Lined Flat Bark Ground Beetle vs Ruddy Barklouse

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Lined Flat Bark Ground Beetle Ruddy Barklouse
Scientific Name Platynus decentis Elipsocus hyalinus
Order Coleoptera Psocoptera
Family Carabidae Elipsocidae
Size 10-13 mm 2-3 mm
Habitat Forests Forests
Diet Predators Wood Feeders
Regions North America Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Lined Flat Bark Ground Beetle

A medium-sized, flattened ground beetle with a sleek black body and fine striations on its elytra. It is commonly found under bark and in forest floor debris.

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Did You Know?

Its extremely flattened body allows it to squeeze under tight-fitting bark on fallen logs, where it hunts prey that other predators cannot reach.

Ruddy Barklouse

A delicate bark louse with translucent wings found in European forests. It lives on lichens and algae growing on tree trunks.

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Did You Know?

Its nearly transparent wings make it almost invisible when resting on pale lichen.