PSOCID TREATMENTS AND PRODUCTS | BUGSPRAY.COM

PSOCID BIOLOGY

Psocids are small insects which love moisture. In general, they need to live where humidity is high or moisture is present.

Common places for psocids 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.

In fact there are many families and subspecies 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 every warm season. And in most cases they’ll end up invading living spaces which is when they’ll readily invade books, file cabinets and basically anywhere they find paper products.

 

THE LIFE CYCLE OF PSOCID

Psocids hatch from eggs in about 2-4 weeks after eggs are laid. Young will go through 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 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 and be ready to hatch as soon as local temperatures get back to where they are comfortable.

 

WHAT DO PSOCIDS EAT

Psocids will eat just about anything. Though most people think they eat books or paper, in fact they can thrive on a wide range of food. Typical food in the home include cellulose products (paper or books), book bindings, fabric (from which many book bindings are constructed), glue (the glue that binds most books has many natural components), contact paper, wall paper, 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 psocids populations will begin to accrue.

 

PSOCIDS ON THE HOME

Most all psocid problems start from the homes siding. Psocids which forage onto homes and establish themselves on brick, stucco, hardy board, cedar shakes or underneath coverings such as vinyl or aluminum will eventually end up inside.

From outside the home they will commonly find window sills to be great for food as well as outside light fixtures, outlets, door frames, etc. The author has seen them thrive on just about any perimeter location of most 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 follow and once established on the structure, its just a matter of time before they end up inside.

 

TREATING A PSOCID INFESTATION

The good news about psocids is that they are slow eaters. This means 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 its relatively easy to manage or eliminate activity in and on the home.

So before you treat, there may be some maintenance needed in areas where activity is noted.

 

START WITH THE OUTSIDE WHEN TREATING PSOCIDS

Since psocids invade from outside, start by spraying your homes siding from the gutters to the base of the foundation with MAXXTHOR EC. This concentrate mixes with water and can be applied with a PUMP SPRAYER  or HOSE END SPRAYER.

The following “short video” (less than 60 seconds) shows how to prepare a hose end sprayer for making your treatments.

Maxxthor will provide a quick knockdown and a long lasting residual and repellent action which will prevent hatching psocid eggs from thriving. Maxxthor can be applied to homes exterior siding, around windows, on trees and plants and just about anywhere psocids will want to nest.

Add 1/3 oz per gallon of water and apply the mixture over no more than 1,000 sq/ft of surface area. Retreat as needed until you aren’t seeing any so it could take a couple of treatments weekly to start. After 2-4 weeks, you should have them mostly under control and can scale back the frequency to every 30 days to keep them from coming back.

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To get the most of your treatment, add SPREAD-X BOOST to your tank mix along with the Maxxthor. Boost is an adjuvant, also known as a wetter spreader or spreader sticker. It basically makes water and the mixture more “slippery” so you get better coverage. Treatments will spread 2-3 times wider and penetrate deeper. This can be critically important for small pests like psocids, especially if they’re nesting under/behind home siding and around windows.

The following short video summarizes why Boost can help deliver your treatment to where it matters the most. And this is extra helpful when treating homes with siding like vinyl, aluminum and stucco where booklice are likely hiding.

Add no more than the rate you’re applying the Maxxthor so in this case, if you’re adding 2.5 oz of Maxxthor to the hose end sprayer, add 2.5 oz of Boost too before adding water. If you’re adding Maxxthor to a pump sprayer at the rate of 1 oz per gallon, use 1 oz of Boost.

And don’t spray in the middle of the day; treat late in the day close to sunset so the treatment can dry without direct sunlight. UV light on the Boost can stress plants if the temperature is 85 degrees or higher so treat 2 hours or less before sunset to reduce sunlight stress.

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Use a good pump sprayer like the one mentioned above to spray but if you want to thoroughly treat your homes siding and landscaping with less effort, get our HOSE END SPRAYER. This will allow you to cover vast areas faster and more efficiently. Using our sprayer, you’ll want to add 2.5 oz of Maxxthor to the sprayer and then fill it to the 5 gallon line. Hook it to your garden hose and then spray the entire amount over 5,000 sq/ft of area every month.

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WHAT TO USE BEHIND HOME SIDING FOR PSOCIDS

Now if you have vinyl, aluminum or wood shakes for siding, you will likely need to POWER INJECT. Psocids love living in dark, tight spaces out of sight. Maxxthor with Boost could reach their nests but if you’ve had problems for more than 2 years, there is a good chance they’ll be entrenched too deep for the surface spraying to get them all. So if you want to eradicate them for good, Power Injecting is the way to go.
So just how can the Power Injector help? There are many reasons.

New for 2025, the POWER INJECTOR is a tool we’ve all needed for a long time. It was first created to effectively replace aerosol products to help reduce on cost and waste (of throw away cans) but its turned out to be a lot more.

So first, the Power Injector lets you get to control what you’re spraying. That means now you can use the best chemicals like Bithor or Maxxthor up under siding. These formulations will last a long time and in many cases, impregnate the wood so no insect can feed on it or live alongside it either.

