strange cluster of insects, what are they?

[sparular]

I found these on a tree in a park here in north-central Florida. You can see the scale of them in the video when my index finger enters the frame and they scatter/stream away. I'm not sure if they are aphids or immature true bugs or what. :? They were found on an oak tree (I'm not sure what species of oak, but not live oak).

And some shaky video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEywjlPhmj0

 

[Tleilaxu]

www.bugguide.net

Post those pics there! Awesome pics BTW

Be sure to link that vidseo as well! That was awesome how they formed a line as they fled!

 

[Anh]

wow i am stump on this one, best guess is its some sort plant feeder like aphids.

 

[Matt K]

I am almost sure I have seen those aphids before, but it seems odd they would cluster on tree bark (pretty sure its aphid but not convinced).

 

[sparular]

OK I've done some sleuthing and I've narrowed it to order psocoptera: bark lice. Evidently they eat lichens, algae, moss, and dead tree matter. As nymphs they cluster like this and are not harmful to the trees they inhabit.

 

[bugmankeith]

Yeah I have those too, took me years to find out what they were. Those are immature, they'll get wings. They run really fast but can hop too, right? I get them under the flower pots, which do grow moss underneath.

 

[Matt K]

I had no idea! Interesting and cool though. Good to know!