Pests are a common problem that plagues homeowners, especially in the summer and winter when invasive insects become more active. During these times, you might notice infestations of small, black insects gathering around your windowsills and doorframes. No matter how often you vacuum up these piles of dead bugs, they’re back cluttering up your windows in just a week or so. These bothersome bugs are unsightly and, depending on the species, pose a threat to your home or possessions. 

    Why Do Tiny Black Bugs Gather Around Windows?

    Insects are attracted to windows because they provide several things needed to survive. First, the space around your window is warm. As the sun shines through the window, it heats the window stool (the small wooden board below the sill). Cold temperatures slow insects, making movement and activity difficult, especially during nighttime. As a result, many common household insects and bugs will look for warmer surfaces (like window stools) to nest on while they sleep. Next is moisture; when the warm air inside your home comes into contact with the cool glass of the windowpane, it creates condensation. Most insects require warm, moist environments to survive, and since your windows provide both, it’s only natural that bugs are drawn to them. 

    What Are the Tiny Black Bugs Around Windows?

    There is no single bug that congregates on windows. In reality, the bugs you’re noticing could be any number of common insects prone to overwintering during the fall and winter months. Here is a list of the most common windowsill-sitting offenders. 

    Carpet Beetles 

    Carpet beetles, or by their scientific name Anthrenus verbasci, are small (one-sixteenth of an inch), round insects that commonly infest homes. They have dark brown or black bodies with mottled splotches of red, pale, or orange coloration. These pests consume natural fibers like silk, wool, cotton, fur, leather, and feathers. They’re known for infesting homes in the fall and winter and causing significant damage to carpets and clothing. 

     small carpet beetle close-up
    Image Source: Canva

    Booklice 

    Booklice, also known as barklice, or barkflies, is a pest famous for destroying books. Although they may resemble some lice species, these insects are not actually lice; instead, they’re psocids within the order Paraneoptera alongside thrips and Hemiptera (aphids and cicadas.) Unlike true lice, which are external parasites that use other creatures as a food source, psocids consume decaying plant matter and mold. Some species of barklice, specifically Liposcelis spp., often find their way indoors, feeding on paper products, grains, houseplants, or molds. Booklice are often found congregating around bookshelves or areas prone to moisture, like windowsills. 

    These pests are extremely small, only measuring up to three-sixteenths of an inch, and have a brown or pale appearance. It can be hard to notice booklice in small numbers due to their minuscule size, but in swarms, they can appear as swaths of small, black-brown specs. 

    Clover Mites 

    Out of the insects on this list, clover mites are easily the smallest, only measuring up to one-thirtieth of an inch in length. Clover mites, or by their scientific name Bryobia praetiosa Koch, are one of the most common garden-infesting pests. They chow down on plant matter, creating thin, white cross-hatched lines across leaves and flowers. While a problem in the garden, clover mites are also known to migrate indoors once the weather turns cold or if there is a massive influx of rain. 

    Clover mites typically have a minimal impact on lawns and gardens but can be a pain to deal with when they become unwanted house guests. Clover mites are considered a nuisance pest, as they don’t bite, carry diseases, damage home structures, or feed on carpets, clothing, or stored goods. The problem arises when these pesky pests are crushed, leaving notable red splotches or streaks behind. These marks resemble blood but are, in reality, a mixture of pigment and body fluids. As a result, these mites are often confused with bed bugs or fleas, often causing a scare to homeowners.

    small clover mite on a leaf
    Image Source: Canva

    Asiatic Garden Beetles 

    The Asiatic garden beetle, or Maladera castanea, is originally from Japan and was first discovered in the U.S. in New Jersey in 1932. They lay their eggs in the fall, growing to larvae in the early spring (damaging grass root systems all the while), then emerge in early summer to feed on plant matter. They can cause significant damage to lawns, gardens, and ornamental plants in large numbers. They’re found across the entirety of the United States but are most prevalent in the Northeastern portions of the U.S. These bugs are about a quarter of an inch in length, bean-shaped, and have a rust-brown or golden-brown carapace. 

    After they lay eggs, they’ll search for warm places to overwinter and consider your house a great place to hide away. Once indoors, they’ll look for moist, warm places with plant matter to settle down; as such, they’ll quickly be drawn to windowsills or potted plants.

    asiatic garden beetle
    Image Source: Canva

    Biscuit Beetles 

    The biscuit beetle, drugstore beetle, or Stegobium paniceum is a stored-product pest that commonly infects granaries, warehouses, and households worldwide. Famous for eating a wide variety of products, such as rice and cereals, it’s a serious economic and agricultural pest. 

