Question
small black bugs
I have these little black bugs in my house there aren't a lot of them, but i find them in every room. I'm assuming that they aren't very fast due to their small legs, but I haven't seen them alive. We hardly have any carpet. I searched it but no descriptions matched it exactly.
Description:
really really small
black with tan or brown stripes
look like tiny pills
no inteniae
main body part and a small head
really hard shell thing (you have to use a lot of strength to squish them)
and i think six legs
AnswerKate,
I can't see the critter clearly enough to be certain but I think you are describing one of the dermestid beetles, or carpet beetles (see http://www.livingwithbugs.com/carpet_beetle.html for life history and control). These beetles generally infest dry foods like cereals and dry pet food. All homes have a few, if you start seeing more than a few you probably have an infestation in a container or possibly spilled food. Once you find it just discarding the source will often be enough. See the page cited above for more info.
Jack DeAngelis
