Stats

Lifespan

A few months

Size

Tiny

Diet

Decomposer

Activity

Diurnal

Social

Herd

Biome

Temperate forest

Range

North America

Movement

Walking

Breeding

Egg-laying

Defense

Herd Safety

Status

Uncommon

About

Tree Cattle, a species of common barklouse found in the Caribbean Sea, Central America, and North America, is known for its unusual herding behavior: nymphs often move in a tightly packed herd. Unlike other insects, Tree Cattle feed exclusively on lichen, a rare diet that makes them a fascinating subject for entomologists.

Life cycle

1. 1.
   egg

   A small egg is laid on or near the larval food source and hatches within days or weeks.
2. 2.
   juvenile

   An immature insect feeds and molts, growing through successive instars.
3. 3.
   subadult

   A near-adult insect has wing buds or near-mature form, one molt away from full size.
4. 4.
   adult

   Fully grown, with full wings and adult coloration.

Learn more

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Taxonomy

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Psocodea

Family

Psocidae

Genus

Cerastipsocus

Species

Cerastipsocus venosus