Bug Identifier
Booklouse (Barklouse)
Community identification

Booklouse (Barklouse)

Liposcelis spp.

Order & Family
Psocodea: Liposcelididae
Size
1mm to 2mm in length
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Damp, high-humidity indoor environments such as old books, wallpaper, stored food products, and under carpets.

Diet & Feeding

Microscopic mold, mildew, fungi, and organic debris like starchy glues or grains.

Behavior Patterns

Wingless and light-sensitive, they thrive in moisture and reproduce quickly in humid conditions; they go through simple metamorphosis (hemimetabolous).

Risks & Benefits

They do not bite humans or pets and do not transmit disease, but they can occasionally contaminate dry food goods or damage old book bindings in large numbers.