Booklice depend on warm temperatures and humidity to survive. Ideal temperatures and relative humidities for survival range from 75-82°F and 75-90% RH. They are negatively affected by low humidity (50-60%) and can die within weeks if levels remain low.
Liposcelis sp. survive in RH environments below 50%, while population increases of psocids occur in environments with RH readings of 65% and above. Environmental temperatures greater than 37°C are usually high enough to kill most psocid species with the exception of L. paeta that tends to be more heat resistant.
Booklice can survive the winter if they live in a humid environment, quickly developing into adults within only a few weeks when the weather warms up.
The high heat/low humidity atmosphere causes insects to die due to lack of moisture. The lower the humidity of the heated space, the quicker the insects will die.
Booklice, also known as Psocids, are repelled by the smell of certain essential oils, particularly peppermint, eucalyptus, and lavender. These oils can be used in a diluted form as a natural deterrent. However, controlling humidity levels is the most effective way to prevent booklice infestations.
Ideal conditions for booklice to quickly reproduce are temperatures between 75–82°F and relative humidity between 75–90%. Reducing indoor humidity to a level below 50% kills booklice within 2–3 weeks, even without doing anything else, and keeping it that way prevents them from returning.
Psocids or booklice are common but harmless household bugs between 1 and 2 mm long, which survive in dry powdery foods. They prefer to live in dark, warm, humid places such as the folds in packaging in food cupboards, and dislike light or disturbance.
The most important facilitative factor for mite growth is RH. Mites require RH higher than 65% to prevent water loss and to thrive. Once humidity decreases below 50%, mite proliferation decreases and survival is decreased. Depending on how dry the environment is kept, mites can survive for weeks before they die.
Ideal humidity – and signs of trouble
Every home is different, but a level between 30 and 40 per cent humidity is typically ideal for keeping your home warm and comfortable in the winter, without leaving condensation on the windows. In the summer, that level can be higher, between 50 and 60 per cent.
Your ideal indoor humidity should be between 30-50%. When your humidity spikes above that range, reduce the moisture in your air to make it more comfortable for you and less comfortable for pests using any of these methods: Turn on the AC. Cold air has less room to hold moisture.
Booklice need moisture to survive, so reducing the humidity in your house will kill them. Set up a few dehumidifiers, especially in damp areas like basements and bathrooms. Run them to remove moisture from the environment. To kill booklice, you'll have to get the humidity under 50 percent.
The lifespan of an adult booklice is about six months. The life cycle from egg to adult takes about three months. The adult female lays up to 100 eggs, which take 2 to 4 weeks to hatch into nymphs.
The kitchen and bathroom are hotspots for booklice. If there is any mould in sight, get rid of it as soon as possible. Dehumidifiers will help to reduce moisture levels in the air, but the key to a mould and damp-free environment is effective ventilation.
Natural Predators: Spiders and certain beetles are natural enemies of booklice. While you might not want to introduce more insects into your home, encouraging these predators in your garden can help keep booklice numbers down. Essential Oils: Oils such as lavender and tea tree have insect-repellent properties.
One effective way to get rid of booklice (and other insects that thrive in moist environments) is to dry them all up by powdering them and any surfaces with a dehydrating agent like diatomaceous earth or boric acid. These substances dry booklice completely out.
Kill head lice by washing infested articles in hot water (at least 140°F) and drying in a hot dryer. Items that cannot be laundered such as headgear, earphones, and bike helmets, can be placed in a plastic bag and put in a freezer. If the freezer is 5°F or lower, all lice and eggs should be dead within 10 hours.
Mold needs 55% or higher humidity in order to grow. Also, remember that reducing humidity below 30% isn't a good idea, either. This can cause health problems, making your eyes nose and skin dry, and exasperate lung and skin conditions.
Is 25% humidity too low? Yes. The standard for indoor humidity is between 40–60%.
Active mites do not survive longer than 6–11 days at RHs ≤50%. They survive extended dry periods by forming a desiccation-resistant protonymphal stage which can survive for months at RHs below the critical humidity for active stages.
Reduce Humidity: Dust mites hate dry air. Utilize dehumidifiers to maintain an environment where they cannot thrive.
To completely prevent population growth of these mites, RH must be maintained below 35% for at least 22 hours per day when the daily RH is 75% or 85% for the remainder of the day.
Booklice dislike the strong aroma of cedar and lavender. Place cedar chips or lavender sachets in your bookshelves, cabinets, or storage areas to create an unpleasant environment for booklice. These natural remedies not only repel booklice but also add a pleasant fragrance to your space.
While there is no single substance that booklice absolutely hate, there are conditions and substances that they find unfavourable. Since they thrive in dark and humid places, they naturally dislike environments that are dry or bright. Eliminating their food sources including mould and fungus may also deter them.
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.