Grain Booklouse vs Wood-boring Barklouse

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Grain Booklouse Wood-boring Barklouse
Scientific Name Liposcelis bostrychophila Psilopsocus mimulus
Order Psocoptera Psocoptera
Family Liposcelididae Psilopsocidae
Size 0.7-1.2 mm 2-3 mm
Habitat Gardens Woodlands
Diet Fungus Feeders Wood Feeders
Regions Worldwide Central America, South America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Grain Booklouse

A tiny wingless booklouse that is one of the most common stored-product pests worldwide. It thrives in warm humid environments with starchy materials.

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Did You Know?

It reproduces by parthenogenesis, meaning populations consist entirely of females.

Wood-boring Barklouse

An unusual psocid that bores into dead wood rather than living on bark surfaces. It creates small tunnels in decaying timber.

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Did You Know?

It is one of the very few bark lice that actually bores into wood.