Booklouse

Natural Habitat

Damp, warm, and dark places with high humidity. Indoors, they are often found in books (hence the name), stored food products, wallpaper, and areas with mold growth. Outdoors, they live on tree bark, under leaves, and in bird nests.

Diet & Feeding

They feed on fungi, mold, microscopic algae, dead insects, starch-based materials like book bindings and wallpaper paste, and sometimes stored food products such as grains and cereals.

Behavior Patterns

Booklice are mostly nocturnal and shy, preferring to hide in undisturbed, dark crevices. They do not jump but can move quickly. They undergo incomplete metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult). Some species are parthenogenetic, meaning females can reproduce without males.

Risks & Benefits

Booklice are generally harmless to humans, not biting or transmitting diseases. However, large infestations can cause damage to books, paper, and stored food products, and their presence can indicate a moisture problem in a home. They are not considered beneficial to humans, but in natural environments, they contribute to the decomposition of organic matter.

Identified on: 9/18/2025