# 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! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger - **Habitat:** They live on tree bark, leaves, and sometimes on plants in gardens. - **Also known as:** Bark Lice, Psocopteran, Tree Lice ![Common Barklice](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Trichadenotecnum_Sexpunctatum.jpg&width=800) Photo: M.J. at de.wikipedia, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Trichadenotecnum_Sexpunctatum.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Psocodea - **Family:** Psocidae ## 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 - **Silk Weaver:** Common Barklice can spin tiny silken webs because of specialized glands that help them create protective shelters on tree bark. - **Leaping Escape:** Some Common Barklice species can leap away quickly when startled, helping them avoid predators by making a surprising escape. - **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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-capped-chickadee) (*Poecile atricapillus*) — Tiny birds like chickadees forage on tree bark for these small insects. - **Shelter:** [White Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-oak) (*Quercus alba*) — Barklice find food and hiding spots on the bark of oak trees. ## Traits - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/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. ### How does Common Barklice hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Clear Lake Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/clear-lake-park) — Florida, US · Park ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Common Barklice: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-barklice)