Small black animals often crawl and fly around, both indoors and outdoors. Most people are often not sure which insects they are. Since some can sting or are harmful, it is important to determine exactly.
Thunderstorm animals
The thunderstorm animals are not flies, but small beetles. They belong to the family of insects Fringed winged and are also known as thrips. Although the little animals have wings, they cannot fly particularly well with them. Many specimens are even completely unable to fly. Rather, they can simply be driven by the wind and therefore occur more frequently in strong winds during a storm. During a thunderstorm, thrips suddenly sit on your skin and clothing. This is how the name thunderstorm animals became common. If there is not enough updraft and thermals in the air for locomotion, the insects move crawling.
- Scientific name: Thysanoptera
- Body is dark brown to black in color
- Small size of 1 to 3 millimeters
- Narrow wings with black and white horizontal stripes
- The wings are frayed on the outside
- Have sharp mouthparts
- Use it to suck sap from plants
- But they can also sting people
- However, like a mosquito bite, it is not dangerous
Sciarid gnats
Sciarid gnats are small flies that sit in the pot of the house plants. However, the animals can also attack plants in the garden. When watering the plants, the insects feel disturbed and fly high. The fungus gnats are very annoying in the room and are constantly buzzing around in the air. In addition, the larvae of the annoying pests can cause severe damage to the top plants, as they eat the roots. As a result, the infected plants only grow poorly. That is why it is extremely important to combat sciarid gnats in a timely manner.
- Scientific name: Sciaridae
- Sciarid gnats appear in swarms
- Black colored flying insects, only 2 to 6 millimeters in size
- Recognizable by the longer legs and antennae
- Develop larger wings than fruit flies
- Are related to mosquitoes but do not bite
Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes are annoying insects whose bites are extremely itchy and in extreme cases can even become infected. The tormentors often show up at dusk and at night. Mosquitoes normally feed on plants and their juices, but the females need blood for the development of the eggs immediately after mating. For this, the bloodsuckers have potent mouthparts that both sting and sting
can also suck. In the males, however, these devices have declined. If the sting is successful, the female mosquito injects a salivary secretion, which has an inhibitory effect on blood clotting. In this way it is possible for the mosquito to suck up the host's blood unnoticed. Mosquitoes are attracted by the carbon dioxide they exhale and a strong body odor.- Scientific name: Culicidae
- Reaches a length of 5 to 7 millimeters
- Black body with a whitish band on the abdomen
- Slender build with noticeably long legs
- When sitting, lift the last pair of legs
- Narrow wings protrude a little over the abdomen
- Forms long antennas with different segments
- The proboscis in the female is about as long as the abdomen
Note: Although the bites of the native mosquito can be very annoying, they are not dangerous to human health.
Grain beetle
The grain beetle belongs to the family of weevils and has spread around the world. The name goes back to the fact that the insects often settle in granaries and mills. However, the small animals can also spread in domestic households. In the kitchens, the insects like to nestle in cupboards with food. They prefer packs of dried vegetables and pasta as food sources. The grain beetle also likes dry pet food. Often the insects show up in the open feeding places for the pets.
- Scientific name: Sitophilus granarius
- Reaching size of only 2 to 4 millimeters
- Young specimens are colored brown first
- Older beetles turn black over time
- Although harmless, they multiply quickly
- Infestation in living spaces can quickly become a nuisance
Rapeseed beetle
The small rapeseed beetle feeds mainly on rapeseed and other cruciferous vegetables. Activated during the rapeseed bloom
this little animal and also finds its way indoors. Usually these insects disappear as soon as the oilseed rape has completely finished its flowering period. Although this type of beetle does not cause any major damage in living spaces, many people are disgusted by the crawly animal.- Scientific name: Brassicogethes aeneus
- Body size of only about 2 millimeters
- Metallic black color, sometimes rather dark green
- Oval physique, antennae at the head end are thickened
- Simply collect the beetles if they are infected
Black weevil
The black weevil is not a pest, but it can serve as an alarm signal in living rooms. Since the insect appears in the wood that is infested with fungi, it acts as an indicator for mold and moisture. When the fungal infestation is fought, the little animal disappears all by itself, as it can no longer find a livelihood.
- Scientific name: Stereocorynes truncorum
- Body is black to brown in color
- Forms stripes with dots on wings
- Will be a maximum of 3 millimeters long
- The head is shaped like a trunk
Grain mold beetle
The grain mold beetle is very similar to the meal beetle, but is darker in color. In addition, this type of beetle prefers significantly higher temperatures, which is why the insects like to settle in bakeries. The little animal loves bread and baked goods, which are about to go moldy. Since its excrement can transmit harmful salmonella, the grain mold beetle is considered a health hazard and must be controlled.
- Scientific name: Alphitobius diaperinus
- Glossy black body
- Grows up to 15 millimeters
- Short sting on the abdomen
- Body and head are about the same size
Tip: In order to examine and identify the little black animal closely, it is advisable to set up yellow glue traps.