Booklice are tiny insects often found in homes. A frequent inquiry about them is whether they can fly, which helps clarify their presence and potential for spread.
Understanding Booklice
Booklice, also known as psocids, are small, soft-bodied insects typically measuring between 1 to 4 millimeters in length, about the size of a crayon tip. They usually appear pale white, gray, or light brown, with six thin legs and long, filamentous antennae. Despite their name, booklice are not true lice and do not bite humans or pets, nor do they transmit diseases. They prefer undisturbed, damp environments, such as those found around books, paper, and within pantries.
Do Booklice Fly?
Most booklice species commonly found indoors are wingless and cannot fly. These wingless forms primarily rely on running to move. While some species, particularly those found outdoors and sometimes referred to as barklice, do possess wings, they are poor flyers and prefer to run. Winged booklice are less frequently encountered within homes compared to their wingless counterparts.
Why Booklice Appear
Booklice are attracted to environments with high humidity and moisture, thriving when relative humidity is above 60%. Their diet consists primarily of mold, mildew, and fungi, which flourish in damp settings. They also feed on starchy materials found in homes, such as the glue in book bindings, wallpaper paste, grains, flour, and cereals. Booklice typically enter homes on infested items like used books, furniture, or construction materials, or through small cracks.
Managing Booklice
Controlling booklice infestations primarily involves environmental management to make conditions unfavorable. Reducing indoor humidity levels to below 50-60% is highly effective, as booklice cannot survive in drier conditions. This can be achieved by using dehumidifiers, improving ventilation, and utilizing air conditioning. Addressing any sources of moisture, such as leaky pipes or condensation, also helps to eliminate their habitat.
Removing their food sources is another effective strategy. This includes cleaning up any visible mold or mildew and ensuring that food items like grains and cereals are stored in airtight containers. Regular cleaning and dusting can also help reduce the mold spores they feed upon. For infested items like books, freezing them in a sealed plastic bag for several days can eliminate booklice. Chemical treatments are rarely necessary, as environmental modifications are typically sufficient.