Ruddy Barklouse vs Common Bark Louse

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Ruddy Barklouse Common Bark Louse
Scientific Name Elipsocus hyalinus Graphopsocus cruciatus
Order Psocoptera Psocoptera
Family Elipsocidae Stenopsocidae
Size 2-3 mm 3-4 mm
Habitat Forests Woodlands
Diet Wood Feeders Wood Feeders
Regions Europe Europe, North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Ruddy Barklouse

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

💡

Did You Know?

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

Common Bark Louse

A winged bark louse with distinctive cross-shaped wing markings found on tree trunks across Europe. It feeds on algae and lichen on bark.

💡

Did You Know?

Its cross-shaped wing pattern makes it one of the easiest bark lice to identify.