Second, you get to control the injecting power. With the Power Injector, you can power it up to 90psi. This will get you 3-5 times deeper penetration which can be all the difference when it comes to solving tough pest problems with pests nestled deep inside wall voids or behind home siding. We recommend a lower pressure to start, like 20-25 psi, but if the siding is able to take the treatments without splashback, ramp it up for deep penetration.

Third, you can use BASE OIL in the Power Injector. Base Oil is odorless and penetrates deeper compared to any other option. Add to that the power of Maxxthor and well, you’ll have the strongest mixture at your fingertips for hidden spaces behind siding.

The following video highlights these features in less than 1 minute:

Since the filming of the video above, we’ve added a 50″ long straw that’s now included with the Power Injector. This can really help for certain pests that like to live deeply embedded such as psocids. Basically the deeper you can inject treatments, the easier it will be to eradicate the problem for good.

Now if you plan on getting Bithor (listed below), the Power Injector can be used with water for inside treatments. But if you have psocids bad inside, you would benefit from using the Maxxthor/Base Oil under baseboards too.

The following short video explains why Base Oil is so good at enhancing the Power Injectors range:

 

As the video above explains, Base Oil can really help get deliver your treatments where it needs to reach. So if you’ve had issues under your homes siding, the Power Injector is probably going to be needed. And since you can use it to apply Bithor and Maxxthor, you won’t need any of the aerosols mentioned below so you can save on costs too.

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As for our BASE OIL; it’s available in quarts, 1/2 gallon and 1 gallon jugs. Plan on using 16 oz per tank in the Power Injector’s 32 oz canister so the 1/2 gallon jug will make 4 tanks and the gallon jug, 8 tanks. We recommend 5ml of Maxxthor per 16 oz of Base Oil; no more than 10ml. We include a 10ml eye dropper so its easy to add Maxxthor to the tank.

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WHAT TO USE INSIDE THE HOME FOR PSOCIDS

Since psocids will be effectively hiding out of sight once they get inside the home, it can be hard to reach all areas where they’re nesting. For this reason, Power Injecting may be required unless your problem is relatively new, like in its first season.

But if you don’t have much of a problem inside and just want to keep them from spreading, especially on baseboards down low, thoroughly spray these areas with BITHOR. Its odorless and combines two actives for a unique 1-2 punch. The one active kills quickly but wears down after a few days. Left behind is a slow acting non repellent active that will kill invading psocids for weeks so they can’t get re-established.

The following “short video” (less than 60 seconds long) gives a brief summary of why Bithor is ideal for use in the home focusing on how safe it is for use around children and pets.

Bithor is odorless and well suited for carpets, furniture, baseboards and you can even use a paint brush or spray it it onto window sills for residual that will far outlast the FS MP.

Add 1.5 oz per gallon and plan on using 1 mixed gallon for every 1,000 sq/ft of area.

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Apply it with any good PUMP SPRAYER and plan on treating once every 2 weeks until they’re gone; once every 2-3 months to make sure they don’t come back.

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For “light” applications over carpeting, hardwood floors and other areas where the pump sprayer is a bit “overkill”, consider our MINI MISTER.

It produces a fine mist and works great for fast, clean, light treatments. This video details how it works.

The Mini Mister is super handy and will cut down on how much mixture is applied and at the same time, allow you to get the job done so much faster.

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BAD PSOCID PROBLEM COMING OUT OF BASEBOARDS

But what if they’re coming out of the baseboards daily? Then you’ll want the POWER INJECTOR detailed above. You can use it to inject Bithor to this critical entry point. You can also use it with Maxxthor/Base Oil for the longest/strongest treatment option.

Psocids can thrive under baseboards above in the wall void and if they’re nesting in these remote locations, you’ll have some emerging on a regular basis when its warm outside. Since surface spraying won’t reach them, Power Injecting will be your only good option to eradicate them for good.

BUGSPRAY POWER INJECTOR

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HOW TO TREAT SENSITIVE ITEMS LIKE BOOKSHELVES AND CLOTHING

Psocids have been known to thrive on fabric. Carpeting can be treated easily with Bithor but what about sensitive items like clothing or books?

For small areas 400 sq/ft or less filled with paper products, installing AEROSOL MACHINES with CLEAR ZONE metered insecticide will make treatments automated so you don’t have to worry about constantly spraying. These machines are well suited for small paper closets, rooms with boxes or bookcases filled with books. Designed to control flying insects, psocids are weak enough to succumb to the active being released even though it will be a very minuet amount. These machines release a short 1/2 second “blast” of a pyrethrin based aerosol just strong enough to kill psocids.

The following “short video” (less than 60 seconds long) shows how easy it is to set up these machines and why they’re so “smart” for controlling certain pests like Psocids.

The key to the success of this treatment is that the aerosol released will be in ULV form. That means the aerosol will be comprised of very tiny microns of active ingredient. These tiny microns will penetrate cracks and gaps where psocids like to hide so they won’t be able to avoid the spray.