    In American households, they pose a problem in the home, lawn, and garden. Their larvae will damage the roots of grasses, while the adults will quickly damage fruits, vegetables, and ornamental plants. Like many other beetle species, these pests overwinter during the fall and prefer warm locations like sheds, basements, attics, closets, and pantries. Like weevils and other pantry pests, they can hide and reproduce inside dry goods. We recommend investing in sealable airtight containers to prevent pantry pest infestations. They’re about one-seventh of an inch long, with cylindrical bodies, segmented antennae, and dark brown to black coloration. 

    biscuit beetle eating bread product
    Image Source: Canva

    How To Keep Bugs From Gathering on Your Windows

    Keeping pests out of your home can be difficult. Insects often find their way indoors through small crevices and openings in your foundation, siding, doorjambs, window frames, or through gaps in screens. Some pests, like fleas, cockroaches, and mites, act as unwanted passengers, hitching a ride on other household members. The best way to keep these unwanted guests away from your home is to:

    • Keep a clean yard and garden: An unruly or under-trimmed yard will attract unwanted pests. By trimming grass, disposing of leaf litter and trash, and weeding your garden, you’ll ensure your yard is unappealing to insects. You should also keep all trash bins, compost piles, and log stacks at least 30 feet from your home. We recommend carefully inspecting all potted plants you intend to bring indoors, as these can carry stowaways.
    • Seal small gaps and cracks: Most insects enter homes through small entry points on the outside of your home. We recommend doing a yearly outdoor home inspection, in which you check for and repair the following:
      • Openings and cracks in your foundation
      • Gaps in your siding
      • Rips and tears in your door or window screens 
      • Broken seals and gaps along utility lines, pipes, and dryer vents 
      • Damaged or worn down weather stripping 
    • Install window screens: Insects can and will wander inside through open windows. If you don’t have a window screen, this is like rolling out the red carpet for pests. The lack of a window screen can especially be a problem in the summer when gnats, fruit flies, black flies, and phorid flies become more common.
    • Install door sweeps: Sometimes, doors don’t come flush to the floor. In these situations, you have two options, replacing it with a larger door or installing a door sweep. Door sweeps are the quicker and easier of the two choices, reducing drafts and keeping insects from sneaking under your door. 
    • Use repellents or insecticides: There are plenty of options for keeping pests out of your windows. For natural solutions, we recommend peppermint oil and diatomaceous earth. There are also plenty of effective chemical and commercial options. But, before deciding on a product, we recommend checking to see if they’re pet-friendly, along with carefully reading the application and safety portions of the bottle.

    Final Thoughts on Those Little Black Bugs That Love Windows

    Unfortunately, there is no shortage of pests that love to sneak indoors, especially once the seasons change and temperatures drop. While many are harmless, some can threaten your home or possessions. One commonality between these home invaders is that they love moisture and heat. So your best way to keep them at bay is to deprive windows of excess moisture. While this can be difficult, we recommend frequently checking your windows’ weather stripping and replacing it if necessary. By keeping your weather stripping in good condition, you not only create an additional barrier for bugs to get through but also keep water from getting in.  

    If you’re experiencing an abnormally large amount of these pests, you should contact a pest control company. A professional exterminator can assess your situation, classify the type of insect you’re dealing with, get rid of them, and help you prevent future incursions. Furthermore, while the critters on this list are the most common types of pests that gather around windows, others can pose an even greater risk, like carpenter ants or termites. When dealing with these pests, pest control companies can be invaluable in preventing serious damage.

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    Sam Wasson

    Staff Writer

    Sam Wasson graduated from the University of Utah with a degree in Film and Media Arts with an Emphasis in Entertainment Arts and Engineering. Sam brings over four years of content writing and media production experience to the Today’s Homeowner content team. He specializes in the pest control, landscaping, and moving categories. Sam aims to answer homeowners’ difficult questions by providing well-researched, accurate, transparent, and entertaining content to Today’s Homeowner readers.

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    Lora Novak

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    Lora Novak meticulously proofreads and edits all commercial content for Today’s Homeowner to guarantee that it contains the most up-to-date information. Lora brings over 12 years of writing, editing, and digital marketing expertise. She’s worked on thousands of articles related to heating, air conditioning, ventilation, roofing, plumbing, lawn/garden, pest control, insurance, and other general homeownership topics.

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