6 Simple Ways to Get Rid of Booklice (Psocids)

Psocids (Psocoptera), or booklice, are commonly found in new houses and other damp spots. A new construction environment is relatively humid, and these teeny bugs thrive in moist conditions. Luckily, these bugs can be easily managed, and they typically do not survive when humidity levels drop. Although these bugs don't bite, sting, or bother people or pets, they are annoying. They also like to raid wheat and grain stores in pantry containers that are not airtight.

To manage a booklice infestation, reduce the humidity. Open the windows, place fans around the home, or try dehumidifiers in problem rooms. Within one to three weeks, lower humidity levels will kill the psocids and help reduce the growth of molds that they survive on. If you have a psocid problem, here are more tips on how to prevent or control booklice.

Signs of a Booklice Infestation

Booklice usually ride into new homes on construction materials or while the house is being built, and they stay on. They can also get inside from cracks and crevices in the wall or travel inside on molding or moist firewood. Signs of a potential booklice infestation:

• Eggs: Sticky eggs can be found near a moist food source
• Food source: An open food source or mildew spots, especially near moisture, is a place where you can find insect activity
• Insect activity: If you suspect an infestation, investigate a potential source closely, and you might see them

A psocid presence is one of the most common pests people experience when moving into a new house. Although the tiny bugs can be an annoyance, they are no more than that. These small insects will not survive when the humidity in a new home eventually drops.

What Do Booklice Look Like?

Booklice are tiny insects, only about 1 to 2 mm long—roughly 1/32 to 1/16th of an inch. They are soft-bodied insects, white or brown, and may or may not have wings depending on the particular species. There are about 30 species, and most booklice inside are wingless. Their head and abdomen are large relative to their thorax.

You might find these insects under wallpaper, in older books and papers stored in damp conditions, and in wet areas outdoors. Booklice feed anywhere there is microscopic mold and grow where there's humidity.

They're sometimes confused for bed bugs or flour beetles since these insects infest homes. Bed bugs are round and oval and bite, while booklice are skinnier and do not bite. Booklice are also confused for flour beetles since they like to raid the pantry, especially with moisture or leaks. Flour beetles are much larger and have a darker, reddish-brown color.

6 Ways to Get Rid of Booklice (Psocids)

New houses are not the only places with problems with psocids. These tiny bugs can live outdoors on bark, feeding on mosses and lichens, grass, leaves, and damp wood. These outdoor species are often called barklice.

Because they are so tiny, it’s impractical to try to prevent their entry into the home (beyond standard exclusion practices that can help keep out pests of all kinds), so it’s essential to make your home as unattractive to these tiny bugs as possible by eliminating the moisture in which they thrive and the micro-molds on which they feed.

Remove Their Food Source

Reduce their food supply by throwing out everything contaminated with insects—this can include old foodstuffs or mildewed books. Clean the area with enzymes or borax. Keep the areas clean and free of molds and mildew.

Improve Airflow

Booklice need moisture to live. Use a dehumidifier or air conditioner in the infested or potential infestation area—bathrooms and basements are prime zones. Ensure you turn on your bathroom ventilator fan after every shower or tub use.

The goal is to reduce moisture to below 50 percent. Open windows, where possible, to increase ventilation. You can also use fans to help improve the airflow.

Clean Up Mold and Mildew

Dispose of all moldy articles. Clean up mold or mildew spots with chlorine or oxygen bleach, borax, or vinegar. The main areas to look out for are pantries, kitchens, bathrooms, garages, and laundry rooms.

Seal leaks or dripping pipes to prevent mold and mildew growth. Clean up spills as soon as they occur and use bathmats to collect standing water. Wash towels and bathmats frequently to discourage mold and mildew growth.

Freeze Them Out

Psocids can't survive freezing temperatures for longer than one hour, so expose them to freezing temperatures. This idea is somewhat impractical for inside a home but place the items outside if you have infested items and cold temperatures outside. This option can also work with smaller things like a prized book with an infestation. Put the item in a zip-top bag and place it in the freezer for over an hour.

Use Dehydrating Agents

Dehydrating substances like silica aerogel, diatomaceous earth, or boric acid can be dusted in non-food areas, like cracks and crevices, crawl spaces, and other areas away from children and pets, to dry out a problem area.

Consider Mold, Fungus, and Insecticide Commercial Products

Commercial products that help to control mold and fungi will also help keep the areas clean and maintain control of mold-feeding pests.

You can use an insect spray to eliminate a bad infestation as a last resort. Use a pyrethrin-based insecticide, a substance in chrysanthemums that kills pests.

Booklice vs. Head Lice

Booklice look a lot like headlice, but they're not related. They are a lighter shade of gray. They may have wings, but they do not fly. Meanwhile, head lice bite people and animals. Another way to tell the difference is by where you find them—you will find head lice on people living near hair follicles, while booklice will be near books, pantries, and moldy areas.

Additional information is provided by Bill Robinson's The Service Technician's Field Manual and Stephen Tvedten's The Best Control 2.