Finding pests in your home is always stressful, and it’s even worse when you don’t know what type of pest you’re dealing with. If you see tiny white bugs in your house, there are several types of insects you could be dealing with. This guide will help you determine what they are based on location, appearance, and habits.
This guide will:
Termites are a common household pest that causes the most structural harm, creating around $5 billion in damage and repair costs each year in the U.S. Some castes of subterranean termites are white. These small, clear-white bugs typically live underground near the perimeter of your home, so it’s extremely uncommon to see subterranean termites gathered inside. Unless they’re swarming during mating season, when they are no longer white, or you have an extreme infestation on your hands, you probably won’t know subterranean termites are nearby. Worker subterranean termites are small white bugs, while soldiers have white bodies with orange-brown heads and large jaws.
Webbing clothes moths measure about 1/2 inch long and are white-cream in color. They’re a common household pest with worm-like larvae that feed on natural fibers such as wool and cashmere. You’ll typically find these small white insects in closets, built-in storage drawers, and trunks. They damage clothing by leaving small, clustered holes. If you notice tiny white moths or larvae, it’s time to take immediate action to protect your wardrobe.
Also known as bark lice or booklice, psocids are so small and white that they’re incredibly difficult to spot with the naked eye, often measuring about 1/32 to 1/4 of an inch in length. Psocids like dark, moist places with mold and mildew, meaning you’ll usually find them in bathrooms or kitchens if they make their way indoors. They’re also often discovered near books stored in damp conditions, as they have been known to eat the glue used to bind pages.
You’ll typically find grain mites in your kitchen, where you store dry goods and grains. These small white bugs have a pearly-white tone. Grain mites love high moisture and humidity and feed on processed grains, wheat germ, yeast, cheese, flour, and cereal. These tiny white bugs often enter your kitchen in packaged foods. White kitchen mites reproduce rapidly, especially if your pantry is warm and humid. Females are capable of laying up to 800 eggs in a lifetime. Grain mites leave a brownish tinge called mite dust on contaminated food, which is typically the easiest way to spot if you have an infestation since they’re usually too small to see.
Dust mites are extremely tiny white bugs that resemble fine dust when gathered in large numbers. They are practically microscopic and difficult to detect individually. Dust mites often enter homes through thin gaps or cracks, seeking damp surfaces such as walls, floors, and furniture. Although dust mites don’t bite humans, their presence can trigger allergic reactions in sensitive individuals due to the proteins in their waste.
Contact Hawx Pest Control today for a free estimate, and let us help you regain peace of mind in your home.
This guide will:
- Help you determine what kind of bug is in your house
- Provide an overview of the most common tiny bugs that could be in your home
- Describe the location, appearance, and habits of common tiny bugs
- Explain how to get rid of tiny bugs in your home
Tiny Bug, Big Potential Problems
Sometimes, it can be tricky to identify the exact species of small white bugs in the home, as many young insects start out light in color and darken as they mature. Environmental factors like humidity, temperature, and available food sources can influence whether you’ll encounter little white bugs scurrying across your floorboards or lurking in your pantry. Certain conditions, like excess moisture or stored foods that have gone stale, may invite small white bugs in the house to settle in hidden corners.What are those little white bugs in your house?
Several common household pests are small and white. That number increases when you add any household pest that begins as small and white before reaching its adult stage. Below are some of the most common household pests that are small and white, along with their habits and where you’ll typically find them.Termites
Termites are a common household pest that causes the most structural harm, creating around $5 billion in damage and repair costs each year in the U.S. Some castes of subterranean termites are white. These small, clear-white bugs typically live underground near the perimeter of your home, so it’s extremely uncommon to see subterranean termites gathered inside. Unless they’re swarming during mating season, when they are no longer white, or you have an extreme infestation on your hands, you probably won’t know subterranean termites are nearby. Worker subterranean termites are small white bugs, while soldiers have white bodies with orange-brown heads and large jaws.
Clothes moths
Webbing clothes moths measure about 1/2 inch long and are white-cream in color. They’re a common household pest with worm-like larvae that feed on natural fibers such as wool and cashmere. You’ll typically find these small white insects in closets, built-in storage drawers, and trunks. They damage clothing by leaving small, clustered holes. If you notice tiny white moths or larvae, it’s time to take immediate action to protect your wardrobe.
Psocids
Also known as bark lice or booklice, psocids are so small and white that they’re incredibly difficult to spot with the naked eye, often measuring about 1/32 to 1/4 of an inch in length. Psocids like dark, moist places with mold and mildew, meaning you’ll usually find them in bathrooms or kitchens if they make their way indoors. They’re also often discovered near books stored in damp conditions, as they have been known to eat the glue used to bind pages.
Grain mites
You’ll typically find grain mites in your kitchen, where you store dry goods and grains. These small white bugs have a pearly-white tone. Grain mites love high moisture and humidity and feed on processed grains, wheat germ, yeast, cheese, flour, and cereal. These tiny white bugs often enter your kitchen in packaged foods. White kitchen mites reproduce rapidly, especially if your pantry is warm and humid. Females are capable of laying up to 800 eggs in a lifetime. Grain mites leave a brownish tinge called mite dust on contaminated food, which is typically the easiest way to spot if you have an infestation since they’re usually too small to see.
Mealybugs
Mealybugs often infest plants, especially perennials like fuchsias, gardenias, hibiscus, and citrus trees or grape vines. However, if you have a lot of houseplants, they can also settle in your indoor greenery. These small white bugs are oval-shaped, leaving a sticky, waxy residue behind. Mealybugs can weaken and damage plants by sucking their sap and causing leaves to wilt or drop prematurely.
Dust mites
Dust mites are extremely tiny white bugs that resemble fine dust when gathered in large numbers. They are practically microscopic and difficult to detect individually. Dust mites often enter homes through thin gaps or cracks, seeking damp surfaces such as walls, floors, and furniture. Although dust mites don’t bite humans, their presence can trigger allergic reactions in sensitive individuals due to the proteins in their waste.
White flies
White flies are related to aphids and mealybugs. These small white flying insects damage plants by sucking sap and excreting sticky honeydew. Their exact size depends on the species, but like mealybugs, they are notorious for causing harm to greenery. White flies are often found outdoors, yet they can be introduced into your home via infested houseplants. Before bringing any new plant indoors, check underneath its leaves to ensure it’s free of these tiny white pests.
Let the Experts at Hawx Help
No matter what kind of pests you face, the most effective solution is to call a professional pest control service like Hawx Pest Control. Our trained technicians provide safe, dependable treatments designed to tackle the root of the problem, not just the symptoms. We can also implement preventive strategies to help ensure that future infestations don’t take hold.Contact Hawx Pest Control today for a free estimate, and let us help you regain peace of mind in your home.
