Booklice/Psocids | Catseye Pest Control

Booklice Facts

So-called booklice, also known as psocids and paperlice, are tiny insects that live in noticeable numbers on papers, books, walls, and furniture. While they are nearly invisible because of their small size, they can become an annoyance to humans, sometimes causing allergic reactions.

Booklice Bites

Booklice may look like lice, but they are not actually lice and they do not bite people. These tiny insects do not cause structural damage or spread disease. Booklice become a nuisance when they are in your home in large numbers.

Booklice Infestation

Booklice are all females, developing from unfertilized eggs. Females will produce over 60 eggs during their lifespan. These eggs are white, ovular, and coated in crust. They can be laid by themselves or in groups next to a food source. Once hatched, the new booklice will feed on any available mold and mildew.

Booklice will live anywhere from two weeks to four months, depending on the environment in which they find themselves. It is possible that eight generations are produced within the span of one year.

They thrive in warm, humid areas, preferring temperatures from 75 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. If these conditions are present, an outbreak of booklice may occur. Normally, booklice will disappear around late fall when buildings are increasingly heated and dry.

Types of Booklice

Booklice Identification

Booklice are small with soft bodies, and are only about 1/25 to 1/13 inch long. 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. Booklice also have threadlike antennae. Their young are almost colorless.

When booklice are disturbed, they will run across open services in a jerky, erratic fashion, almost hopping.

Booklice in the Home & the Apartment

These pests eat microscopic mold, fungi, dead insect fragments, pollen, and starches. They are found anywhere that is heated, such as homes, warehouses, and libraries. In areas where construction with lumber has occurred, water vapor may condense within walls that promote the growth of molds, encouraging more outbreaks. Even in everyday household items, booklice will take up residence. These include cereal, flour, paste on book bindings, and wallpaper. These can be especially pesky when they are found in offices and museums where paper files and stored.