From pantry bugs to tiny brown ants on your kitchen counter, little black bugs in the kitchen are no small matter. If you need to know how to get rid of bugs in your house, this guide can help you identify the type of bug and learn how to both eradicate the bugs and keep them from returning.
Getting rid of the pesky insects usually starts with inspecting and then thoroughly cleaning the areas they frequent. And then next steps typically depend on the type of bug in your home.
Common Little Black Bugs in the Kitchen
Understanding the types of bugs that infiltrate your kitchen and what attracts them to your space can help you manage them more effectively.
| Insect | Color | Food Source | Area of Infestation |
| Moth | Brown | Dry food, grains | Pantry, cabinet |
| Grain mite | Brown | Dry food, grains | Pantry, cabinet |
| Weevil | Brown | Dry food, grains | Pantry, cabinet |
| Carpet beetle | Brown, black | Grains, fibers | Pantry, closet, carpet |
| Fruit fly | Black | Decomposing fruits and vegetables, sugary liquid | Kitchen |
| Black ant | Black | Organic matter | Kitchen, windows, doors |
| Cockroach nymph | Brown | Crumbs, grease, organic matter | Kitchen, under sinks |
| Drain fly | Black | Decomposing organic matter | Sink drains, disposals |
| Gnats | Black | Sweet substances, moisture | Fruit bowl, drains, overwatered plants |
| Book lice | Brown, tan | Moisture | Wherever there is fungi or mold |
| Silverfish | Silver, gray | Organic matter, paper products | Humid, wet spaces |
Grain insects
Dry goods serve as the main food source for small black bugs in the kitchen such as moths, beetles, grain mites, and weevils. If there is evidence of these bugs in the cabinets or pantry, which can range from webbing to cocoons or live insects, it’s necessary to sort through dry pantry goods to ensure the problem doesn’t run deeper. If there’s any evidence of insects in a container, the contents will need to be thrown out. If the container is reusable, it’s important to clean it thoroughly before using it again.
It’s possible to get rid of moths, beetles, grain mites, or weevils by cleaning the shelves, cabinets, cupboards, or pantry spaces to remove any debris or crumbs that could be enticing these insects. It also helps to keep the pantry or food storage areas cool, since grain beetles and moths typically thrive in warm conditions. Keeping dry goods securely stored in sealed plastic or glass containers can also prevent insect infestations.
Carpet beetles
Although they don’t pose a threat to human health, carpet beetles can become a nuisance if they infest carpet, clothing, or food storage. These pests are oval-shaped insects that are typically 1/16 inch to 1/8 inch in length. They mostly feed on natural fibers such as wool, fur, feathers, and silk, which is why they’re called carpet beetles. However, they can also consume dry pantry goods such as cereal and spices.
Signs of carpet beetles include irregular-shaped holes in carpet, rugs, clothing, or upholstery. Shed skin or fecal pellets—little brown or black specks—may also be present in cabinets or pantries. If these signs are present, it’s possible to get rid of the small black bugs by cleaning and maintaining the home on a regular basis. Frequent vacuuming, as well as storing clothing and food in airtight containers, can help remove any eggs, larvae, or adult carpet beetles hanging around.
Fruit flies
The kitchen might be attracting bugs due to easy access to food sources. Fruit flies are among the many bug species that tend to hover around fruit, vegetables, and other organic matter found in the heart of the home. If there are small bugs in the kitchen or small bugs in the pantry that are tan to light brown and about ⅛-inch long, they could be pesky fruit flies. These little bugs in the kitchen feed off fresh or decaying fruit and vegetables, so it’s best to store these foods in a cabinet or a refrigerator where the bugs don’t have open access to them. Sugary substances such as juice, soda, and alcoholic beverages are also attractive to small flies in the kitchen.
It’s possible to treat fruit flies with insecticides, fly traps, or bait, and once the current flies are gone, reinfestation can be prevented by removing any decomposing fruits and vegetables and cleaning up spills from beverages or food debris as soon as they’re noticed.
Drain flies
Like their name suggests, drain flies are drawn to organic matter in moist environments such as household drains or garbage disposals. They’re even more likely to infest areas near plumbing leaks or drains that aren’t well maintained. These insects have hairy wings that make them resemble small black moths, though they are usually gray or brown in color.
The best way to get rid of drain flies is to ensure that drains and garbage disposals are clean, either by using one of the best drain cleaners or hiring one of the best drain cleaning services. Clean up crumbs and messes, and seal access points to keep drain flies at bay.
Cockroach nymphs
Cockroach nymphs, which are smaller, wingless versions of adult cockroaches, also feed off decomposing organic matter found near sinks and garbage disposals. If you spot small, tiny brown bugs in the house in warm, wet environments such as underneath bathroom or kitchen sinks, you may have a roach infestation on your hands. Baits, traps, or insecticides may be able to handle a few cockroaches, but evidence of multiple bugs can mean there’s a more serious issue.
