Common Barklice

psocidae

Common Barklice are tiny insects that love to live on trees and shrubs! They are very good at blending in with their surroundings, making them fun to spot!

Habitat: They live on tree bark, leaves, and sometimes on plants in gardens.

Appearance

The Common Barklice is a tiny, soft-bodied insect, typically pale grey or yellowish-brown. It often has two pairs of delicate, membranous wings, which may be clear or faintly patterned, held roof-like over its back.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderPsocodeaFamilyPsocidae

Photo: M.J. at de.wikipediaPublic domain · Wikimedia CommonsView original ↗

Common Barklice

Interesting facts

Barklice existed over 200 million years ago, making them older than dinosaurs!

Many barklice gather in large groups, looking like tiny moving patches on tree bark.

Some female barklice don't need a mate; they can lay eggs all by themselves!

They have special mouthparts that scrape tiny bits of food from tree surfaces.

Special abilities

Common Barklice can spin tiny silken webs because of specialized glands that help them create protective shelters on tree bark.

Some Common Barklice species can leap away quickly when startled, helping them avoid predators by making a surprising escape.

Common Barklice have mottled bodies and wings that help them blend perfectly with tree bark, making them nearly invisible to hungry birds.

Measurements & details

Wingspan: 4-8 mm
Size: 2-4 mm
Lifespan: 30-90 days
Flight Speed: 0.1-0.5 km/h
Leg Count: 6
Colony Size: 200

Diet & Feeding

These tiny insects are cleaners, munching on fungi, algae, and dead plant matter on trees!

Primary Foods

algae
lichens
fungi
pollen
dead plant matter

Foraging Method

Foraging

Ecological connections

Eaten by

Cross Orbweaver

Araneus diadematus

Its silk webs often trap barklice, making them an easy meal.

Eaten by

Common Green Lacewing

Chrysoperla carnea

Its larvae are hungry predators of soft-bodied insects like barklice.

Eaten by

Black-capped Chickadee

Poecile atricapillus

Tiny birds like chickadees forage on tree bark for these small insects.

Shelter

White Oak

Quercus alba

Barklice find food and hiding spots on the bark of oak trees.

Traits

Social

Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.

Camouflaged

Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment.

Herbivorous

This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.

Forest

Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.

Diurnal

Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.

Also known as

Bark LicePsocopteranTree Lice

Collections

Insects

Safety

Danger

0/5 · No known danger

No special safety notes yet.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to identify Common Barklice?

Look for six legs, antennae, three body sections and the shape of the wings. Beetles have hardened front wings; flies have just one working pair. Tiny insects may need a close view before their group is clear. Insect Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

What is Common Barklice's wingspan?

4-8 mm

How big is Common Barklice?

2-4 mm

How long does Common Barklice live?

30-90 days

How fast can Common Barklice fly?

0.1-0.5 km/h

What does Common Barklice eat?

These tiny insects are cleaners, munching on fungi, algae, and dead plant matter on trees!

Where is Common Barklice usually found?

They live on tree bark, leaves, and sometimes on plants in gardens.