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Booklice Blog
Booklice are from a species of psocid incredibly tiny, wingless insects that consume organic matter. They prefer to feed particularly mould and fungi.
Booklice Feed Primarily on Papers, Grain, Fungi or Mould
Seen Psocids (Psocoptera) In Grain Or Around Mould?
Psocids (order of psocoptera), or booklice, prefer to hide in enclose areas and other damp spots. Environment that are relatively humid are perfect location for these tiny bugs, psocid to infest and thrive. Booklice got their name from their preference residing in books, they resemble lice both flat with wings venation and greyish brown in colour. They feed on the glue in the book bindings, paper, grains, flours and stored products.
Lucky for us, these pests can be manage easily, typically unable survive when the humidity level drop. Some people call them paper lice and these pests are not capable of biting, sting and pester people or pets. They raid and love eating grain and wheat in the storage and infest food in containers that offer easy access or an entry way. You can find them lurking under wallpaper, grain food manufacturing, books, damp conditions and wet leaf litter outdoors.
Booklice feed on store packet of flours, mould, feeding on algae and thrive in areas with high humidity. These tiny pest originally live outdoors with a healthy diet feeding on mosses, grass, leaf and damp decaying wood. In the United States this outdoor species are usually call barklice. This blog article will cover the 6 ways to prevent or control booklice.
Commonly Confuse with Bed Bugs For Their Close Similarity
What Do Booklice Look Like?
Booklice are tiny creatures approximately 1 to 2 mm long and look similar to termites and bed bugs. They are soft bodies insects, grey or brown in colour, and may sometimes have wings depending on the kind of species. Their hind legs are thicker with head and abdomen larger than their thorax.
Most time confuse for bed bugs and flour beetles since these pest commonly infest properties. Bed bugs are round and oval and bite, with egg nymphs close to invisible in colour, while booklice are slimmer and do not bite. Book lice are also mistaken for flour beetles since they too prefer to raid properties, especially with dense moist. Flour beetles are larger in size and have a darker brown colour.
Areas They Prefer to Hide and Infest in Properties
The Signs of Booklice Infestation
Psocid is one of the common pests people encounter while moving into a new property. They can enter properties through cracks, crevices and within wall or travel in moulding or moist pipes. Although these tiny pests can be annoying, they cause no health complications. These booklice will not survive if the humidity level in the property drops.
Some of the clear signs of a booklice infestation include damages in old books, locating booklice eggs near moist close to their food source. They reside in the bottom containers of grains and flours in the storage pantries.
Ultimate Guide To Rid of Booklice in Properties
6 Ways to Successfully Get Rid of Booklice (Psocids)
Residential homes are not the only location facing problems with psocids. They are so tiny, it is practically impossible to try to prevent their entry into the property. Essential to make your premises impossible to access to these tiny pest best you possibly can. Eliminate moisture in which they need to thrive and clear the microscopic moulds on which they feed.
Reduce The Humidity
Reducing the humidity level in your property is the best way to manage booklice infestation problem. Open the windows for air flow, place fans near the area or install dehumidifiers in areas with problem. Within a week or two, the lower humidity will terminate the psocids and reduce the mould growth from little to nothing.
Remove Food Source
Reducing their food source and supply requires throwing all contaminated items that have booklice in it. This may include old food packages, flour or old books. Declutter items and organise the storage area to prevent any reoccurrence. Clean the area thoroughly with enzymes to keep the affected areas clean and free of moulds and mildew.
Well Ventilated
By using dehumidifier in the infest area or potential infestation area keeping areas well-ventilated can help fend them. Area such as bathrooms and kitchen are their primary target. Turn on toilet fan after every use to keep area as dry as possible to reducing moist below 50%. Opening the windows helps to increase ventilation and improve the airflow.
Clear The Mould
Clean up all the mouldy particles or mildew spots with chlorine or vinegar. The main location is the kitchens, bathrooms, gardens and laundry rooms. Seal any leaks or drippy faucets to avoid mould and mildew growth and build up. And wipe spills and use the mat to collect any water, towels and mats will help fend and reduce moisture and mould growth.
Freezing Them
Psocids will not be able to survive if they are expose to freezing temperatures for longer than an hour. The idea may sound impractical for larger items, you can salvage items that fits the freezer to kill the pest. This option can help save the items you treasure from further damages. Put items in a ziplock and seal tight before placing it in the freezer for over than 1 hour.
Insecticide Products
Our commercial products can help to control algae, fungi and mould growth. The solution will protect against mould feeding pests. By keep the areas regularly clean will maintain a long term control against unwanted pests. Using off-the-shelves insect spray should be the last resort to eliminate infestation as recurrence may happen.
Has There Been Cases of Psocids Infesting Wardrobe and Destroying Clothes?
These pests have a food preferences of seeds grain, cereals, books, papers wallpapers and glue. Damages inflict on materials will be an indication of infestation from other pests species.
Professional Booklice Control Services
Innovative Pest Blog Summary
At Innovative Pest Sdn Bhd, we provide a few effective approach to booklice control methods:
Misting with a solution for kill the mould, fungi and algae, a step that is crucial to avoid recurrence. To successfully eliminate booklice, our pest control specialist will identify pest and the location of harbourage. Our specialist will custom made the best solution treatment to permanently solve your booklice problem.
Residual spraying of insecticide treatment targets a direct approach for solution and addresses the source of the problem. It eradicate the pest problem immediately and prevent any future infestations issues problems.
