Tag Archives: Barkfly

Barkfly: Ectopsocus briggsi agg.

02 Monday Feb 2026

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I wasn’t even aware of the existence of barkflies until a few years ago and I’ve not yet seen more than a handful of the 100 species to be found in Britain. Like most insects, they can be difficult to identify, and today’s little beastie is no exception. In fact, three species – Ectopsocus briggsi, E. petersi and E. meridionalis – have been lumped together into one aggregate name Ectopsocus briggsi agg. for recording purposes. I’ve seen these tiny (just 1.5 – 2mm) barkflies several times before this latest sighting on 30 January but I’ve not managed any good images before now.

Barkfly: Graphopsocus cruciatus

19 Wednesday Jul 2023

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By sheer coincidence, on the very morning I got the email notification that I had correctly identified my first Graphopsocus cruciatus species of barkfly, found on 4 July at Cosmeston Lakes Country Park, I went out and found two more of the same species. And it was particularly nice to find one that was sitting next to its clutch of eggs, kept secure beneath a net of silken threads.

230819 Graphopsocus cruciatus (2)

These are tiny flies that I never even knew existed until late 2021 (A Barkfly, 24 November). Many are quite common but you need to turn over leaves to spot them lingering underneath – or, at least, that’s where I find them. I’m sure they spend time on tree trunks too, hence the name. You can read more about them on the National Barkfly Recording Scheme website, where there is an excellent gallery of photos that makes identification much easier.

230819 Graphopsocus cruciatus (1)

A Barkfly

24 Wednesday Nov 2021

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Looking for leafmines has had all sorts of spin-off benefits this year, as I’ve learned to recognise more tree species and encountered creatures I’ve never seen before. This little creature is a prime example: it has been confirmed as the Barkfly species Valenzuela flavidus.

211124 Valenzuela flavidus Barkfly (1)

Perhaps due to their tiny size (this one’s c.3mm), Barkflies are much under-recorded – I’d never even heard of them – but, as the Barkfly Recording Scheme website notes ‘The lack of recording ensures that even casual recorders of the group have a good chance of making significant finds. Wherever you live you are likely to turn up species previously unrecorded in the area and may even find species new to Britain.’ Seven new species of Barkfly have been discovered in just the past 10 years. So, that’s another insect group to keep a look out for.

211124 Valenzuela flavidus Barkfly (2)