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Ask the Orkin Man

I have found hundreds of small salt grain size bugs in my house all over, what are they?

Saturday, May 30, 2009

Question: I have found hundreds of small salt grain size bugs in my house
all over, what are they?

 

ANSWER  Probably what you have are psocids (soo - cids) or booklice (an unfortunate name, since they are neither lice nor always associated with books). 
 
These very small, pale yellow to brown insects live in humid areas such as bathrooms and kitchens, but they can occur in other locations in the house (especially in humid weather).  Most of the time they are wingless, but sometimes you can encounter winged forms.  They feed on microscopic mold and fungi, and some are associated with stored food materials which may also have some mold.  

The best control in the kitchen and kitchen cabinets is to remove everything from the cabinets, vacuum them very well. The next step is to inspect thoroughly to find the source of the moisture. Dry out the site, then replace everything in the cabinets.  

In the bathroom, locate and correct the moisture and you will kill the psocids.  (Be sure to look in the access door for the tub in case sonmething is leaking in there.)
 
For the psocids that are in other places in the house, or when you find them on pieces of furniture, the best control is to lower the humidity. , This may mean turning up the heat, using a dehumidifier, or taking items outside to dry in the sun. When the moisture is eliminated, the psocids will disappear.

Tags: brown insects,   booklice 

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