Subject: What is this bug?
Location: Sydney
February 18, 2016 2:03 am
I see it everywhere in our place. On my laptop, spoon drawer, on doors.
It’s cream coloured and very small.
Help appreciated
Signature: Maryam
Dear Maryam,
This is a Booklouse in the family Liposcelididae, probably in the genus Liposcelis. According to BugGuide they are found: “worldwide and across NA; many spp. are now nearly cosmopolitan or otherwise widely spread through agency of man, mostly with stored products.” They are basically harmless to humans, though when they are plentiful, they might render stored foods unpalatable. According to the Penn State Department of Entomology: “Booklice, also called psocids, are not true lice. While they resemble lice in size and shape, booklice feed only on fungi or mold. If you find them in grain or other stored food products, it is an indication of high humidity which encourages mold growth. In addition to food products, psocids may be found under wallpaper, in furniture, along the sides of windows or on window sills around potted plants. Booklice do not bite, transmit disease, or damage food or fabric, but they can be very annoying when present in large numbers.”