17 Little White Bugs That Look Like Lint

Suyash is a Master Gardener and the Editorial and Strategy Director at BalconyGardenWeb.com. With a focus on houseplant care, he combines over a decade of hands-on horticultural experience with editorial expertise to guide and educate plant enthusiasts.
Learn About Our Editorial Policy

2-Minute Read

There are many Little White Bugs That Look Like Lint, and you might confuse them with something else! Let’s know about them!

Little White Bugs That Look Like Lint are common in various places, from plants and soil to stored items like food and paper. Despite their size, their presence and behavior can have a significant impact, often requiring attention and management.

Check out Tiny White Bugs on Plants that Look like Dust here


Little White Bugs That Look Like Lint

1. Psocids (Booklice)

Little White Bugs That Look Like Lint 1

Psocids, commonly known as Booklice, are tiny pale insects frequently discovered in moist environments or around stored paper products.

2. Grain Mites

These Little White Bugs That Look Like Lint feed on grains and cereals. They can easily blend in with the food they infest.

3. Thrips

Little White Bugs That Look Like Lint 3

Thrips are diminutive insects, varying in color from white to light shades. These pests feed on plants, potentially leading to leaf damage.

4. Cottony Cushion Scales

These Little White Bugs That Look Like Lint are not really white. The reason they seem like lint is because of the egg sacs they carry on their backs.

5. Soil Mites

Little White Bugs That Look Like Lint 5
chaosofdelight

Soil mites are very small and usually white or light-colored. They might look like little specks crawling around in the soil. These bugs are found in the dirt.

Check Tiny Bugs in House Near Windows here

6. White Springtails

White springtails are so small and gather in groups they look a bit like little bunches of lint. These bugs don’t do much harm, except sometimes they nibble on plant roots.

7. White Spider Mites

Little White Bugs That Look Like Lint 7
reddit

Extremely small arachnids can infest plants, causing webbing and damage. These Little White Bugs That Look Like Lint suck sap from leaves, causing damage.

8. Whiteflies

Whiteflies are bugs that bother and harm plants. They look a bit like lint, but you can tell them apart because they look like small moths. They suck sap from foliage.

9. Mealybugs

Little White Bugs That Look Like Lint 9
cemevinc

Mealybugs live together in groups and resemble cotton clusters. These Little White Bugs That Look Like Lint have a waxy covering on their bodies.

Check Tiny Black Bugs That Look Like Poppy Seeds here

10. White Aphids

pottedexotics

These Little White Bugs That Look Like Lint have pear-like bodies and are about the size of a small fraction of an inch. Aphids suck plant sap.

11. Wooly Aphids

Little White Bugs That Look Like Lint 11

The wooly aphid is named for its white and fuzzy look, like lint. These insects are very small, less than a tenth of an inch in size.

12. Dust Mites

Dust mites are tiny bugs that can be found all around your home, like on your bed, couch, mattress, rugs, and carpets. They’re very small and look like white lint.

13. True Cochineal Bug

Little White Bugs That Look Like Lint 13

These insects usually go after succulent plants. You can find these bugs a lot in the hotter states in the US.

Check Common Houseplant Bugs and How to Get Rid of Them here

14. Beech Scale Bugs

onnurserycrops

The beech scale, also called felted beech coccus, is a kind of bug that suck the sap from beech trees. These bugs live together in groups in the cracks of the tree’s bark.

15. Root Aphids

Little White Bugs That Look Like Lint 15

Root aphids are tiny white bugs that live around plant roots, sometimes resembling specks of lint. They have small bodies and can be hard to see without close inspection.

16. Plaster Bagworms

singaporegeographic

These Little White Bugs That Look Like Lint can resemble lint or tiny pieces of plaster on walls. These insects create tiny bags from silk and debris to hide in.

17. Fungus Gnats Larvae

Little White Bugs That Look Like Lint 17

They are actually young insects that feed on decaying organic matter. These larvae have a slender shape and are often barely visible due to their size and pale color.

Learn How to Get Rid of Stink Bugs at Home and Garden here


Quick Tips on Getting Rid of These Insects

  • Dip a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol and wipe the bugs directly.
  • Cut off heavily infested leaves or stems and dispose of them properly.
  • Apply horticultural oils that are designed to smother soft-bodied insects.
  • Check plants regularly and act quickly if you spot any infestations.
  • For severe infestations, consider using insecticides that are labeled for use against mealybugs or whiteflies.

Recent Posts

Join our 3 Million Followers:

[easy-followers hide_title="yes" new_window="yes" nofollow="yes" show_total="no" total_type="text_before" columns="3" template="roundcolor" nospace="no" hide_value="no" hide_text="no"]

Related Articles

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here