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Booklice spread and multiply very fast. Start treatment early.

Learn More About Booklice

Booklice

Booklice are usually considered as primitive insects since they are believed to have existed since 295 millions of years ago. Psocoptera are paraphyletic group of insects that are known as Booklice. Although most infestation is not as common as other pest, they still create an inconvenience and destruction to material and items. Commonly found amongst old books and booklice bite to feed on the paste used in binding.

They do not have any preference for a main habitat. They can survive in places as long as it has ideal damp and moist conditions. They can also be found in the cracks and crevices of your property’s walls. There are a lot of ways to prevent and control Booklice.

Ultimately Professional Pest Control Services is your best bet to get rid of Booklice in Singapore permanently.

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Booklice Characteristic

The Booklice Lifecycle

The lifecycle is composed of four nymphal stages. They lay their eggs in minutes into nooks or on foliage. The baby Booklice emerge in a small, flightless form, just like the adult. The egg can take 21 days before it hatches.

The adult can give birth to up to 50 eggs, depending on the environment. It takes at least 110 days for an egg to develop into a full functioning adult. During this period, these nymphs typically molt for six times before reaching their full adulthood. The total Booklice lifespan of adult is rarely six months.

The Booklice Anatomy

The Booklice size are approximately 1mm – 2mm in length. This species of insect have soft bodies, their head are prominent, neck between the head and thorax is fairly narrow. Most of a their bodies composes of their abdomen.

Their colour on the other hand, can vary from transparent, white, grey or brown. Some species have two pairs of wings while others have none, easily mistaken for bedbug nymphs and vice versa.

The Booklice Dietary

Booklice feed on starchy materials, feeding on mold and fungi caused by damp conditions. They are believed to feed on microscopic mold and mildew that grows on the glue of the book bindings. Or damp cardboard, damp food. (favourably cereals) or on the surfaces close to damp plaster inside buildings, air conditioners which are common with brand new houses.

The majority of woodland insects are not known to humans, and are thus of no great financial value. They are scavengers which do not pose a risk of biting people.

Even without food, this insect can survive for as long as two months. They can live even longer if the living condition has sufficient humidity.

Learn to know when you’ll need Booklice Control Services

Signs of Booklice Infestation

Any kind of pest infestation should not be taken lightly as they are harmful to humans. If you have a Booklice problem, they can destroy important documents in your property. Lookout for these signs to avoid this from happening:

Sighting

If you see Booklice crawling around Residential home and office. Places likes bookshelves, walls, cabinets and opening windows, it is most likely that you have an infestation. Beside from moist and damp places, warm with high humidity or undisturbed places where mould and fungi are grows. They are typically found in food products like flour or cereal.

Nest

Booklice eggs have a sticky texture and are typically placed in damp, moist areas. A common area to find them is usually the kitchen cabinets. They will have access to food sources like flour, or be hidden under crumbs or other food residue. Clusters of egg are also a sign of booklice issue and can indicate that they have started breeding in your property

These are just some of the Booklice can be found in Singapore

Types of Booklices

There are more than 5,500 species of booklice in three suborders known around the world. In Singapore however, there are three species that are usually seen:

DEATHWATCH PSOCID

Psocids are mistakenly referred to as true lice or booklice, although they have no actual relation to lice. they are also called plant or bark lice and they infest foliage of trees and shrubs. A large species of structural importance are called “deathwatch”. Due to its habit for tapping its abdomen on the surface and creating an audible clicking sound.

The species “deathwatch” is particularly known to its habit of tapping its abdomen against surfaces and making an audible clicking sound.

They feed primarily on moulds and fungi, and they thrive in moist environments. Making them commonly found in books or other items stored in damp conditions. They reproduce quickly, with a female producing an average of 60 eggs in warm weather. And the life cycle from egg to adult takes only less than a month.

WINGLESS BOOKLOUSE

The most well known species called of Booklice is called the Wingless Booklouse. Commonly pale in colour, these wingless insect are found indoors. Mostly in, newspapers, dusty shelve, old books and papers or in cereals.

GRAIN PSOCID

Emerging tiny pests lurks in stored products, particularly in dry goods commodities such as grains, stored maize, rice and wheat.

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