Barklouse (booklouse)

Found indoors on paper, cardboard, textiles, stored foods, and damp surfaces; also occurs on tree bark and foliage outdoors.

Feeds mainly on mold, fungal spores, algae, starches, and organic residues rather than biting living tissue.

Usually crawls slowly and favors humid, undisturbed locations; indoor species reproduce rapidly under warm, damp conditions and may be wingless.

Harmless to people and pets, with no biting or disease-transmission risk. Large indoor populations indicate excess moisture and can contaminate or damage stored paper and food; outdoors, they help recycle organic matter.