Warning: this article may make you feel itchy. That’s because it covers information on a lot of bugs that cause itching, especially mites. Mites are small, insect-like organisms that grow on a lot of things — but not usually paper, contrary to popular belief.

This article will talk about paper mites and why they don’t exist, as well as about mites that do exist. You’ll also learn about the creepy-crawlies you might see in your paper products (called “booklice”), and how to get rid of them.

The Loch Ness monster, the Yeti, the… paper mite? All three of these are actually mythical creatures. The rumor that paper mites exist got started from people who work in offices with a lot of paper. They reported experiencing higher rates of itching. They assumed mites (tiny, microscopic bugs) must be to blame.

While that’s how the myth started, researchers haven’t confirmed the existence of paper mites (and they have high-powered microscopes that should be able to detect them). That’s why we’ve added them to the list of mythical creatures.

Like our own episode of “Mythbusters,” we’re here to tell you that paper mites don’t exist. There are, however, other mites that may live in your house, your skin, and on your paper products. One example is “booklice,” which are a type of insect known to thrive on mold and fungi — especially those that grow in moldy books.

Booklice are visible to the eye, while a lot of mites aren’t. While these insects aren’t exactly pleasant to see, the good news is they won’t try to live in your hair like other lice do. Instead, they prefer to eat your books, wallpaper, and other paper products in your home (like cardboard cereal boxes).

While researchers have described more than 48,000 different mite species, that represents only 5 to 10 percent of the total number of mite species — so there could be upwards of a million different kinds. Some common mites and pests in your home include the following:

Having mites doesn’t mean your house or you aren’t clean. Mites are literally everywhere. If you think you have an infestation, you’ll feel a lot better by taking steps to get rid of them.

You usually find mites on the trunk of your body and arms. If you have bites or redness with no known cause of the bite (such as seeing a mosquito on your arm), a mite could be to blame.

Since they’re so small, it’s hard to know a mite is the perpetrator without going to the dermatologist. Sometimes, a dermatologist can just see a bite and know it’s a certain mite (this is often the case with scabies). Other times, they may have to take a skin scraping and sample it or look at it under a microscope for mites.

Knowing what kind of mite it is helps you treat it, get rid of it in your home, and prevent it whenever possible.

If you identify you have a mite bite, some of the steps to reduce the redness and itching may include:

If you’re concerned a mite bite appears infected (is warm to the touch or leaking pus), see your doctor. You may need antibiotics to treat the area.

If you have a mite or booklice infestation in your home, don’t panic. There are several things you can do to get rid of them. These include:

You may also wish to call a professional pest company. If you have a valuable item that’s been infested by book lice or other mites, you may need the company to help you get rid of the pests for good. Unfortunately, once mites get into an item, they’re more likely to get in there again.

The following steps may help to reduce mites in your home:

While there are millions of mites, scientists don’t count paper mites as one of them. If you do have a bite, it’s likely from another mite type or insect. The only way you’ll know for sure is to visit a doctor so they can examine the bite.

Last medically reviewed on November 5, 2019

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