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Each machine is set to go off every 15 minutes and is powered by 2 “D” cell batteries. Set one machine above the area you want to keep psocids free so either mount it on the top shelf of a wall unit or on the wall above the books or boxes.

You’ll also need some CLEAR ZONE refills. These cans will last 30-40 days, release an odorless pyrethrin safe for use in any area of the home and can be set up discreetly yet still be effective. Just be sure to replace the refill when empty.

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WHAT ABOUT CRAWL SPACES and ATTICS?

Psocids will readily migrate into wall voids. They enter this space by getting in behind facia boards or up through crawl spaces. For this reason, both entry points may need to be treated.

HOW TO TREAT A CRAWL SPACE FOR PSOCIDS

Treating your crawl space for psocids is easy. BITHOR is odorless and in this environment, treatments on the foundation wall and floor joists overhead will last 3 months. Use a good PUMP SPRAYER, like the one we mentioned above, to make the treatment. Use 1.5 oz of Bithor per gallon of water per 800 sq/ft.

Psocids really like crawl spaces since they’re dank and usually moist so if you have one, get it treated even if you aren’t seeing any activity.

But if you have them in your crawl space? Consider dusting. A thorough treatment with XEMPT DUST will last over a year.

Xempt D features two qualities that make it more efficient compared to ordinary insecticide dusts.

First, like insecticide dusts, it will agitate insects and force them to leave the dusted area or else they will die. And once they start moving, if they have dust on them they will die by dehydration.

Directly treated pests will succumb to the dust within a day BUT even as the active ingredient wears off in 1-2 months, the remaining base ingredient will keep working by making pests uncomfortable. So where ordinary dusts break down after 1-2 months and have no way of impacting pests, Xempt’s base lasts and keeps active by retaining its dehydrating feature.

The second most important part of this feature is that Xempt D CAN GET WET BUT WILL STILL WORK! This makes it quite unique and why its so well suited for both dry AND moist environments. The only way it won’t keep working is if you have water moving which causes it to wash away. But when left in place? Xempt dust will keep working!

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TREAT ATTICS TOO

In fact attics are more likely to have psocids because they prefer the hot, humid conditions common to this space. Crawl spaces are usually cool but attics? Super hot. And since they commonly get into gutters because they live on tree and leaf litter, its easy for them to get inside.

This space can’t be sprayed with liquids (due to the liquid ruining the ceiling below) so dusting with Xempt is the way to proceed.

And for making the application, whether its in the crawl space or attic, the tool for the job is our DUSTIN MIZER.

The following “short video” (less than 60 seconds long) shows how it works.

Now if the insulation in your attic is about to be replaced, it would be wise to dust prior to the new material being installed. But if the insulation is already in place, it may block the dust from reaching deep down to the actual point of entry.

So if you’re seeing psocids coming out of light fixtures or other ceiling ports, you’ll want to locate those spots in the attic, remove the insulation around them and dust all exposed areas. After treating you can replace the insulation as there is no need to leave it to the side.

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In general, treatments made to these spaces will last 1-2 years when dusting with Xempt.

WHAT ABOUT ELECTRIC OUTLETS, LIGHT SWITCH COVERS and AIR VENTS?

If you’ve seen them coming out of from light switch covers, electric outlets or ceiling air vents for heat and AC? You’ll need to dust these areas too.

The following “short video” (less than 60 seconds) shows how to safely treat these entry points using Pest-Xempt Dust. To be clear, Xempt Dust would be your best option for these locations. Assuming they’re dry, the dust will last a year or more so you won’t have to keep retreating.

And for the Air Vents; Psocids aren’t actually living inside the vent or duct. The air flow there is too strong and dry. But they’ll be migrating under insulation and emerging through the gap between it and the air vent cover you see in the living areas. Get those areas dusted to stop them from going there and you’ll cut down on what you’re seeing dramatically.

Use a CRUSADER to apply the Xempt.

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SET OUT PSOCID TRAPS

Psocid populations can literally “explode” overnight with the right mixture of moisture and heat. Generally speaking, infestations which are located outside will be active in the warm months and go dormant if you have a winter but this can change in any one calendar year.

But for us here the southern most states, it is not uncommon to have activity year round. So to keep them from invading from the outside, treat with Maxxthor if you find them active on your homes exterior. That said, even if you get them under control they could flare up. A good way to “watch” and see if this is happening is to install psocid traps.

This short video (1 minute 16 seconds) gives you a quick overview of how this trap works:

To help monitor insect activity, install PSOCID TRAPS on all bookshelves, counter-tops and window sills where they’ve been a problem. Its also smart to set these where you suspect they might be nesting but aren’t sure. This could be around a shower tub, behind a toilet bowl, inside plant pots, under an area rug or under furniture cushions. These traps measure 4.25″ wide by 3.25″ long and less than 1/2″ tall so they’re quite flat.

Each trap features a unique glue which retains moisture and this attracts many types of pests to enter and get caught.

Traps should be spaced every 20 feet; at least two traps per room. The glue will remain active for 3-6 months but should be replaced every 3 months when insects are active; sooner if the trap fills.

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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.




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