny black ants to the kitchen sink.

Black ants feed on sugary food products, protein-rich food, and greasy food stains. 

The smells from these things attract the black ants that scavenge your kitchen for food. 

When a random black ant finds the food on the kitchen sink, it will draw other ants.

How?

Pheromones that these ants emit are a means of communication. 

It’s a smell that ants leave behind while looking for a place to establish a colony or food.

The other ants will pick the scent and reach the food source or the nesting site.

So, if your kitchen sink is dirty with food stains and food wastes stuck in the drain holes, ants in your kitchen will surely find them.

These tiny black ants, mostly sugar ants, will end up on your kitchen sink in droves. 

You can also notice big black ants on your kitchen sinks, known as carpenter ants.

Weevils – The Pantry Pest That Lands Up In The Kitchen Sink

Weevils are tiny dark brown grain beetles that infest stored grains. 

They’ve got a visible snout on their mouth, which they pierce inside the grains to draw the nutrients.

Weevils are pantry pests, and they’re also moisture bugs. 

Primarily, weevils infest stored grains in your kitchen pantry and kitchen cabinets.

While looking for moisture, these tiny pantry bugs can crawl onto places like kitchen countertops and kitchen sinks.

When their numbers increase, they become noticeable everywhere in your kitchen, including kitchen sinks.

You can also find weevils in your bathroom if too many of them are in your home.

Weevils are harmless bugs. They don’t carry any diseases, and neither do they bite.

However, they’re nuisance bugs because they breed fast. And they can spoil your stored grains too.

But they won’t transmit any pathogens to your stored grains because they don’t carry any.

Weevils that infest grains and stored food are dark brown. However, many of them look black too.

Springtails In The Kitchen Sink

Springtails are tiny black jumping bugs that sneak inside homes during the summer months.

They’re also moisture bugs.

When the weather outdoors becomes hot and dry, they sneak inside homes looking for damp and cooler places.

Springtails are common bathroom bugs because the bathroom is humid, damp, and has more water usage than anywhere else in your home.

But, at times, springtails can also land up on your kitchen sink. 

Your bathroom and kitchen are more likely to have springtails if there’s a fountain, swimming pool, or pond on your property.

Springtails are also common swimming pool bugs that accidentally land up in the swimming pool water.

Springtails will enter your home, kitchen, and bathroom through open doors, windows, and vents.

However, springtails are not pests. Springtails don’t bite, and they don’t spread any diseases. 

And they don’t carry any infestation risks either because home and kitchen are not ideal places for springtails to breed.

So, if you see a springtail in your kitchen sink, scoop it off the surface and throw it outside the window. 

How To Get Rid Of Bugs In The Kitchen Sink

The truth is that tiny bugs in the kitchen sink are a part of a bigger problem. 

And that problem is an infestation in your kitchen and home.

But your kitchen and kitchen sink can be the source of an infestation.

So, to eliminate these bugs, you must focus on other areas of your kitchen.

How to do it? Well, it’s easy. 

Let’s dive in.

Step#1 – Clean The Kitchen Sink And Unclog The Sink Drain To Eliminate The Bug Nests 

A dirty kitchen sink with food stains and waste is a magnet for these tiny black bugs.

So, to begin with, start by thoroughly cleaning the kitchen sink.

Ensure that you clean the kitchen drain holes as food particles and wastes are stuck in the drain’s holes.

Over time, they rot and stink, and they attract bugs.

Choked drains are nesting grounds for drain flies and drain roaches. 

If you haven’t been using the kitchen for days, the wastes choking the drains can also attract bugs. 

So, the first step to eliminating the bugs and possibly a bug infestation in your kitchen sink drains is to clean the drains.

There are many ways to clean the kitchen sink drains. 

You can pour a mixture of white vinegar and hot water into the drains.

That’ll clean the drain and eliminate the tiny bugs, bug eggs, and their larvae inside the drain. 

Ammonia is another alternative. 

Plus, there are many reliable drain cleaning products that you can use to clean the kitchen sink drains. 

You can also use a mixture of bleach and hot water. 

But please be cautious while using bleach. 

Exposure to bleach can cause breathing issues and eye irritation to sensitive people. 

And if it gets onto your skin, it can cause some nasty itching and skin infection.

On top of these, you need to keep two more things in mind if you’re using bleach.

First, bleach is corrosive. Repeated bleach usage to clean the kitchen sink drains will damage the kitchen sink and the drains.

Second, do not use bleach with any other cleaning substance.

For example, if you’ve already poured bleach inside the drains, don’t pour ammonia or white vinegar. 

Why?

If you mix bleach with other cleaning products, it triggers chemical reactions that result in the emission of harmful fumes.

