Do It Yourself Pest Control Products

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Pest Control for Lice / Booklice

Booklice 

Booklice (Psocids)

Booklice, or psocids of the order psocotera are common household pests throughout the United States and, despite its common name, different from lice that attack humans. The two most common psocids are the common booklouse and the deathwatch. Both species are found in all states. These insects are very small, attaining a maximum size of only 1/25 to 1/12 inch. The booklouse is wingless, while the deathwatch has very small, scale-like wings. Both species have similar habits. They may be found either outdoors or indoors. Outdoors, they live in damp places, such as under bark, in grass or leaves, and on damp wood. Indoors, they find similar situations in stored grains or other foods, in crawl spaces under structures, in insect collections, and around books. Some other species may be found infesting bagged feed in warehouses. There food consists of microscopic molds and fungi, so they prefer damp, warm, undisturbed situations where these molds are found. They cause no damage or destruction, so they are pests only by their presence. They are frequently found in great numbers and crawl over everything in areas where they occur. They are often found in feed concentrates that contain antibiotics of fungal origin.

Control

Psocid control can be obtained quite easily by eliminating the dampness and organic matter that initially allowed them to build large populations. Infested grain should be dried to stop mold growth on which psocids feed. Liquid residual pest control product applications of Suspend SC, Onslaught, Bedlam, or Cynoff EC should be applied to areas where psocids are present. EcoEXEMPT IC2 is the green equivalent of the aforementioned pest control products. 


Lice

Members of the lice family fall into two insect orders: Anoplura and Mallophaga. All known members of bother orders are wingless parasites of warm-blooded animals, but lice from the two orders differ considerably in structure and feeding habits. Anoplurans have sucking mouthparts and feed on blood, while mallophagans have chewing mouthparts and feed on skin scales and secretions. Both orders display gradual metamorphosis in their development. Because all of the lice are parasitic and spend virtually their entire lifetimes on the host, physicians or veterinarians, depending on the host involved, usually conduct control measures. Though we do not recommend a “do it yourself” treatment approach for lice occurring on humans, this article is included in our library for the purposes of identification, biology, and behavior characteristics.

Body Louse

This species and the head louse have been the subject of spirited controversy among experts on the classification of these groups. Biologically, there are two smaller distinct patterns of behavior within the body louse species, and many authorities feel that this is actually a complex of two species. The body louse is important from the standpoint of its activities as a parasite, but it can be even more harmful to humans as a vector of typhus and relapsing fever. Circumstances that cause large numbers of people to be crowded together under unsanitary conditions are most favorable to the rapid development of large body louse populations, which accounts for the ever-present danger of typhus outbreaks in such situations. Body lice tend to remain on the host’s body only during the actual feeding process. When not feeding, they will typically move into the host’s clothing, where they will often be concealed in folds or seams. Associated with this behavior is the habit of placing eggs on garment fibers instead of attaing them directly to the host’s body hair. This egg placement behavior is a unique habit that does not occur in other sucking lice. Body lice can be transferred between hosts on bedding that has been recently used by an infested person. People sleeping or huddling together in their clothing also increase opportunities for the spread of body lice. Control requires treating the body, clothing, and bedding of the infested person. Treating the premises is seldom necessary. Recommendations for control should be left to medical or health department personnel. Laundering or dry cleaning infested garments or bedding can usually control these lice. In 125-degree water, the adults are killed in 5-10 minutes. Nits (eggs) may take up to 15 minutes to die.

 

Head Louse

Head Louse

Head lice are the species most commonly encountered by parents, as outbreaks are relatively common in schools. School systems in the United States generally have ongoing programs of surveillance for head louse infestations among school children, and notify parents immediately in order to prevent severe outbreaks among student populations. The typical head louse rarely exceeds 1/3 inch in length, and its body wall is generally slightly tougher and more deeply pigmented than that of the body louse. All stages of the life cycle normally occur on the host, as the eggs (nits) are attached directly to host hair. Sometimes, globules of hair spray are mistaken for head louse eggs. This louse can be spread by the shared use of personal items such as hats, hairbrushes, combs, wigs, or towels. Control of this species involves direct treatment of the host and is usually considered a medical problem. Most pharmacies have insecticidal dusts and shampoos available for louse control. One application should suffice, but occasionally multiple applications are required. Laundering of affected clothing and bedding in 125-degree water will kill all stages of head lice. No treatment with pest control products is required. 

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