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What Are The Small Clear White Bugs in Your House That Look Like Dust?
When you discover small, see-through insects and mites within your home, it can be distressing, especially if you have no idea how they got there. Small size makes it difficult to determine what they are.
As to the question of what are the small, clear white bugs in your house that look like dust, they could be one of the following:
- mold mites
- dust mites
- wooly aphids
- whiteflies
- mealybugs
- or spider mites
In this article, we will explore these bugs, and also, I will lay down some actions and measures you can take by yourself to get rid of them!
Mold Mites or Grain Mites
Mold mites are one of the many species of tiny white crawling bugs that you may find in your home. These pests are typically attracted to dampness and moisture.
If your home has damp spots which can form molds and fungi on your home walls and floors, then you are bound to find tiny white mold mites.
The fact is that old mites eat these molds, so the presence of mold will attract more of these pests into your home.
If you are facing a problem related to mold, it is important to take steps to address the issue as soon as possible. Additionally, mold mites are also attracted to food grains in your pantry, which is why they are also called grain mites.
Mold mites are tiny creatures that often go unnoticed because of their size. They’re small clear bugs in the house that are white, translucent, and look like little specks of dust-which can often lead to them being mistaken for other types of bugs. However, if you watch them closely, you’ll see that they move around like ants.
These white bugs are very difficult to detect and can only be seen when their numbers increase.
Dust Mites or House Mites
Dust mites are tiny white bugs that look like dust, measuring about 0.3 millimeters in size, that can be found in almost any environment. These white-colored bugs thrive in warm and humid climates and spread faster than mold mites.
Dust mites are most commonly found in bedding, furniture, carpets, and clothing since they are highly attracted to dead skin that we invariably shed. This is the reason why they are called house mites. They also bite humans and can cause issues as severe as asthma attacks.
The presence of dust mites can also cause allergic symptoms, such as sneezing, congestion, itchy eyes, and eczema flare-ups, to sensitive people like the elderly and children.
Woolly Aphids
Woolly aphids are tiny white bugs that measure only one-tenth of an inch. They can be found outdoors on a variety of plants, but they often enter homes through open windows or doors.
You need to remember that while they are not harmful to humans, they can cause damage to plants.
Woolly aphids are common in late summer and fall when they migrate from outdoor plants to indoor plants. They reproduce by laying eggs on the underside of leaves, and the young aphids suck sap from the plants.
Woolly aphids produce honeydew and pale wax, which are the signs of woolly aphid infestation. This honeydew is also a common reason for the growth of mold on trees like the Chinese Hackberry Tree.
Whiteflies
Whiteflies are a type of small white flying bug that feeds on the sap of plants. They appear oval-shaped and typically have a black line that separates their wings.
They can be found on a variety of plants but prefer vegetable and flower plants. These pests are known for their ability to suck the sap out of plants, which can lead to reduced growth and even death in extreme cases.
This species of tiny white bugs are more active in warm weather and will excrete honeydew on the leaves and branches, which causes the leaves to turn yellow and eventually die.
Mealybugs
Mealybugs are tiny white bugs that infest plants in the form of clusters. They suck the sap from plants, which can lead to growth issues in these plants.
Mealybugs can suck the sap out of plants, causing them to yellow or wilt. Therefore these tiny white bugs are certainly a pest that you’d want to rid your garden of.
They usually grow to about one-fifth of an inch long, and they have a strange waxy covering on their oval body. These bugs usually hatch in June, so they’re most active during this month.
Spider Mites
Another tiny white bug that many people come across is the spider mite. Spider mites are tiny, eight-legged creatures that feed on plants.
They can be found in gardens, houseplants, and greenhouses. Spider mites are most active during the summer months and can cause extensive damage to plants.
Measuring just about half a millimeter long as adults, these tiny mites can be white, orange, red, light green, or dark green in color. They produce a fine, silken thread that can give leaves a cobwebbed appearance.
How Can You Spot The Small Clear White Bugs in Your House?