Inhaling these fumes can be risky for your health. 

Step#2 – Clean Your Kitchen

The second step is essential to eliminate pantry pests like weevils in your kitchen sink and countertops. 

These pantry insects feed on the stored food and spillovers in your kitchen pantry shelves and cabinets. 

Therefore, do a thorough vacuum cleaning of your kitchen.

Use disinfectants and reliable kitchen cleaners to clean the hard surfaces like countertops and kitchen sink to remove any food stains.

We highly recommend using lemon or peppermint-based kitchen cleaners. 

The scent of these kitchen cleaners repels bugs, and they break down and remove the toughest of stains.

Also, don’t leave dirty food plates on the kitchen sink and anywhere else in your kitchen overnight.

They attract bugs.

And dispose of the food wastes from the kitchen garbage cans daily.

Accumulation of food wastes for days will emit stink that attracts bugs like roaches and ants.

Step#3 – Store Food In Sturdy Airtight Food Storage Containers

You’ll also need to store food in reliable and robust airtight food storage jars and containers. 

Else, bugs like roaches and weevils can chew through the flimsy layers of substandard food storage jars and access the stored food. 

Also, the food spillovers in the kitchen pantry will undoubtedly attract the baby roaches that come out of the drain holes. 

Poorly stored food can also draw rodents, roaches, ants, and many pantry pests.

So, after cleaning your kitchen, ensure that you store food in sturdy airtight storage containers.

Be particular about where you store your grains, cereals, flour, nuts, and spaghettis. 

Use quality airtight storage as they’re the primary targets for pantry pests, including weevils and flour beetles.

Step#4 – Seal The Gaps And Cracks On The Kitchen Floor, Walls, And Storage

The fourth step is critical for preventing ants and roaches from nesting in your kitchen. 

Ants, roaches, and crawlies like centipedes will hide and nest in these thin crevices in your kitchen floor, walls, furniture, and storage. 

So, check out for these cracks. Caulk them with a silicone-based sealant. 

Silicone-based sealants are sturdy and durable, and bugs can’t chew through them. 

However, ants in the kitchen can be a real menace. 

If there are too many of them in your kitchen, then you’ll need to take steps to eliminate ants in the kitchen. 

Step#5 – Control The Moisture In Your Kitchen And Home

All the tiny bugs in kitchen sinks are moisture bugs. Moisture is a critical element they depend on to keep themselves alive. 

Leaking pipes increase the dampness levels in the kitchen furniture, cabinets, pantry shelves, and even in the walls.

That leads to damage in these places. High dampness in walls and floors make these places weak, and hence it’s easier for the bugs to drill into them and hide.

So, to deter bugs from infesting your kitchen, you must fix leaky pipes that increase the dampness levels inside the kitchen.

Check out the plumbing sections underneath sinks and dishwashers. If water leaks out, seal the leaky areas with a waterproof sealant. 

If it needs professional help, you might have to hire a plumber to do it.

Step#6 – Use Window Screens On The Kitchen Windows And Vents

Window shields are essential, especially in the spring and summer months, when the bugs are active.

Many bugs fly in, like drain flies, roaches, springtails, and even weevils can fly in or crawl inside your kitchen through these open windows.

So, install window screens with fine meshes on the windows. It’ll stop the bugs from flying and crawling inside your kitchen. 

You can also use doors strips that cover the gaps between the window panel and the window frame. 

Those gaps are easy entry points for many bugs. 

Step#7 – And Finally, Use A Drain Cover For Kitchen Sinks

It’s common among many homeowners not to use kitchen sink drain covers. But you should.

Why?

It will eliminate any chances of bugs sneaking inside the drains and multiplying. 

It’ll also stop any bug inside the drain from popping out from the drain holes.

Drain covers are cheap and highly practical in stopping bugs from showing up in the kitchen sink drains. 

You can use drain covers for kitchen sinks and all the sinks in your bathroom, basement, garage, and laundry rooms. 

Summary

The seven common tiny bugs in kitchen sinks are –

1. Drain flies
2. Fungus Gnats
3. Flies
4. Baby cockroaches
5. Tiny black ants
6. Weevils 
7. Springtails

This guide revealed why these tiny bugs show up in your kitchen sink and how to get rid of them.

But remember that your kitchen has stored food, and water usage is relatively high in your kitchen. 

That makes your kitchen attractive to not just these stink bugs but many other moisture bugs like spider beetles, gnats, house flies, psocids mites or drain mites, etc.

So, you must keep your kitchen clean, seal the entry points for these bugs, and fix water leakages that increase the moisture levels inside the kitchen.