InsectNet forum

Hello everyone over here @ Insectnet Forum

Could someone please identify what insect these are please ?
there are quite a few of them breeding in my sealed bag of wheat grains

I'm from the UK and bought the bag of seed as bird feed around a year and a half ago. I cannot for the life of me identify them after searching images all over the net. They are tiny, I'd guess around 1mm - 1.5mm.

Any help would be greatfull

Thanks Chrissy

Well you win the Photo We Can Actually See award. What did you use, it wasn't an iPhone. And- you told us both the location and the situation! You can stick around.

They are book lice, or similar. They feed on grain and all manner of things (like dead insects and books), generally in humid environments. They won't hurt you but can be a nuisance.

For the price of bird seed I'd toss the bag and buy new. If your home is warm and humid I wouldn't want them migrating to plants, clothing, books, etc.

For more info, do an internet search on "book lice grain"

Hey Chuck Thanks for the reply.

Apologies I should of read the forum rules a little better, but yes I placed my iphone 13 max up to my cheapish Amscope microsope eyepiece that I use to do electronic board level repairs lol, and managed to get it to focus and took a few quick snaps.

I just managed to come across this after a while of searching and the picture matched exactly with the wings etc ! (lepinotus patruelis)

so I think I now have my answer

Thanks Again Chuck

Look forward to finding new creatures unknown to me.

No apologies needed- you provided a photo, and a good one- a real rarity here! Most of the time we get fuzzy photos with black dots and they want to know what it is.

With that microscope you can take great photos of all sorts of things- butterfly wing scales, heads & "faces", etc. Share here whatever you do photo.

Chuck wrote: Thu Jan 16, 2025 2:40 pm For the price of bird seed I'd toss the bag and buy new. If your home is warm and humid I wouldn't want them migrating to plants, clothing, books, etc.

If you put the bag in the freezer for a week, take it out for 10 days and then freeze it again that will kill the Psocids and also any immatures that hatch from eggs which survive the first freeze. Then you can use the contents to feed the local birds.

Psocids mainly feed on microscopic fungal mycelia which grow on organic material in humid situations. It is possible they were already in the bag when you bought it, but it is also quite likely that they were already in your house at least in small numbers.

Adam.

PS. Please do send photos of other insects you find, Chuck was definitely being complimentary about the photo and information you provided. I am sure we all wish that everyone who wants an insect identified would post photos like this.

Thanks, I look forward to sharing some photos and asking questions here
Also chime in where and when I can.