Japanese Cave Cricket vs Dusty Barklouse

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Japanese Cave Cricket Dusty Barklouse
Scientific Name Diestrammena japanica Lachesilla pedicularia
Order Orthoptera Psocoptera
Family Rhaphidophoridae Lachesillidae
Size 15-25 mm 1-1.5 mm
Habitat Caves Indoors
Diet Fungus Feeders Fungus Feeders
Regions Japan Worldwide
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Japanese Cave Cricket

A large cave cricket native to Japan where it inhabits natural caves and man-made tunnels. It has very long antennae that can be three times its body length.

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Did You Know?

Its antennae can detect air currents from predators in total darkness.

Dusty Barklouse

A tiny psocid commonly found in old books, herbaria, and grain stores. It thrives in dusty undisturbed environments.

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Did You Know?

It is a major pest in natural history museum collections worldwide.