Professional pest control companies are best equipped to handle stubborn cockroach infestations. As with drain flies, discourage cockroaches by keeping the kitchen clean and eliminating clutter that can serve as a hiding place for the tiny black bugs. After treatment, both drain flies and cockroach nymph infestations can be prevented by cleaning up crumbs or other messes as well as sealing access points and eliminating clutter.
Ants
Ants in the kitchen, even though they’re common kitchen bugs, are no small problem. They can quickly multiply once they gain access to the inside of a home and come in contact with morsels that can add to their food and water supply. Black ants enter a space through cracks in doors, windows, or floors. And once they’re in, their queen will continue to send more ants that way, which is why killing only a few isn’t an effective control method.
Instead, it’s necessary to kill off the ant colony where the queen lives to ensure the tiny black bugs in the kitchen are gone for good. This can be achieved by tracking the ants back to their nest and putting pepper, vinegar, boiling water, or diatomaceous earth on the nest to destroy it. You can also try putting ant baits near the infestation. Ant baits encourage the ants to consume a harmful liquid that they take back to their colony, which ultimately kills the entire colony.
Other Common Kitchen Bugs
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Silverfish | Photo: Aleksa Torri via Getty Images
Book lice
Book lice feed on the fungi and mold found in damp areas of the home. The tan or brown insects are about ½-inch to ¾-inch long, and they’re wider than they are thick. In the home, you’ll find them in moist, dark areas where mold and mildew have grown. You can find them on paper products and grains, where they feed on mold growing on these substances.
Eliminating book lice requires the same strategy as silverfish: control the humidity levels with dehumidifiers or improve ventilation. Also, remove food sources and clean dark spaces frequently.
Silverfish
Not black at all but a kitchen pest all the same, silverfish are typically easy to distinguish because they are silver or gray in color and have scales that cover their elongated bodies. At about ½ inch to 1 inch long, silverfish prefer dark, damp spaces with high humidity levels, such as basements, bathrooms, attics, laundry rooms, and kitchens. They’re more likely to be spotted at night since they’re nocturnal, and spend the majority of the daytime hiding in cracks or crevices. These bugs feed on starchy material found in paper, books, cardboard, and fabric.
The best way to get rid of silverfish is to control the humidity levels in the home through dehumidifiers or improving ventilation. Removing food sources and cleaning dark spaces as often as possible can help eliminate these bugs, as well.
How to Get Rid of Tiny Black Bugs in Your Kitchen
You may not necessarily need to take a trip to the home improvement store to deter tiny black bugs in a bathroom or kitchen. There’s a good chance you already have some of the ingredients below, all of which can help keep bugs at bay.
- Borax: Mix borax with sugar. Then spread it in areas where cockroaches have been spotted to kill them off.
- Baking soda: Baking soda sprinkled near ant entrances can keep them out.
- Garlic: The smell of fresh garlic or garlic powder can deter most bugs.
- Peppermint oil: A few drops of peppermint oil mixed with water can be sprayed in areas that bugs frequent to keep them away.
- Neem oil: This natural oil disrupts the feeding and reproductive cycle of bugs, so you can mix some with water and spray it where bugs are present.
- Diatomaceous earth: A natural insecticide, diatomaceous earth can be spread in entry points, on baseboards, under appliances, or along the paths of pests to kill small insects.
- Insect traps: Sticky traps, funnel traps, and light traps can be placed around the home to lure insects in and kill them.
- Bay leaves: A few bay leaves placed in a pantry or inside closet spaces can deter everything from beetles to moths to weevils.
How to Prevent Bugs in Your Kitchen
The best no-bug strategy, of course, is to prevent tiny black bugs from taking hold in your kitchen and home in the first place. Some ways to do this include:
- Keep the kitchen clean: Immediately wipe up spills and crumbs, and sweep or vacuum the floor frequently. In general, keep the house tidy; don’t allow piles of stuff to accumulate.
- Store food properly: Use airtight containers to store grains, cereal, and sugar.
- Check fruit frequently: If you prefer to store fruit on the counter, check it frequently for blemishes and other imperfections that might attract bugs.
- Don’t leave pet food out: The grains often found in dry pet food can draw pests, so keep bulk food in sealed containers, and clean pet bowls routinely.
- Take out the trash: Empty the kitchen trash often, so bugs aren’t attracted. If you have a mini compost bin on your counter, take it to the compost pile every evening.
- Seal cracks and gaps: Make sure your home is sealed up so bugs can’t get in.
- Check for leaks: Look for areas of mold or mildew and fix any leaky pipes.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re dealing with tiny black bugs in the kitchen or elsewhere in your home, consider trying to get rid of them with the DIY methods outlined above, while also implementing the prevention methods. If you’re unable to get the problem under control, you may have to contact a pest control company to take a look at your home and come up with a treatment plan.
Not only can experts perform an official inspection, but they can also provide an estimate for how much treatment will cost, especially for those who need ongoing treatments. They’ll also know exactly which type of small black bugs are present and how to get rid of them. Plus, professionals will have the latest equipment and solutions to target pests and eliminate the problem quickly.
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