Spotting tiny white bugs in your house can be difficult as they are very small and easy to miss. However, you can do certain things to make it easier:
- Try looking for them on dark surfaces as they will stand out more.
- Use a light at a perpendicular angle to clearly see their shadows.
- If you see any tiny specks moving around, chances are those are the mites themselves!
In addition, if you are trying to determine whether or not the tiny clear bugs in your house are mites or dust, another way to tell is by gently blowing over them. If they move, they are most likely mites, but if they just fly off, they are more than likely just dust.
Mites are usually gray in color, while dust particles are brown in color. Once you have confirmed that the pests infesting your home are indeed tiny white bugs, it is time to take action.
How Can You Get Rid Of The Small Clear White Bugs in Your House?
Now, to the overbearing theme of this article: how can you get rid of these tiny white bugs in your house? Keep reading for some methods that you can implement all by yourself to eliminate these pests!
Vacuum Clean Regularly
Vacuum cleaners are a boon. Make sure you make use of that boon well. The thing is that it is very hard for tiny white bugs to escape the suction of a good and powerful vacuum cleaner.
Therefore, one way to get rid of these tiny white bugs is by vacuuming every surface where you have seen or spotted a tiny white bug. Once you’ve vacuumed, ensure that the disposal bag is tightly sealed before you throw it in the bin.
Wiping Surfaces at Home
Along with the same principle as vacuuming regularly, you should also wipe surfaces with substances such as rubbing alcohol, neem oil, clove oil, and other strongly-scented liquids.
Not only will you be capturing these bugs in the cloth, but the smell of these substances will also act as a repellant against them in the future.
Clean Your Electronics
If you find these bugs around or on your electronic gadgets, make sure you spray them with powerful bug spray.
Once you’ve done that, store your gadgets in a disposal bag for a few days so that the bugs die and fall off. After a few days, you can take your gadgets out and clean them properly before using them.
Starve These Bugs by Keeping Your Furniture Clean
Keeping your home and furniture clean can also be a great way to get rid of these tiny white bugs and keep them away in the future. The reason is that if there are no dead skin cells or organic matter to feed on for these bugs, they won’t be attracted to those spots in the first place.
Thoroughly Clean All Fabrics
If the bugs have infested the fabrics of the house, your best move is to attack them with hot water and detergent. Thoroughly washing them will clear any white bug populations that have infested them.
Manually Get Rid of The Tiny White Bugs
If you can spot a bug, don’t let it slip away. Catch it or kill it on the spot using a powerful bug spray or a bug bomb. Alternatively, you could also directly vacuum it or use tape to capture it before disposing of it safely.
Prevention Of Future White Bug Infestations
You can undertake certain actions to help prevent future white bug infestations in your home.
- One is to regularly hoover mattresses, sofa cushions, and carpets. This will get rid of any eggs or larvae that may be present and reduce the likelihood of an infestation taking hold.
- Additionally, it is important to keep your house clean and free of clutter as this provides the bugs with more places to hide. This includes using mattress and pillow covers that will stop the mites from colonizing your bed or keyboard.
- You can use a vacuum cleaner to get rid of any mites or mite eggs that are present in your home.
- And ultimately, if you do discover these tiny white bugs, then you should take action sooner rather than later. Once these bugs infest your house, it can be extremely difficult for you to get rid of them entirely!
What product kills mites?
If you want to implement natural and safe products, neem and eucalyptus essential oils can be pretty effective. However, they don’t work as compounds that will kill mites for certain.
Choosing specific sprays that contain insecticide to kill mites is a far more effective option if you want to kill them directly. There are countless insecticidal products in the market that you can try out!
Conclusion
In conclusion, if you are finding tiny, translucent white bugs in your house that look like dust, they are most likely to be one of the above-mentioned species.
While they are not harmful to humans, they can be a nuisance. If you want to get rid of them, the best method is to increase air circulation and humidity in your home. Clean your home regularly to keep away from these pests.
