Description:

Barklice (Tree Cattle) are tiny (less than 1/8 inch long) brownish insects. Adults possess two pairs of membranous wings, with the forewing being larger than the hind wing. Wings are held roof-like over the body when at rest. Barklice have long, thin antennae.

Life Cycle:

Eggs are laid singly or in clusters and are sometimes covered with silk or debris. Nymphs hatching from eggs resemble tiny wingless adults. Most species develop through six stages (instars). Bark lice are gregarious and live together underneath layers of silken webbing.

Pest Status:

Communal web spinners; can wrap tree trunks and branches in layers of silken webbing, causing some concern; tiny and generally inconspicuous.

Control:

Bark lice, are small, soft-bodied insects that look somewhat like aphids. These insects are not lice at all, they are not parasitic on anything. They are not pests of humans or animals and seem to be harmless, even to the trees they infest. They probably got the name because they are small and hard to see. Bark lice may have wings but wingless forms also occur. When winged, the wings are held roof-like over the back giving them the appearance of tiny cicadas. They are usually less than six millimeters in length. Bark lice feed on fungi, lichens and other debris found on the bark of trees.