How do I identify a booklice?
They are grayish or white in appearance and usually without wings. If they do have wings, they are very weak flyers. Booklice are very flat in appearance and are often found in mold or mildew. Their heads and abdomens are large while their midsections are narrow.
Are booklice common in homes?
Psocids (Psocoptera), or booklice, are very common in new houses. This is because the environment is relatively humid, and these bugs do well in humid conditions. They likely came in on construction materials while the house was being built, and simply stayed.
Can book lice live on humans?
No. They are not harmful to humans. Unlike true lice, they do not feed on blood. This gives them no desire to bite humans.
How do booklice get in your house?
In homes, booklice are drawn to areas of high moisture since those areas easily and readily grow mold for them to feed on. Booklice are most often found in areas like basements, bathrooms, and kitchens. As their name suggests they are also commonly found in used books that are being stored.
Where can book lice be found?
Booklice live in warm environments with plenty of moisture and humidity. They prefer to inhabit undisturbed spaces and are often found around books and papers, in furniture, under wallpaper, along the sides of windows, and in damp areas that support the growth of mould.
What causes book lice?
Psocids, also called book lice although they are not truly lice, live in warm, moist places. They feed on mold or fungi and if found in decaying organic material, as well as grains, insects, and starches like book binding glue it is the result of psocids eating the mold and/or fungi growing on these items.
Do booklice go on beds?
Booklice thrive when there’s moisture, so get rid of it. The most important thing to look for is the breeding area of the booklice, such as upholstered furniture, damp papers or books, and old mattresses, just to name a few.
Are book lice harmful?
Booklice are rarely damaging inside homes and are harmless to people or pets. Booklice usually feed on molds, fungi, grains, insect fragments, and other starchy material, including glue from bookbindings. In homes, psocids typically are found in damp, warm, undisturbed places where mold and fungi are growing.
Do book lice live in carpet?
As with all household pests, it is important to be able to identify and control booklice. In addition to old books, they can be found on damp, musty furniture or carpet, in closets and even in cereal boxes and other similar items in your cupboards.
Do booklice live in beds?
There are many people who have found book lice in their mattresses, just like bed bugs, so that may very well be the problem you are having. I have found the same tiny clear bugs on the mattress cover seams and all over the curtains.
Do booklice ruin books?
While book lice will not typically create a great deal of damage when an infestation is present in the home, they can cause damage to books, especially in storage. When books are placed in a humid storage unit, molds spores will start to multiply, and mold will form on the book covers and the edges of the pages.
What are book lice attracted to?
Booklice are attracted to areas of high humidity. High humidity is also required for the growth of mold, which is the primary food source for most booklice. Booklice require this moist air in order to live and adult booklice will die during the winter or periods of dry, cooler weather.