Booklouse

Natural Habitat

Damp, warm, and dark environments, often found in stored food products, books, paper, plaster, and other organic materials prone to mold or high humidity.

Diet & Feeding

Fungi, mold, starch, grains, adhesive in books, and other organic debris. They do not bite humans or animals.

Behavior Patterns

Nocturnal, typically found in high humidity areas, can reproduce rapidly under favorable conditions. They are often associated with new construction due to dampness, or old, damp materials.

Risks & Benefits

Potential risks include being a nuisance pest in homes and stored products, and can sometimes contaminate food items with their bodies or frass. They do not transmit diseases or cause structural damage. They have no known benefits to humans, but play a small role as decomposers in their natural environment.

Identified on: 10/7/2025