Reuterella Barklouse vs Spiny Ant

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Reuterella Barklouse Spiny Ant
Scientific Name Reuterella helvimacula Polyrhachis dives
Order Psocoptera Hymenoptera
Family Elipsocidae Formicidae
Size 2.0-3.5 mm 5-7 mm
Habitat Forests Forests
Diet Omnivores Nectar Feeders
Regions Europe Southeast Asia, southern China, India
Conservation Not Evaluated Least Concern

Reuterella Barklouse

A small barklouse with distinctive pale spots on dark wings found on tree bark. It is common in mixed forests throughout Europe.

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Did You Know?

This barklouse is one of the few European psocid species that can be identified in the field by its wing pattern alone.

Spiny Ant

A distinctive Asian ant with paired spines on the petiole and propodeum. Workers are metallic dark brown and build nests from silk produced by larvae, similar to weaver ants. Colonies are arboreal and highly territorial.

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Did You Know?

They are commonly eaten as a protein-rich food in parts of southern China, where they are harvested from silk nests in trees.