Q&A for How to Get Rid of Booklice

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Can booklice live on humans?

Kevin Carrillo
Pest Control Specialist, MMPC
Kevin Carrillo is a Pest Control Specialist and the Senior Project Manager for MMPC, a pest control service and certified Minority-owned Business Enterprise (MBE) based in the New York City area. MMPC is certified by the industry’s leading codes and practices, including the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), QualityPro, GreenPro, and The New York Pest Management Association (NYPMA). MMPC's work has been featured in CNN, NPR, and ABC News.

Kevin Carrillo

Pest Control Specialist, MMPC

Expert Answer

Booklice are not actually related to head or body lice and cannot live on humans.

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Question

What do booklice feed on?

Kevin Carrillo
Pest Control Specialist, MMPC
Kevin Carrillo is a Pest Control Specialist and the Senior Project Manager for MMPC, a pest control service and certified Minority-owned Business Enterprise (MBE) based in the New York City area. MMPC is certified by the industry’s leading codes and practices, including the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), QualityPro, GreenPro, and The New York Pest Management Association (NYPMA). MMPC's work has been featured in CNN, NPR, and ABC News.

Kevin Carrillo

Pest Control Specialist, MMPC

Expert Answer

Booklice typically feed on mold, though they sometimes can also feed on starch-based pastes used in book bindings or wallpaper.

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Question

What is an easy home remedy for book lice?

Chris Parker
Founder, Parker Eco Pest Control
Chris Parker is the Founder of Parker Eco Pest Control, a sustainable pest control service in Seattle, Washington. Since 2016, Chris has been specializing in Integrated Pest Management and doesn’t use any chemicals for pest removal. He offers removal services for ants, rodents, fleas, spiders, wasps, and more. Chris is a certified Commercial Pesticide Applicator in Washington State and received his bachelor’s from the University of Washington.

Chris Parker

Founder, Parker Eco Pest Control

Expert Answer

You can place a bag or a jar filled with a desiccant, like the packets of silica gel found in food containers, around your house.

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Question

Are Booklice bad?

Kevin Carrillo
Pest Control Specialist, MMPC
Kevin Carrillo is a Pest Control Specialist and the Senior Project Manager for MMPC, a pest control service and certified Minority-owned Business Enterprise (MBE) based in the New York City area. MMPC is certified by the industry’s leading codes and practices, including the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), QualityPro, GreenPro, and The New York Pest Management Association (NYPMA). MMPC's work has been featured in CNN, NPR, and ABC News.

Kevin Carrillo

Pest Control Specialist, MMPC

Expert Answer

Booklice themselves are basically harmless, though they usually indicate a larger issue, such as leaky pipes, out-of-date pointing work, or something similar.

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Question

Where do book lice come from?

Kevin Carrillo
Pest Control Specialist, MMPC
Kevin Carrillo is a Pest Control Specialist and the Senior Project Manager for MMPC, a pest control service and certified Minority-owned Business Enterprise (MBE) based in the New York City area. MMPC is certified by the industry’s leading codes and practices, including the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), QualityPro, GreenPro, and The New York Pest Management Association (NYPMA). MMPC's work has been featured in CNN, NPR, and ABC News.

Kevin Carrillo

Pest Control Specialist, MMPC

Expert Answer

Like all insects, booklice come from outside. They find structural openings in the building (where your water-line comes into the basement or an open window with no screen) and then travel up through the wall, ceiling, and floor cavities searching out areas of moisture. There, they congregate looking for mold—generally near radiators and under window sills.

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Question

Do booklice get in clothing?

Community Answer

Yes, you can have them in your clothing, bedding and upholstered furniture.

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How do I prevent any bugs from spreading while I go through stored paperwork?

Community Answer

Spray citronella essential oil in the area, and put a bay leaf inside book boxes.

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How do I get rid of booklice without throwing away the objects?

Community Answer

One way to get rid of booklice is to seal your object tight enough in a big black bag outside to keep the lice from escaping. After that, place the bag of objects in a cold or hot place to kill the lice. You may even place it in the freezer for a little while. Finally, carefully open the bag and start blowing on the pages and shaking the books one by one.

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Question

What do I use on a paper mite bite?

Community Answer

Booklice don't actually bite humans. The term paper mite is often used to describe the cause of small, red, and itchy dots or a biting sensation on the skin. However, a paper mite isn't an actual creature, and the cause of the skin irritation is often not a bug bite. The irritation, which often presents in people who work in offices (hence the term paper mite), may instead be caused by dry skin, fiberglass particles in the air, carpet particles, or paper dust.

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Question

How do I get rid of booklice on my walls? Do I have to repaint the wall?

Community Answer

No; try wiping down the wall with neem oil on a clean cloth.

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Question

What other small bugs eat paper?

Community Answer

Silverfish, cockroaches, termites. Cockroaches are the most common.

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Question

Can book lice come from old wood furniture that was left in storage for an extended time?

Community Answer

Mould can grow on dust covered old furniture, book lice can hide in crevices. To get rid of book lice, clean with a surface cleaner regularly, dry and aerate the furniture. If varnish or finish is flaking on solid wood, sand and varnish or wax and polish.

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Question

Can booklice enter your ear?

Miana

Community Answer

Yes, but booklice do not feed on humans. They feed on mold growth and starch bonding products.

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