7 Tiny Flying Bugs In The Bedroom At Night

Fungus gnats and drain flies are the two common tiny flying bugs in the bedroom at night. 

These small flies spillover from the bathroom and kitchen to your bedroom when their numbers spike up. 

The glowing light bulb from the bedroom also attracts these flies because they’re attracted to light.

However, I’ve found out these flies are not the only flies in the bedroom. 

In this guide, I’ll reveal five little flies in the bedroom at night that can easily slip through your prying eyes. 

You’ll find out what these flies look like, where they come from, and the best ways to get rid of them. 

Let’s dive right in. 

7 Tiny Flying Insects In The Bedroom At Night

Your bathroom, kitchen, and the outdoors are the sources of flies in the bedroom at night.

Flies, such as fruit flies and drain flies, that nest in bathroom and kitchen spillover to your bedroom when the infestation is severe.

However, carpet beetles and clothes moths fly in from the outdoors to lay their eggs. 

Let’s get into each of these bugs to find out what they look like and go deep into the reasons for their appearance.

Carpet Beetles

Adult carpet beetles are 3/16 inches in size, oval, and they come in various colors such as brown, black, and spotted. 

The brown and black carpet beetles have a shiny appearance, and they have a pair of developed wings and six legs.

They either fly in through the open windows or they crawl through the gaps and cracks on the bedroom windowsills.

These beetles enter the bedroom to lay their eggs in the clothing storage sections such as closets, wardrobe, and dresser drawers. 

Carpet beetles in their larval form are destructive pests that feed on natural fibers such as wool, silk, cotton, fur, leather, and fur. 

The adults lay their eggs directly on the food source of the larvae. 

The carpet beetle larvae, which is a half-an-inch long tapered bodied dark brown worm with hairy bodies, feed on the natural fabrics causing damages. 

The damages are in the form of chewed holes. They also leave behind their fecal deposits on the fabric.

Woolen carpets, rugs, clothing and even your bed sheets are targets for the carpet beetle larvae. 

These larvae don’t bite. But their bristles cause intense itching if they make contact with your skin. 

Clothes Moths

Another fabric pest that enters bedroom to lay their eggs on natural fibers are the clothes moths. 

Cloth moths are beige or off-white inch long moths that enter bedrooms from the outdoors. 

These moths have a pair of wings with hairy bristles on them. These hairy bristles give these moths a fuzzy appearance. 

Clothes moths in the house can be difficult to spot. These moths prefer darkness, so they get inside the clothing storage sections to lay their eggs. 

Clothes moth larvae are also destructive pests. But the adult moths aren’t. 

The clothes moth larvae, which are half-an-inch long tiny white worm with a black head, feed on the fabrics. 

These worms cause damages like the carpet beetle larvae.

Over time, the clothes moth larvae develop a casing. The casing is made from the silken threads that the clothes moth larva secrete.

The lint of fabric, dust, and dirt gets stuck on the casing, giving it a brownish look. 

The larvae drag the casing along with themselves. They need the casing for protection and during the pupae stage. 

Both clothes moth larvae and carpet beetle larvae can end up on your bed searching for food. That’s the reason they’re also known as bed worms. 

Fruit Flies

Fruit flies are tiny tan flies that are 1/8 inches in size. They’ve clear wings that cover their entire bodies. 

The most notable feature of fruit flies is their pair of red eyes. 

These flies body shape is oval, just like the average house flies. But house flies are bigger and darker than fruit flies.

Fruit flies primarily breed outdoors in decaying organic matter and wet soil beds.

Overripe fruits and vegetables that you keep in the open draw these flies into the house. 

Once inside, they’ll lay eggs in those fruits. They won’t shy away from laying their eggs in the gunk blocking the drains, wet soil beds of indoor plants, and even inside kitchen appliances like dishwashers.

Initially fruit flies limit themselves to places like kitchen and bathroom where there’s high dampness and wastes.

But as their numbers spike up, they end up in your bedroom, living room, and in other areas of the house. 

Fungus Gnats 

Fungus gnats are small black flies in the house and kitchen that are not fruit flies. These flies’ size is equal to fruit flies’ size, meaning that fungus gnats also grow up to 1/8 inches in size.

However, there are significant visual and anatomical differences between these two flies.

Fungus gnats look like mosquitoes, but they sting or bite. They’ve elongated slender bodies with long legs and a pair of long antennae. 

