What are these creatures on my window sill?

[Astitichintimesaveswine]

There are loads of these tiny insects on my external window sills. Any idea what they are and how to get rid of them?

Photo

Bit hard to tell on my phone but the shape looks like silverfish.

They look like springtails to me, we get them every summer for about 2 weeks, they live outside and only come in when it's very dry. If we leave the windows open downstairs, we get them on the walls and worktops, so I try to keep the windows on the latch when springtail season begins, they don't seem to come in the upstairs windows, thankfully!

Thanks for the replies. I'm not sure they're either from the images from Google. I first noticed them a few months ago and there seem to be much more there today. They look like grit or specks of dust until you realise they're moving!

There is a bug ID group on Facebook that seem very knowledgeable...
Bug Id group

They might be able to help you.

Not a great photo, but do they basically look like little black hyphens? If so, they’re probably thrips.

Do you live anywhere near open fields etc? If so, they can be rife starting this time of year. They’re a bugger if you leave a door or windows open. I get them quite a bit here. Haven’t found a way to deter them, I just wipe them up with some detergent on a cloth, it’s an ongoing battle!

Thanks for all your replies. I don't think it's any of the suggestions.
I don't use FB, but thanks for suggesting.

Strangely, there were hundreds last night and only one today. Maybe they're nocturnal.

Here's a close up.

Isn’t that an earwig?

It looks a bit like a tiny woodlouse with a pointy arse.

<helpful>

Try posting in the Gardening thread, they love a bug or plant query.

If they’re on your external window sills I wouldn’t worry. The small birds will finish them off.

Thanks all.

We once had an infestation of flying things appear out of a houseplant. Hundreds of them in the kitchen, all at once.

I opened all the windows wide, closed the kitchen door to block off the rest of the flat, turned on all the lights, left the room that way, and the moths came in and ate almost every single one of them overnight.

Moths love a free meal with the lights on.

Ok, according to the bug people on Reddit it’s a springtail

Thanks, you're right @LeonardCohensRaincoat