Very tiny black beetles in bedroom, I.D please!!

natade · #1 (**permalink**) 23-05-2011, 03:07 PM

Hi, hopefully Im posting in the right place!!

In our old flat we noticed the odd very tiny black bug crawling over our bedside cabinets. We have moved house but kept the same furniture and have noticed that recently there seems to be a larger number of these black bug type things all over it - probably up to 15 per bedside cabinet. On closer inspection they appear to be a miniature beetle. They are completely black, easily squashed (a clear liquid comes out of them) and are no bigger than a comma on your keyboard. I cannot count the legs and taking a picture is impossible as they are so so tiny. Someone has suggested carpet beetles but I have looked for these online and they dont seem to look anything like this. Infact they do not appear to look like anything that I have found online

The furniture does not appear to be damaged and we do not think that they bite since we have never been bitten.

Any help would be very much appreciated

Klaas Reißmann · #2 (**permalink**) 23-05-2011, 08:21 PM

Could you please make a photo, even if it is a bad one. By this description it could be everything.

If not popssible catch a few and send it to me.

Regards
Klaas

natade · #3 (**permalink**) 24-05-2011, 10:48 AM

Yeah sorry, not much to go on!! We have tried to take a photo but the camera wont focus onto the beetle as they are so small! We have however managed to catch one and have put it onto a microscope slide. Unfortunately the microscope we are using is a childs basic one so does not show enough detail to see any markings on the beetle just the image of it. From this we could see its a very dark brown/black colour, oblong body with 6 legs and has 2 antennae. It almost looks like it has a few very fine hair type strands on it aswell? We are swaying towards it being some type of woodworm as the body shape looks similar although we havnt been able to find any noticeable holes/dust piles. Maybe we could send you the slide or as you suggested catch some and send them to you, where would we need to send them?
many thanks

saranfia · #4 (**permalink**) 29-05-2011, 05:30 PM

I am having the exact same problem! I opened my sewing box today and found it was infested with tiny black bugs, I've had to throw away alot of wool and material as well as the box! I have moved my sofa and found them all behind there as well but not as bad as what was in the box. I tried to take a photo of one, but they are literally no bigger than a couple of mm so my camera wouldnt focus. Ive searched online all afternoon but everything I can find is alot larger. Have you managed to find out any further information on them? I am going to see if I can find a bug spray tomorrow. I am also going to ask one of the entomologists at my uni if he has any ideas what they are. I feel so itchy now....

Klaas Reißmann · #5 (**permalink**) 30-05-2011, 02:11 PM

Hi Saranfia,

tiny beetles in a box filled with wool. Sounds like genus Anthrenus. Surch google or any other engine for this and let us know if it is this kind of beetle in your box.

Regards
Klaas

natade · #6 (**permalink**) 30-05-2011, 02:36 PM

Hi Klaas,
Had a thorough clear out of the bedroom, hoovered and scrubbed everywhere with anti bacterial spray and sprayed everywhere with crawling insect spray which seems to have cleared the bugs. However I was taking some washing out of the wicker laundry basket today and found one of the beetles so I have caught it and will be posting to you tomorrow as I would be interested in still finding out what it is. Look forward to hearing your findings.

Saranfia, hopefully Klaas can identify the bug that I am sending him and you may find its the same as yours

Know exactly what you mean about making you itch, me and other half didnt want to sleep in our bedroom hence had a massive deep cleanse of the room and the entire contents!!

saranfia · #7 (**permalink**) 31-05-2011, 10:39 AM

This is a photo of one I have tried to get, its not very clear, and I cant find my ruler, but to give you an idea it is about 1.5mm long. I googled that bug klass and I dont think this is the same. Is it the same as what you have natade? It has quite a clear large abdomen (well large for its size!) smaller thorax and quite round head. I cant see if there are any markings on it but it looks black/dark brown. I have found a beetle spray that seems to work at killing them. I am still in the process of gutting the living room :S