Booklice / Psocids
Scientific Name: Various species within the order Psocoptera (e.g., Liposcelis spp., Trogium pulsatorium)
Order & Family: Order Psocoptera, various families (e.g., Liposcelididae, Trogidae)
Size: Typically 1-2 mm in length, though some species can be up to 10 mm.
Natural Habitat
Damp, dark, and warm environments, often found indoors in books, papers, food storage, walls, or under wallpaper. Outdoors, they can be found on bark or foliage.
Diet & Feeding
Fungi, mold, starch (from books, wallpaper paste, cereal products), dead insects, and other organic matter.
Behavior Patterns
They are often found in groups but do not form colonies in the same way social insects do. They are wingless or have vestigial wings (especially indoor species). They are attracted to humidity and feed by scraping surfaces with their mandibles.
Risks & Benefits
Generally harmless to humans and do not bite or transmit diseases. However, large infestations can cause damage to books, papers, and stored food products. Their presence can also indicate high humidity and potential mold growth in a building, which can pose health risks. They are not known to provide significant benefits to humans or the ecosystem, other than being part of the detritivore food web.
Identified on: 11/26/2025