HELP! Yesterday, I went to grab a cup from my cupboard and it had teeny little (almost microscopic) bugs...?

Question

the small little critters are brown and very very tiny. I continued to pull dishes from my cupboard and these bugs were everywhere... even on all my good in the same pantry (live in a small apartment). WHAT COULD THEY BE???? I had to empty out my cupboards, throw away my food and was all my dishes. I had the maintenace people come spray it last night but there were still some lives ones in there this morning!!! HELLLLLLLLP! WHAT ARE THEY? How can I get rid of them????

Answer 1

Most likely it's a beetle infestation. They generally prefer to feed on dry food products such as; noodles, flour, cereal, oatmeal, dry pet foods, nuts, dried fruit, chocolate and birdseed. Pantry pests are not considered a health threat but they contaminate food sources causing unsanitary conditions and waste.

To help combat this I usually throw my flour in the freezer, which keeps them from hatching. I've been told that you just need to freeze them for 24 hours, but I keep it in there all the time, just in case.

Answer 2

They sound like drugstore beetles. Have you noticed them at window sills as well? They usually are associated with grains but will get into all foods and even pot pourris. Put all your pastas, grains, etc. in ziplock bags. Toss any pot pourri out.

Answer 3

sounds like roaches of the tiny variety. Call an exterminator or set roach traps, or both.

Answer 4

possibly grain beatles:
http://en.allexperts.com/q/Entomology-Study-Bugs-665/Tiny-Brown-Bugs-Bathroom.htm

or spider mites:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20060801192545AAUkKGg

or book lice (psocids)
http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:1RS-VndmIhIJ:www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/acci/web/files/EnvironmentalHealth/Booklicefactsht.pdf+tiny+brown+bugs+in+cupboards&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=7&gl=us&client=firefox-a
http://www.preston.gov.uk/GeneralL.asp?id=SX9452-A77F5981

All are common during change of season.