Dorypteryx Booklouse vs Vegetable Caterpillar
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Dorypteryx Booklouse | Vegetable Caterpillar |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Dorypteryx domestica | Ophiocordyceps robertsii |
| Order | Psocoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Psoquillidae | Hepialidae |
| Size | 1.5-2.0 mm | 50-100 mm (caterpillar plus fungal stalk) |
| Habitat | Indoors | Underground |
| Diet | Fungus Feeders | Fungus Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, North America | Oceania (New Zealand) |
| Conservation | Not Evaluated | Least Concern |
Dorypteryx Booklouse
A winged domestic psocid found in houses, especially in roof spaces and lofts. It is attracted to light and sometimes swarms indoors.
Did You Know?
This booklouse frequently appears at windows and lights in old houses, often being mistaken for a tiny moth.
Vegetable Caterpillar
The host of this relationship is the caterpillar of the native moth Aenetus virescens, parasitized by the endemic Cordyceps fungus. The fungus invades and mummifies the caterpillar underground, then sends a fruiting body to the surface. It was known to Maori as awhato.
Did You Know?
Maori prized the vegetable caterpillar as a pigment source, grinding the fungus-caterpillar combination to produce a blue-black tattoo ink.