Bug FAQDomestic Booklice
Liposcelis · Order: Psocodea · Family: Liposcelididae
Source: Wikipedia
Domestic booklice live in homes, especially where there is moisture and poor ventilation, and they are found worldwide. They eat a wide range of stored foods, plant material and mold, and are known pests in museums, libraries and food-processing areas.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
They are closely related to true lice, the parasites of animals.
Source: Wikipedia
Is it a pest in the house?
They are important pests in museums, libraries, food processing plants, retail and homes.
Source: Wikipedia
Does it bite or sting?
One species, L. bostrychophila, can carry the pathogen Rickettsia felis that affects humans and cats.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
They are common in human buildings, especially where dampness and bad ventilation exist. Many species are linked to human habitation and stored-product infestations.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
They are omnivores that will eat almost any stored animal or plant product and mold.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
The genus Liposcelis occurs almost everywhere in the world.
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
They look similar to lice because they belong to the same order group.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 15 of 51 states and DC. Most records: California, Texas, Alaska, Montana, Virginia, Florida, Kansas, Indiana.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
Where do I usually find domestic booklice?
In damp, poorly ventilated areas of homes and in places where stored food or mold is present.
Source: Wikipedia
Can they damage my belongings?
Yes, they are considered pests in museums, libraries and food-storage areas because they feed on a wide range of materials.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Liposcelididae)
Sources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liposcelis
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-22 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-22.