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 provide booklice control throughout Plymouth, covering the PL1 to PL9 postcodes. We look for the damp and mould that is feeding the insects, treat the affected areas and give practical advice so the problem does not drift back after we leave.
Why a coastal city gets damp-loving insects
Plymouth sits on the coast, and sea air, rain and mild winters keep humidity high for much of the year. Booklice thrive in exactly that kind of moisture. They live on the thin film of mould that grows on paper, books, wallpaper paste, cardboard and dry foods like flour and cereals whenever a room never really dries out between wet spells, particularly in autumn and winter.
A damp north-facing wall, a bedroom with condensation running down the glass or a cupboard against an external wall can all be enough to start them off. The insects are tiny and pale, so people often only notice them when the colony is already large and spreading to the next cupboard along. Catching it early makes treatment simpler. They are unrelated to lice on people and do not bite.
Terraces, estates and rented homes
Plymouth has dense terraced streets, large estates and plenty of rental homes, and booklice show up in all of them. Terraces can suffer from moisture held in older walls, while newer houses may have trapped condensation and drying plaster. In rented property, a home that has been left shut up or has poor ventilation can develop a problem quickly, and a tenant may not know whom to tell. Landlords and agents are welcome to ask us about it.
Commercial premises are affected too, especially stock rooms, archives and storage areas with boxes stacked against cold walls. When we visit in Plymouth we check the rooms around the sightings, the stored goods and anything that holds moisture, because the insects are only the visible end of what is really a damp problem. We write down what we find so you know what has been done.
What the treatment involves
After an inspection we agree what needs doing before we start. Typically this means improving ventilation, cutting humidity, cleaning visible mould, binning infested stored food and soggy cardboard, and applying a targeted treatment to the places the insects gather. We also work in Ivybridge and Salcombe as well as Plymouth. If damp keeps returning, we will tell you plainly when a builder or damp specialist should look at the cause.
Frequently asked questions
Why do I have booklice in a clean Plymouth house?
Booklice are drawn by humidity and mould, not by dirt. A spotless home can still have a damp cupboard, a cold wall or a room with poor airflow. Finding and fixing that moisture is the key to stopping them returning, however often you clean.
Are booklice a sign of a bigger damp problem?
They can be. A few insects after a wet spell may just mean a humid cupboard, while a large, persistent colony points to a leak, condensation or rising damp somewhere. We tell you what we see and whether you need further help from someone else.
Can booklice get into food in my kitchen?
Yes, they can settle in damp or open packets of flour, cereal and similar dry food. Throw away anything affected, store dry goods in sealed containers and keep the cupboard well ventilated. We can check the whole area when we visit and talk you through it.