Booklice

Latin Name: Liposcelis corrodens

Months of Activity: January - December

Booklice are tiny grey or brown insects generally found in damp, warm, undisturbed areas in buildings, where they feed on microscopic mold and mildew. Contrary to popular opinion, booklice do not bite humans or animals, spread disease or damage household furnishings, however they can sometimes cause mild skin irritation.

Outdoor species are often referred to as barklice, since they are normally found under tree bark or leaves.

Appearance

• Adult booklice are soft-bodied greyish-white insects about 1-2mm long, and are usually wingless.
• Nymphs are very small and often appear transparent, becoming more opaque with age.

Lifecycle

Booklice are all female, with development occuring from unfertilised eggs. Each female is capable of laying in excess of 60 eggs, which are placed either in clusters or laid singly. The young white nymphs then emerge to feed on molds and mildews until they reach adulthood – a process that takes between four to nine months.

Up to eight generations of booklice per year can be produced, with adults dying in cold weather and eggs hatching the following spring. Outbreaks are common when long periods of humid weather is accompanied by warm temperatures.

Booklice avoid light and prefer temperatures of 25°C to 30°C, with relative humidities of 75-90%.

Pest Control

Normally chemical pest control is not needed if strict sanitation is practiced. You should ventilate and dry areas with a dehumidifier or fan, or simply open the doors of a damp room.

Infestations will usually disappear during late autumn when rooms are artificially heated and kept dry, but many people have found that using mothballs or mould-control products will help clear up an infestation more quickly.

Booklice Pest Control News

New Chief Executive For BPCA
The British Pest Control Association (BPCA) this week welcomed its new chief executive, Simon Forrester. For the last five years Simon has been chief executive at the Association of Interior Specialists (AIS) based in Solihull. With 480 contractor a... [more]

Eco-Friendly Pest Control
Summer is typically the height of pesky insect season, but if the thought of using pesticides is "bugging" you, you'll be happy to know more pest control companies are adopting the environmentally friendly approach. If you do find you have pests the... [more]

A Very Buggy Summer
With the weather pattern we've had so far, it's almost certain that the numbers of calls regarding pest insects such as mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, and ants will increase, causing a very buggy summer. Whether the number of creepy crawlies this summer ... [more]

7 Tips For Chemical-Free Pest Control
The weather's heating up, and that means all sorts of creepy crawlies are about in force. Conventional pesticides are full of nasty chemicals linked to health concerns from ADHD in children to Parkinson's Disease in adults. Why spray harmful toxins w... [more]

5 Ways To Reduce Children's Exposure
There's no question many children are routinely exposed to trace amounts of pesticides. Typical exposures aren't enough to cause known problems such as poisoning or cancer, but a new-found link between pesticide exposure and ADHD does raise the troub... [more]

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