Can Paper and Adhesive alone Sustain Damaging Populations of Booklice?

Booklice (Liposcelis bostrychophila) are pests in museums and libraries, but it is not known whether a population can build up on paper and adhesives alone in the absence of any other significant nutrient sources. Insects were reared on incubated cellulose paper, either alone or combined with different adhesives, in order to observe if any of these conditions could support population growth. A comparison was also made with insects reared on samples of paper combined with a diet mixture used to culture booklice.  Changes in the physical condition of each paper were additionally noted.  The paper with diet mixture exhibited significant population increase (6142 per cent) after 49 days. The paper alone and the combinations of paper and adhesives were not able to support population growth, although the proportions of insects surviving after ten months differed, with the paper alone and paper in combination with proprietary starch-based glue (SBG) maintaining the greatest proportions of surviving insects. The paper and adhesives had become discoloured and brittle in all of the combinations tested, although there was very little visible evidence of fungal growth outside of the control groups (paper alone). Chemical indicators of paper degradation were not detected in extracts of incubated paper (paper alone). Controlled atmospheres, good housekeeping and close monitoring of the most vulnerable collections are key to preventing infestations of Liposcelis bostrychophila. Further work is required to study the effects of a more diverse range of paper and adhesive combinations.