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Tiny Black Bugs on Window Sill #890070

Asked November 19, 2024, 8:06 PM EST

I have a window sill facing the East, on the outside of the house I have an old hedge. On the inside I have 7 very healthy orchids. They only have fresh orchid bark in them, I have transplanted them all this past week to assure there was no decomposing moss or plant debris in them, I have also sprayed the orchids down with Neem Oil. These tiny black bugs have been populating the window sill every day, although they are never on any of the orchids. They are very slow moving, and mostly dead it seems, as I have sprayed with Home Defense, repeatedly in this area. But as soon as I clean them off. They reappear! They are no place else in my home. Which seems odd since I have a very large collection of various houseplants in one other room and a large Monstera in my Bedroom. None of which show any signs of this problem! The one other place these are appearing are in my microwave!!! I scrub it out with disinfectant, and only use it to heat my coffee! The next time I open it, there are 2 or 3 dead ones laying in it! ?!?!!! Can you help me get rid of these things? I have a very clean home, I do not have any kind of food scraps or unclean surfaces! I can not figure it out! Thank you! Kathy Pickett 2705 Armco Dr Middletown OH 4504<personal data hidden> <personal data hidden>

Butler County Ohio

Expert Response

Hi Kathy,

Thank you for using Ask Extension. 

It sounds like you are doing everything you should be doing in terms of keeping surfaces clean. Bugs can get in the tiniest nooks and cracks. If you can believe it, even bugs in a microwave occur frequently.

I know that identifying the type of insect that you have can make it easier to pinpoint a solution, Unfortunately, I wasn't able to identify what particular bug you have. I couldn't see any distinguishing features on your pictures. Have you tried looking at the bugs under a microscope?

 I have found several resources that may help you in identifying your bug. 

https://extension.umn.edu/household-insects#

Identifying Common Household Insect Pests | University of Maryland Extension

Good luck,

Nancy Heskett Replied November 21, 2024, 7:39 AM EST

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