Lichen-feeder
Guides
Archipsocus nomas
webbing barklouse, web-spinning barklouse
Archipsocus nomas is a web-spinning barklouse in the family Archipsocidae. It forms dense communal silk webs on tree trunks and branches in the southeastern United States. The species feeds on lichens, fungi, and organic debris. Populations peak in summer and autumn, with long-winged females dispersing to establish new colonies.
Cerastipsocus
common barklice
Cerastipsocus is a genus of barklice in the family Psocidae, containing at least 20 described species. These insects are commonly found on tree bark and foliage where they feed on lichens, algae, and other organic detritus. They are notable for producing silk from specialized mouth glands, which they use to create protective webs over eggs and dense aggregations. Unlike some related psocids that infest stored products, Cerastipsocus species are harmless decomposers in natural ecosystems.
Cerastipsocus venosus
Tree Cattle, Common Barklouse
Cerastipsocus venosus is a widespread barklouse species in the family Psocidae, commonly known as "Tree Cattle" due to the herding behavior of its nymphs. It occurs across North America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Both nymphs and adults aggregate on tree bark and foliage, where they feed on lichens and other organic matter. The species is harmless to plants and plays a role in nutrient cycling.
Chionodes continuella
Spring Oak Leafroller Moth
Chionodes continuella is a small gelechiid moth with a Holarctic distribution spanning Europe, Asia, and North America. Adults are active during summer months in western Europe. The species has been misnamed 'spring oak leafroller' despite larvae feeding on conifers and lichens rather than oak.
Dahlica lichenella
Lichen Case-bearer
Dahlica lichenella is a bagworm moth in the family Psychidae, commonly known as the Lichen Case-bearer. The species is native to Europe but has been introduced to North America. Males have a wingspan of 13–16 mm and are active in early spring, while females are flightless and remain within their larval cases throughout their adult lives. Larvae construct small, inconspicuous cases from lichen fragments and other debris, often going unnoticed due to their cryptic appearance.
Dahlica triquetrella
Narrow Lichen Bagworm, Narrow Lichen Case-bearer
Dahlica triquetrella is a small bagworm moth in the family Psychidae, notable for its distinctive triangular larval case and unusual reproductive biology. The species exists in both sexual and parthenogenetic forms, with the latter being far more widespread. Sexual populations are restricted to isolated glacial refugia in Central Europe, while parthenogenetic populations span much of Europe and have been introduced to North America. The species is specialized on lichen-feeding and is often overlooked due to the small size and cryptic appearance of its larval cases.
Hypoprepia fucosa
Painted Lichen Moth
A small to medium-sized moth in the family Erebidae, described by Jacob Hübner in 1831. Adults display distinctive wing patterns and are active primarily during summer months in northern populations. The species occupies a broad geographic range across eastern North America, with larvae specializing on cryptogamic growths on tree bark.
Lycomorpha pholus
black-and-yellow lichen moth
Lycomorpha pholus, the black-and-yellow lichen moth, is a diurnal moth in the family Erebidae. It occurs across much of eastern and central North America, where adults are active from late summer through fall. The species participates in a Müllerian mimicry complex with net-winged beetles (family Lycidae), sharing their distinctive black-and-orange warning coloration. Larvae feed on lichens and are cryptically colored to match their substrate.
Lycomorpha regulus
Lycomorpha regulus is a North American moth species in the family Erebidae, first described by Fordyce Grinnell Jr. in 1903. It belongs to a mimicry complex involving net-winged beetles (family Lycidae), sharing their characteristic black and orange warning coloration. The larvae feed specifically on lichens of the genus Parmelia.
Meracantha contracta
Contracted Darkling Beetle
Meracantha contracta is a North American darkling beetle (Tenebrionidae) distinguished by its strongly convex, humped body profile and association with decaying wood. Adults measure 11-14 mm and are bronze-black when mature. The species overwinters as larvae within rotting logs, producing antifreeze compounds to survive temperatures down to approximately -11°C. It has been recorded from at least Ontario, Canada, with broader distribution across North America.
Mesopsocus laticeps
middle barklouse
Mesopsocus laticeps is a species of middle barklouse in the family Mesopsocidae. It is widely distributed across Europe, Northern Asia (excluding China), North America, and Southern Asia. As a member of the order Psocodea, it belongs to a group of insects commonly known as barklice or booklice, though barklice specifically refers to the free-living species found on vegetation and bark rather than the domestic pests.