Minecraft Endermite Guide: Spawning, Behavior, and How to Deal With Them

Craflux March 27, 2025 March 27, 2025

If you’ve ever thrown an Ender Pearl and suddenly had a creepy little bug spawn near you, congrats—you’ve met an Endermite! These tiny but aggressive mobs might not seem like much, but they have some interesting mechanics that can mess with (or even help) your gameplay. Whether you’re trying to farm Enderman or just want to avoid an unexpected attack, here’s everything you need to know about Endermites in Minecraft.

What is an Endermite in Minecraft?

A close-up of an Endermite, one of Minecraft’s rarest hostile mobs.

An Endermite spawned from an Ender Pearl in Minecraft, attracting Enderman.

Endermites are small, hostile mobs that look like little purple bugs and spawn under specific conditions. They're actually the rarest mob in the game (based on spawn rates), making them a unique encounter. Unlike most overworld mobs, they have a special connection to Enderman, and that’s where things get interesting.

Why Should You Care About Endermites?

They attract Endermen – Endermen hate Endermites and will aggressively attack them on sight. This makes them useful for Enderman farms.
They spawn unpredictably – Unlike other hostile mobs, they don’t appear naturally and only spawn when you throw an Ender Pearl.
They don’t last long – After 2 minutes, an Endermite despawns naturally, unless it's named with a Name Tag.

How to Spawn an Endermite

You can’t just stumble across an Endermite like you do with zombies or skeletons. Here’s how they actually spawn:

1. Throw an Ender Pearl

Every time you throw an Ender Pearl, there’s a 5% chance an Endermite will spawn where the pearl lands.
They can spawn anywhere, whether you're in the Overworld, Nether, or End—as long as you use an Ender Pearl.

2. Spawning Conditions

Only one Endermite can exist at a time per player. If you already have an Endermite, another one won’t spawn until the first one despawns or is killed.
They spawn regardless of light level, so don’t expect torches to stop them.

Endermite Behavior: What Do They Do?

Unlike most hostile mobs, Endermites don’t roam around looking for a fight. Here’s what you should know:

Tiny but Aggressive – Even though they’re small, Endermites attack players on sight.
Attract Enderman – Enderman will drop everything to attack an Endermite, making them super useful for farms.
Despawning Issues – After 2 minutes, they vanish unless you use a Name Tag to keep them around.
Move Like Silverfish – Their movement is erratic, like Silverfish, making them tricky to hit.

How to Use Endermites for an Enderman Farm

One of the best Enderman farms uses an Endermite to lure Endermen into traps. Here’s how you can set it up:

Step 1: Spawn an Endermite in the End

Go to The End (where Endermen spawn in massive numbers).
Throw Ender Pearls until an Endermite spawns.
Use a Name Tag so it doesn’t despawn.

Step 2: Trap the Endermite

Place the Endermite in a minecart or trap it on a floating block.
Make sure the Endermen can see it but can’t reach it.

Step 3: Build a Kill Zone

Surround the area with a drop chute or killing platform where Endermen will rush toward the Endermite and fall into a trap.
Collect XP and Ender Pearls like a boss!

How to Deal With Endermites (Combat Tips)

While they’re not the most dangerous mob, Endermites can still be annoying. Here’s how to handle them easily:

Use a Sword – A basic sword can one-shot them if it's strong enough.
Stay Mobile – Since they move fast and erratically, keep moving to avoid getting hit.
Use a Bow or Trident – If you want to avoid close combat, range attacks work well.
Name Tag for Farms – If you want to use one for an Enderman farm, name it ASAP to prevent despawning.

Fun Facts About Endermites

They are the smallest hostile mob in Minecraft.
Unlike Silverfish, they don’t burrow into blocks.
They’re the only mob that naturally spawns from Ender Pearls.
Endermen attack them immediately, even if the Endermite isn’t hostile.

Endermites may be tiny, but they have a huge impact, especially if you’re farming Endermen for XP and Ender Pearls. Now that you know how they work, you can either avoid them, fight them, or use them to your advantage. So next time you’re throwing Ender Pearls, don’t be surprised if one of these little guys pops up!

Modnaria