Booklice / Psocid

Natural Habitat

Booklice typically inhabit moist, warm, and dark environments. They are often found in books, papers, stored food products, cardboard boxes, wall voids, and anywhere mold or fungi grow. They can also be found in outdoor environments like under bark or leaf litter.

Diet & Feeding

Booklice feed on molds, fungi, microscopic plant matter, starches (like those found in paper bindings and glues), and sometimes dead insects. They do not bite humans or pets.

Behavior Patterns

They are typically active at night and prefer undisturbed areas. They are usually found in groups when conditions are favorable. Their reproduction can be very rapid in ideal conditions, especially high humidity. Many species are parthenogenetic, meaning females can reproduce without males.

Risks & Benefits

Potential risks include damage to books, papers, and stored food products due to their feeding habits, although this is usually minor. They can also be a nuisance pest if their populations become large. They are not known to transmit diseases to humans or pets. They have some ecological benefits as decomposers, feeding on mold and detritus.

Identified on: 9/9/2025