I have tiny hard shelled black/brown flying bugs in my house. They're not just in my kitchen, they're random throughout the house. Mostly they're on a wall or ceiling, and sometimes, they just fall. I've checked the pantries, but they're not in there. I've looked online for comparison, but I can't find anything that looks the same close up. Most pics of the bugs have legs or wings, but when I go to smash them, they turn into a little ball and there aren't any legs or wings. I smashed one and you can see a bit of the wing. I don't see a cluster or group of them anywhere, just randomly, mostly alone. Now they're in my bedroom, falling from the ceiling onto my bed!
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They are springtails. Use a regular insecticide. They love fabric, so vacuum your curtains and bedding often.
In order to rid your home of springtails it is necessary to find their nesting place. Look in your home under or kitchen or bathroom sinks. They can also be under linoleum or inside your bath traps. Springtails love to nest in a moist area. One of the fastest way to eliminate springtails in your home is to use Delta Dust with a hand duster.
To determine where the springtails is nesting look for an area with many springtails. Normally the bug won't travel far from the nest. Once you find the nesting area it will make it easier to eliminate them from your home.
Since Sringtails have been abundant in many areas for several years these could be Springtails and regular/normal bug control spraying does not work on this bug.
You could verify that it is Springtails with your local Cooperative Extension office or through the following links (use your zip code). Sears stores as well as Lowe's and Home depot also have bug control people so take your pick of places and take them a bug or two to identify.
nifa.usda.gov/
This type of bug likes moisture but the problem could be inside or outside your home.
They also emerge in seasonal patterns, most commonly in spring. Any chemical seems be pretty much useless to them. Wood, concrete and other material should be checked to see if there is a drainage issue or leak. They feed on algae that forms on the moist surfaces, so sometimes a solution of bleach can get rid of the algae and thus, the food source. The use of Raid or many other insecticide chemicals is often far more harmful than any bug you can find.
Confirm they are springtails as you say hard shell bodies and I believe springtails have soft shell bodies. Have you checked under bathroom/kitchen sinks? Baseboards? It sounds like, from what you are saying that the environment outside the house may be the culprit. If you can find the nest or source outside, you can cut down on them. Their nest could be hiding in any mulch that is close to your house but everywhere there could be moisture is where to check.
I have read that putting a little bit of dish soap in a spray bottle with some water will kill them instantly or white vinegar (undiluted) but that is just a stop gap measure as the nest will have to be found to get rid of them permanently.
Here is a good article on Springtails but you still need verification of what bug you have.
these look like springtails. YOu can treat with vinegar direclty on them or bleach.
I want to thank everyone who replied. After looking into it, they aren't springtails. Also to not confuse, the pic of them is on toilet paper not sheets or a mattress.
I have the exact same thing in my house and I was so scared they were baby cockroaches! Please tell me what happened in the end
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