Question
I was looking though a family "photo" album from about 1918-22, which had photographs plus clipped newspaper articles and calling cards, etc. pasted to the dark brown, crumbling pages.  Soon, tiny bright white insects, just big enough to see, came running out, and I killed almost all of them, except one that I missed.  This album had been stored among other letters and scrapbooks, none of which have had these white insects appear when I went through them.  I took the pages that had the insects out of the book and placed them in an aluminum container (to keep them separate).  And I have neither gone back through the items not seen any of these white insects again, but I'd like to do so.  Do you think I might have inadvertently started an infestation in my apartment, even though I haven't seen anything yet?  And what precaution should I take when looking further at these items?  Thanks for any advice.

Answer
Diane,

The only thing I can think of that fits this description are grain mites, also called mold mites. These mites feed on mold so are common anywhere that is damp and moldy (see http://www.livingwithbugs.com/mites.html for a drawing of a mold mite). They are common in grain storage warehouses, for example, but also occur in homes if there's dampness and mold. The mites are harmless but may indicate a moisture problem that needs to be fixed. They won't infest homes nor do they bite.

Post a follow up if you have questions.

Jack DeAngelis