PSOCID, BOOK LICE AND BARK LICE CONTROL

    This article is on BOOKLICE, PSOCID  or
BARKLICE control. Though different in where
they live, all are related and can be controlled
following the details of this article. The
author will explain why they are a pest and what
needs to be done for controlling infestations.
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   This article is about a type of pest which is very
tiny yet very persistent. It goes by several names and
though it can appear either inside or outside the home,
most people don't like them and will do whatever they
need to do in order to rid themselves of local populations.
It is generally white, gray to clear in color and
very small. Adults don't get bigger than 1/24th to
1/12th of an inch long. However, since most populations
will amount to several hundred to several thousand,
they are easy to see and annoying once active. This
pest goes by several names including Book Lice, Psocids
and Bark Lice. The fact of the matter is that there
are several families of this insect and a lot more
sub species distributed throughout the world. It
appears as though some species become food specific
and others might be location specific. However, most
look similar to one another and one thing is for
sure - the products we use to control them will
work regardless of species. The key to getting
control is to properly match the product with
the application sight. This article will address
this issue insuring that any attempt of psocid
extermination you make will be worth your time.
   For the purpose of practicality, the author will
refer to this pest as psocids throughout the body
of this article. However, he may be making reference
to either book lice or bark lice as well. Remember,
these insects are all related and the only real
difference appears to be where they are active and
what they prefer to eat. In fact, their basic
biology and physical characteristics are similar.
For this reason general control methods will
apply to all species with the difference being
just which formulation is best suited for the
application site.
   Psocids are small insects which love moisture.
In general, they need to live where humidity is
high or moisture is present. Common places for
psocid populations to thrive include window sills,
under outside siding of homes, tree trunks, shrubs,
flowers, around garden hoses, under bricks and
rocks, around light fixtures and under boxes. 
However, some species will readily live in books,
book cases, attics and crawl spaces. As stated
above, there are many families and species of this
insect and the science community has not quite
come to a concise conclusion about how to group
and name all that are included. Some appear to
have specific moisture requirements and others
do not. At the same time some seem to be food
specific and others do not. To make matters more
confusing, it appears that psocids are able to
change their dietary needs as food availability
changes. One thing is for sure: If you have psocids
active in or around your home - expect them to
prosper and keep coming back unless the conditions
which they seek are changed.
   Psocids hatch from eggs in about 2-4 weeks after
the eggs are laid. Young will go through about
2-4 nymphal stages to reach adulthood which takes
another 2-3 months. Once mature, females can generate
50-100 eggs during her life and as an adult she
would expect to live 1-4 months. Most populations
will produce 2-3 generations per year but there
could be a lot more if conditions are just right.
Psocids are able to adapt to their environment
which will dictate just how fast they reproduce.
In general, the more moisture and the more moderate
the temperatures (50 -80 degrees) the more they
will prosper. Cold weather (below 35 degrees) will
kill off adults but eggs will live ready to hatch
as soon as local temperatures get back to where
they are comfortable.
   Psocids will eat just about anything. Though most
people think they eat books or paper, in fact
psocids can thrive on a wide range of food. Such
food includes cellulose (paper or books), book bindings,
fabric (from which many book bindings are constructed),
glue (the glue that binds most books has many
natural components), any type of grain, mold, mildew,
algae, fungus and other plant life. The fact that
psocids will readily live in books is the same reason
they will readily live on trees: the presence of both
cellulose (paper is made from wood) and fungus or
algae. Algae or fungus will readily grow in damp
dark places inside homes but it also thrives outside.
It is here where local psocid populations will begin
to accrue. Once established alongside homes, they
will commonly find adequate food supplies up underneath
any type of siding on homes. From there they commonly
find window sills to be great food areas as well as
outside light fixtures, outlets, door frames, etc.
The author has seen them thrive on just about any
perimeter location of any structure which gets
wet during rain or irrigation. Such areas have a 
tendency to harbor moisture and this harboring is
what enables fungus and algae to grow. Once this
growth starts psocids will soon follow.
   
 NOW THAT YOU HAVE ACTIVITY, WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?

   The good news about psocids is that they are slow
eaters. This means that damage from local populations
is usually minor unless populations go unchecked for
long periods of time. However, psocids are both
annoying and persistent so most people don't want
them around. Fortunately, they are easy to kill and
with the right products being used it is easy to
manage or eliminate any activity in or around the
home. First, there may be some maintenance needed
in areas where activity is noted.
1) Mold, algae and fungus removal will help slow
up psocids. Remember, this is a key food item for
psocids so by cleaning away and removing that which
they eat will cut down on their reproduction.
2) Reduce moisture in such areas. Though it is 
hard to stop rain from accumulating on window
sills and other areas of the home, any attempt
to channel water away and off structures will
help to cut down on just how much fungus, mold
and mildew can grow. By cutting down on this growth
you will be able to cut down on psocid activity.
If you are not sure of current moisture levels, get
one of our HUMIDITY MONITORS. This portable device
is an excellent tool for monitoring moisture in
rooms and any area where pests like psosids are
present. 
3) Once mold, mildew and fungus has been cleaned
away and moisture levels have been reduced, consider
sealing any apparent cracks or seams through which
psocids may be entering or living. IT IS VITAL THAT
MOLD, MILDEW, FUNGUS AND PSOCIDS ARE ALL TREATED
BEFORE YOU SEAL. If you start to seal cracks without
first addressing why they are wet, you may only be
making a bad situation a lot worse. This will happen
when moisture is sealed into siding and wall
voids - a condition which many homeowners create
when they randomly caulk. The rule is simple: Seal
cracks and crevices only when you have first cleaned
them out, treated them with one of the insecticides
we will have listed below and are sure the moisture
source has been addressed and that once sealed, it
won't get wet again. 

