Pale-winged Barklouse vs Arid-land Subterranean Termite

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Pale-winged Barklouse Arid-land Subterranean Termite
Scientific Name Peripsocus phaeopterus Reticulitermes tibialis
Order Psocoptera Blattodea
Family Peripsocidae Rhinotermitidae
Size 2-3 mm Workers 3-4 mm, soldiers 4-5 mm
Habitat Forests Caves
Diet Wood Feeders Wood Feeders
Regions Europe Western and central United States
Conservation Least Concern Not Evaluated

Pale-winged Barklouse

A common European bark louse with smoky brown wings. It lives on tree trunks where it scrapes algae and lichen from the bark.

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Did You Know?

Females guard their egg clusters on tree bark until they hatch.

Arid-land Subterranean Termite

A subterranean termite adapted to dry conditions in the western United States. It builds mud tubes across exposed surfaces to maintain humidity.

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Did You Know?

It thrives in desert conditions where annual rainfall is less than 250 mm by deeply tapping soil moisture.