Bark and Book Lice
What are they?
This group contains a large number of mostly very small insects, many of which require a good knowledge of insect morphology and a good set of magnifying lenses to be able to study and identify. The wingless members of the group known as book lice can be very common in houses, where they feed on a range of detritus materials, acquiring their English name from their particular fondness for the organic glues that have often been used in the book binding process. Winged members of the family that form the group known as bark lice somewhat resemble aphids in general appearance and may be found in wooded areas, where their young stages feed on lichen, fungi and decaying plant material. They may sometimes be found gathered together in groups.
Identification
Winged members of the family - the bark lice - are similar to aphids or some of the smaller flies, but can generally be recognized by their humped appearance, their relatively long antennae and their chewing (rather than sucking) mouth parts. Identification to species can be extremely difficult and should only be attempted if good magnifying equipment and a robust identification source are available.
Hyalopsocus striatus
A common woodland species which often gets attracted to light at night.
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