Advice
What Are Booklice and Why Do They Appear?
Booklice are tiny, pale insects that feed on mould, and their appearance almost always points to a damp or humid problem somewhere in the property.
Read the guide →We carry out booklice control across Exeter and the EX1 to EX4 postcodes, in family houses, student lets, flats and commercial premises. Our job is to find the damp source, deal with the insects and explain, in plain terms, how to keep the air dry afterwards.
What booklice are and why they turn up
Booklice, sometimes called psocids, are pale, soft-bodied insects well under two millimetres long. They feed on the microscopic mould that grows on paper, cardboard, books, wallpaper paste and stored food when the air stays humid. They are unrelated to head lice or any lice on people, despite the name, and they are not harmful to health, although they are certainly unwelcome in a kitchen or bedroom.
You will usually notice tiny specks that move when you disturb them, often on shelves, in kitchen cupboards or along cold windowsills. Where there are insects there is almost always mould too, even if it is far too faint to see. That is why simply wiping them away rarely works for long in an Exeter home, and why the damp has to be tackled as well.
Older terraces, student lets and busy city buildings
Exeter has a wide mix of property, and each type has its own damp habits. Older terraced houses can hold moisture in walls and under floors, while rented rooms that are shut up over the holidays, or used for drying washing, can build humidity quickly. A spare room full of stored boxes and paperwork is a classic spot for a colony to settle unnoticed for weeks before anyone looks.
Newer homes are not exempt. Fresh plaster and paint release moisture for months, and tightly sealed flats can trap it. We look at the whole picture on a visit: the rooms affected, the stored items, the ventilation and any leaks or condensation, so that treatment in Exeter targets the cause and not just the insects you can see today. It also means you are less likely to be calling us again next season.
How we deal with booklice
We start with an inspection to confirm the insects really are booklice, then agree a plan with you before any work starts. That usually means cutting humidity with better ventilation or a dehumidifier, cleaning off mould, throwing away infested stored food and old damp cardboard, and a targeted treatment where it is needed. We also cover Topsham and Crediton, and the same approach applies there as in Exeter itself.
Frequently asked questions
Are the tiny pale bugs on my shelves in Exeter definitely booklice?
Often they are, particularly if they are very small, pale, quick and found near paper, cardboard or food in a damp room. Other small insects can look similar to the untrained eye, so we confirm exactly what you have on the visit before recommending any treatment at all.
Will booklice damage my books or my belongings?
They mainly eat mould, not the book itself, though heavy numbers can spoil paper and packaging. The real warning sign is the damp. Dry the room, clean off any mould and check stored items, and the insects usually have little left to live on afterwards.
Do I need a dehumidifier to get rid of booklice?
Not always, but reducing humidity is the most important step. Opening windows, using extractor fans, moving furniture off walls and drying washing elsewhere can all help. In stubborn cases a dehumidifier is useful alongside targeted treatment, and we can advise what suits your rooms and your budget.