Insect · GBIF taxon 1031435
Tree Cattle
Cerastipsocus venosusAlso known as Bark Cattle, Veined Barklouse
Tree cattle are striking barklice whose gregarious nymphs gather in dense, coordinated clusters resembling tiny herds grazing on tree trunks. Adults sport shiny, translucent wings traced with bold brown veins, held roof-like over their bodies while resting. They perform a beneficial cleaning service for their host trees by vacuuming up superficial lichens, fungi, and pollen without chewing living plant tissue.
GregariousArborealHerbivorous
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Crustose Lichens
- Green Algae
- Fungal Spores
Predators
- Jumping Spiders
- Assassin Bugs
- Woodland Songbirds
ThreatsBroad-spectrum pesticide spraying and loss of mature trees
HabitatsDeciduous and mixed woodlands, suburban tree trunks
Life span1–2 months as adults; up to 1 year across life cycle
Classification
- FamilyPsocidae
- SpeciesCerastipsocus venosus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Completely harmless to humans and trees; safe to observe closely.
Responsible observation
- Trunk Inspections: Look on smooth or lichen-crusted bark of mature hardwoods in late summer.
- Gentle Observation: Avoid disturbing the clusters, which will quickly scatter in alarm.
Predator (c) Анатолий Озерной /Anatoly Ozernoy, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Анатолий Озерной /Anatoly Ozernoy · cc-by-sa
Host Tree (c) Alicia Ballard, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Jarro Nevsbaru, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Jarro Nevsbaru · cc-by
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?
Checking your Fauna account…Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.