Common Barklouse vs Dinosaur Ant

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Common Barklouse Dinosaur Ant
Scientific Name Cerastipsocus venosus Nothomyrmecia macrops
Order Psocoptera Hymenoptera
Family Psocidae Formicidae
Size 4.0-6.0 mm 10-15 mm
Habitat Woodlands Woodlands
Diet Wood Feeders Omnivores
Regions North America Oceania
Conservation Not Evaluated Critically Endangered

Common Barklouse

A large winged barklouse found in herds on tree trunks in eastern North America. It has prominent veined wings and feeds on algae and lichens.

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Did You Know?

These barklice form conspicuous herds of up to several hundred individuals that march across tree trunks in unison.

Dinosaur Ant

Considered the most primitive living ant, often called a living fossil. Discovered in 1931 and then lost for 46 years until rediscovered in 1977 in South Australia.

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Did You Know?

This ant was lost to science for 46 years after its discovery — rediscovered by pure luck when an entomologist pulled over to sleep at the roadside where they happened to live.