Booklice vs. bed bug nymphs
By nobugsonme on Mar 4, 2008 in booklice, booklouse, identifying bed bugs, not a bed bug, photos
This is a booklouse, photo sent in by LtDan. Several bedbuggers have mistaken them for bed bug nymphs. Notice the shape of the body is elongated, with three clear segments. There’s a pronounced head.
Compare this photo from L. Sorkin and R. Mercurio of a bed bug nymph:
Both are light colored but the bed bug nymph has a less elongated body. It doesn’t look like it has a neck, whereas the booklouse does. The bed bug nymph is clear but will become red when it has fed. Thanks to reader DJR for sharing this book louse photo.
content rss
lieutenantdan | Mar 5, 2008 | Reply
What I would like to point out to the newly infested is that when you start to inspect your house you may see booklice, everyone pretty much has some. To really see some details in these bugs you need 10x magnification and that is limited that is how small these creatures are so it is very easy to assume that they may be bed bug nymps especially to the new people or untrained eye. This one I found on my mattress encasement last week which I though at first was a spec of dirt. When I went to collect it it slowly moved so I caught it with tape and took a loupe to it and of course I freaked a little. I was pretty positive that it was not a bed bug but because it is so tiny I could not be 100%. I scanned the bug and sent it to a friend who is an entomologist and immediately she told me that it was a booklouse.
You can imagine how relieved I felt.
I stress the importance of collecting samples ( entomologists hate the samples on tape)
and send them to a professional to verification. Booklice are not parasites they feed on mold and books. Universities usually have a team of specialists to deal with these creatures to reduce the numbers as to help preserve important paper documents.
So beware of the Booklouse.
nobugsonme | Mar 5, 2008 | Reply
Thanks for the photo, Dan!