Transparent wings cover their bodies. But many fungus gnats can also have dark wings. 

Fungus gnats don’t fly in a straight line like fruit flies and mosquitoes. They’re weak fliers with a short flight path. 

So, when fungus gnats fly, they appear more like jumping bugs rather than flies.

Indoors, fungus gnats primarily lay eggs in the wet soil beds of houseplants.

But they can also lay their eggs in the kitchen wastes, drain wastes, and inside appliances like coffee makers.

Moisture also attracts fungus gnats. So, they can even nest in the bathroom, making your bathroom a source of fungus gnat infestation. 

Drain Flies 

Drain flies, which are also known as moth flies or sewer flies, primarily breed in the gunk blocking the drains in the house.

Drain flies are 0.125 inches in size, gray or brownish with a pair of wings. Hairy bristles cover their bodies giving them a fuzzy appearance. 

These flies either enter homes from the outdoors or from the damaged drains.

I’ve had drain fly infestation in my house whenever there was a serious plumbing issue or drainage problem. 

Wastes blocking the drains or the breaks on the drainpipes caused the drain flies to pop out from them. 

That lead to a ton of drain flies in the house. Initially though they appeared as tiny black specks on the sinks and on kitchen countertops. 

Drain flies in the bedroom at night is a clear sign that the nearby bathroom has kitchen a drain fly infestation which is spilling over to your bedroom.

Plus, there are also waste and moisture problems in the house that are causing these flies to spread. 

Winged Ants And Flying Termites

Both flying termites and winged ants are the reproductives of their respective species. 

These are known as alates. Ants and termites in their winged form leave their current colonies to find new nesting sites. 

They enter homes through the open windows and doors in swarms. 

Once inside, these flies mate, lose their wings, and drill inside the wooden structures to start an infestation. 

Winged ants and flying termites have subtle differences that can be difficult to notice. 

You can check out the video below to know more about their differences. 

How To Get Rid Of Flies In The Bedroom?

After a lot of trial and error, I’ve realized that the key to getting rid of flies in the bedroom is to remove their sources. 

Cosmetic efforts like placing traps and using sprays work. But if you don’t eliminate their sources, they come back. 

Here’s how I did it. It worked flawlessly.

Removing Wastes

Wastes, such as organic wastes outdoors and food wastes, are magnet for these flies. 

So, the first thing that I did is that I didn’t allow waste to accumulate in my home. 

I followed proper garbage disposal practices. I disposed of wastes in the garbage cans, of both indoors and outdoors, daily. 

I ensured that the compost bin in my backyard is always covered. And most importantly, there are no food wastes, stains, or crumbs, in my kitchen. 

Cleaning The Drains

The sink drains are hidden sources of these tiny flies. The gunk blocking the drains are the egg-laying grounds and food sources for the maggots. 

So, I ensured that my sinks drains were gunk-free. I used a drain cleaner to clean the drains. 

However, you can also unclog the drains with the help of ammonia, baking soda, and white vinegar. 

If there’s any plumbing or drainage issue, then hire a plumber to fix it. These issues make it easy for drain flies to breed and multiply.

Removing Moisture Sources

All these tiny flies in the bedroom at night are moisture bugs. Damp wastes and humidity attract them. 

So, it’s essential to eliminate moisture sources in and out of the house. 

Fixing leaky pipes and faucets and refraining from overwatering the plants both indoors and outdoors lead to a significant decline in flies activity in my house.

Water leakages in the house can cause molds and fungi which are food sources for many damp bugs. 

The larvae of these flies also feed on them. 

So, removing the molds with a mold cleaner denies them the precious food sources that insects need to survive. 

I also ensured that I don’t let water accumulate in the pan underneath the refrigerator. This water reeks of an odor that causes flies to enter inside the refrigerator.

Removing sources of standing water, such as pots, old tires, and holes, in the yard reduced the dampness levels in the yard soil. 

That kept the flies away because dry soil and no decaying wastes are not their nutritional and breeding sources.

Ensuring that humidity levels inside the house are under control also helps, especially when you live in a hot and humid region. 

You can do it by installing a dehumidifier in the house.

Cleaning The Kitchen Appliances

Most people don’t realize that kitchen appliances such as dishwashers and coffee makers can be the secret breeding grounds for these flies.

And why shouldn’t they be! These appliances have food wastes in them, and they’re wet from the inside. 

Flies will sneak inside these appliances to lay their eggs. The dishwasher’s drain hose is the underlying hidden entry point for these flies. 

