Booklouse

Natural Habitat

Indoor environments, especially damp and undisturbed areas, bookshelves, old papers, food storage areas, wall voids. Also found outdoors under bark or leaf litter.

Diet & Feeding

Fungi, mold, starch-based materials (e.g., book bindings, wallpaper paste, flour, cereal), dead insects, pollen, and other organic detritus.

Behavior Patterns

Nocturnal, cryptic, and prefer dark, humid environments. They are not true lice and do not bite humans or pets. They have a short lifespan, typically a few weeks to several months depending on species and conditions. They are often wingless or have vestigial wings indoors, but some outdoor species are winged.

Risks & Benefits

Potential risks include contamination of food products, damage to paper goods (books, documents), and sometimes triggering allergies in sensitive individuals if present in large numbers. Generally considered a nuisance pest. They pose no direct health risk through bites or stings. They can be beneficial in outdoor environments as decomposers.

Identified on: 9/19/2025