Common Barklice
ExploreInsects
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
Category
InsectsRarity
Common
Danger
0/5 · No known danger
Snaps
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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
Ability
Silk Weaver
Common Barklice can spin tiny silken webs because of specialized glands that help them create protective shelters on tree bark.
Ability
Leaping Escape
Some Common Barklice species can leap away quickly when startled, helping them avoid predators by making a surprising escape.
Ability
Bark Blocker
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.
shelters
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
Safety
Danger
0/5 · No known danger
No special safety notes yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
How does Common Barklice hunt?
Foraging
How many legs does Common Barklice have?
6
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