The minute insect, resembling a pin-sized termite, is a booklouse. This particular one was found in a pantry, which is not surprising since Liposcelis is a pest of stored food, books, and museum items, but especially of stored grain. Severe infestations can resemble a carpet of moving dust.

Liposcelis bostrychophila is particularly common, and found worldwide, but despite being first described in 1931, a male wasn’t found until 2002. The females usually reproduce parthenogenically, which no doubt helps them build up to the aforementioned gigantic numbers.