Wood-boring Barklouse vs Ilia Underwing
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Wood-boring Barklouse | Ilia Underwing |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Psilopsocus mimulus | Catocala ilia |
| Order | Psocoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Psilopsocidae | Erebidae |
| Size | 2-3 mm | 70-95 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Woodlands |
| Diet | Wood Feeders | Predators |
| Regions | Central America, South America | Eastern North America from southern Canada to the Gulf states |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Wood-boring Barklouse
An unusual psocid that bores into dead wood rather than living on bark surfaces. It creates small tunnels in decaying timber.
Did You Know?
It is one of the very few bark lice that actually bores into wood.
Ilia Underwing
A large moth with bark-patterned gray forewings that conceal bright reddish-orange and black hindwings. When startled, it flashes its colorful hindwings to confuse predators.
Did You Know?
It rests head-down on tree trunks during the day, where its cryptic forewings blend perfectly with oak bark.