HOW TO TREAT THE MOLD, MILDEW AND FUNGUS....

   Treating the mold, mildew and fungus is the first
part of controlling psocids. Once local populations
have been identified, use a product like ROUGH'N READY.
This product is easy to use and will kill off all mold,
mildew and fungus on which the psocids live. Use a rag
to wipe down window sills and other small areas but
if you have a large area to treat, use one of our
PUMP SPRAYERS to get fast and rapid coverage. Be sure
to wipe the product all around insuring complete
coverage any where psocids have been seen. This
product should be used on siding, window frames and
sills, around door frames and anywhere moisture is
a problem. Psocids which are thriving in books or 
other dry areas won't require such treatments; as
stated above there are several species of psocids
and several are able to live where mold and mildew
are not present.
   Once you have adequately reduced the mold, mildew
and fungus on which psocids live, you have three types
of treatment options. The one you choose should be
made based on the type of surface being treated.
If you have small areas to treat like a window sill
or two, PT-565XLO will offer quick knockdown and
ease of use. Because it is an aerosol, it won't
make a mess or require any time to dry. When used
right it will go on dry and yet work immediately.
PT-565XLO can be used on all books, record albums
and any type of document or fabric as well. Again,
proper applications will not damage the treated
surface nor will it cause discolorations or any
"wet or oily" film to be left behind. It doesn't
take much of this product to get good coverage and
the more sensitive the treated surface, the less
you should use. Remember, this product is for
small areas and may require treatments every
few days. This is because the active ingredient,
Pyrethrin, offers no residual. In other words,
it will only kill when it is being applied. Within
an hour or so all the active ingredient will have
broken down and be gone. For this reason you will
probably have to make several applications if
you want to get rid of all psocids since the treatment
will only kill exposed or hatched insects. It won't
do anything for eggs so it is best to schedule 
at least weekly treatments for 1-2 months to insure
you have broken the cycle altogether.
   If you don't want to treat quite as much than
don't use the PT-565XLO. Instead, use a slightly
stronger formulation called BAYGON AEROSOL. This
product has all the same qualities as the 565 with
the one big difference in length of residual. This
aerosol uses Baygon which will last 2 or more
weeks per application. The advantage to this is
simple: Less frequency of applications and less
product needed. It too can be applied over surfaces
like fabric and books without causing treated
surfaces to discolor or get wet. Be sure to
lightly apply it since a little is all that
is needed when treating. The only draw back to
this product over the PT-565 is that it will
not flush the psocids. Since they will have to
walk over treated surfaces to pick up a lethal
dose it is imperative that you treat as many of the
cracks and crevices in which the psocids may be
hiding. Only then can you be sure to have proper
coverage otherwise you risk reinfestation. One
way to avoid this is to first apply the Baygon
thoroughly and then followup with the PT-565XLO.
The 565XLO will flush the psocids out of where
ever they are hiding since they don't like this
product which in turn will cause them to walk over
the surfaces treated with the Baygon which will then
insure they die. This 1-2 punch is sometimes needed
when you have a large area to treat which involves
a lot of cracks and crevices.
   If you have large areas to treat which are outside
like trees, shrubs, siding of structures, etc, the
use of an aerosol product is not practical or efficient.
For these areas it makes a lot more sense to use
some type of liquid residual like PT-CYKICK CS. This
odorless concentrate mixes with water and is applied
with a PUMP SPRAYER over surfaces on which you have
seen activity. It will provide both a quick knockdown
and a long residual keeping hatching psocid eggs
from thriving. PT-Cykick can be applied over the siding
of homes, around windows, on trees and plants and
just about anywhere psocid activity has been found.
The advantage of this product over the aerosols is
that you can do large applications quickly and your
work will reward you with long residual. Remember,
PT-565XLO will not provide any residual. Applications
kill only when applied and immediately dissipate. The
Baygon will last at least 1-2 weeks per application and
if this isn't long enough, use PT-Cykick since 
applications made with this product will last over
a month. Remember, it uses water as the carrier so
this product is not recommended to apply over books
or other sensitive objects. Use the aerosol for 
such applications.
   Once you decide on which product to use remember
to stay with it and make applications throughout
the season as needed. Generally speaking, infestations
which are located outside will be active in the
warm months and go dormant if you have a winter.
For the southern most states, it is not uncommon
to have activity year round. Most of these outside
applications should be done with PT-Cykick CS. If
you have found psocids in the home or building
and have decided to use one of the Aerosols, expect
to do several treatments since these applications
will not last as long. Aerosols by nature will
break down much faster than the liquid treatment
and in fact the PT-565XLO provides no residual.
If using PT-565XLO you will need to do treatments
at least once a week if not more until all eggs
have hatched and the cycle has been broke. The
Baygon will last longer and should provide 1-2
weeks between applications which will reduce the
amount of work you need to do.
   Psocids can be a persistent and annoying pest
in and around the home. Though they don't bite,
their chewing mouth parts can cause a lot of
damage to fabric, books, wallpaper and other
inanimate objects around the home which are
valuable. Reduce moisture levels to deter nesting
and seal cracks and crevices where psocids may
be entering for long term protection. Treat with
any of the products listed above for immediate
control and elimination. 
   
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