Treating The Houseplants’ Potting Soil

If there are any indoor plants in your bedroom or in other areas of the house, then there are fly larvae in the potting soil. 

Eliminate them by using a hydrogen peroxide spray. 

The perfect combination to prepare the spray is by mixing one part of 3% hydrogen peroxide with four parts of water. 

Pour the mixture in a spray bottle and damp the soil beds with the spray. 

I prefer to remove the upper layer of potting soil, and discard it, before using the spray. 

It exposes the hidden maggots in the soil bed making it easy to neutralize them. 

Vacuum Cleaning

This step is specifically important if you’ve seen carpet beetles and clothes moths in the bedroom. 

Chances are these flying insects must have laid their eggs which you don’t want to hatch.

So, vacuum cleaning the entire bedroom, especially the closet, wardrobe, dresser drawer, carpets, and rugs.

Clean the bed mattress and the storage section, if any, underneath the bed. 

It’ll be best to wash the clothes and bed linen in hot water. Washing the fabric in hot water will kill any eggs or larvae in them. 

Using Fly Sprays

Pyrethrin-based sprays always work on flies. I used the spray on places where I’ve noticed intense flies activity. 

However, I was cautious while using the spray in the kitchen. I didn’t use it in the kitchen pantry where I stored my foods. 

I only sprayed it underneath the kitchen sink, kitchen counter, and on the place where I keep kitchen trash bin. 

I used the spray in the bathroom too, especially underneath fixtures like bathtub, bathroom sink, and behind the cabinet.

Please read the safety instructions before using the spray. 

Yellow Sticky Fly Traps

Being tiny, many of these flies will escape the spray. The solution? Yellow sticky traps.

Academics in the University of Florida proved in their research work that bright yellow color attracts flies. 

That’s why yellow sticky traps work so well to lure these little flies and entrap them.

I keep these traps in each corner of the bedroom and underneath the bed.

I also kept a few in places like underneath the kitchen sink, bathroom sink, on the potting soil of indoor plants, and near kitchen appliances. 

Result? I woke up to tens of flies stuck in these traps. 

I learned that it’s best to keep the traps in the morning for 24 hours. You shouldn’t disturb the traps. 

Also, dispose of the traps the following morning.

If you’ve enough time, then you can also prepare a DIY vinegar trap with the help of apple cider vinegar, bowl, plastic wrap, and a few drops of dish soap liquid.

Check out the video below on how to make one.

Seal The Entry Points

The cracks on the windowsills and walls are the entry points for many home-invading crawlies and flies. 

They’ll sneak through these gaps and secretly hide in your home causing an infestation. 

So, sealing them is the best option to prevent them from entering. 

I used silicone-based sealants to caulk the crevices. These sealants are tough, durable, waterproof, and most importantly, bugs can’t chew through them. 

Installing Window Screens With Fine Mesh

Flies and flying beetles can also fly through the open windows. It’s quite common during spring and summer when these insects are active. 

The best way to prevent these pests from flying into the house through open windows is by installing window screens with fine mesh.

The meshes don’t block the air circulation and the gaps are too small for the flies to pass through. 

And these screens are vital in preventing flying termites and winged ants from entering the house.

Repeat The Above Steps

Unfortunately, getting rid of these tiny flies isn’t a one-time activity. 

You’ll have to be vigilant about any signs of these flies and follow the above steps consistently to ensure that they don’t come back. 

I used to slack off after implementing the above steps once only to get irritated by these pesky flies after a few weeks. 

So, repeating the above steps at least twice a week, especially in the summer, is essential to keep bugs and flies away from your house. 

Consistently cleaning the home and yard, using repellents like peppermint oil or white vinegar, and keeping your bathroom and kitchen waste-free go a long way to prevent a fly infestation.

Final Thoughts

Tiny flying bugs in the bedroom is a symptom of a bigger problem in the house. These flies indicate that there’s an infestation that you’ve been ignoring. 

The best ways to get rid of these is to target their sources where they breed and prevent them from coming back.

The steps laid out in this post will help you achieve your goal of a fly-free bedroom. 

However, keep in mind that these steps are not just a one-time exercise. These flies can lay eggs in various areas of the house. 

So, being vigilant about their signs and repeating the above steps are the best ways to prevent these flies from coming back.

If you’re dealing with a severe infestation or flies are coming back despite repeated efforts, then hire a pest controller to address the problem.