The pscocoptera have long been regarded as phylogenetically close to the phthiraptera, but recent research has suggested that the phthiraptera may even be a subgroup of the psocoptera, within the wider group of psocodea. The pine hyalinus is a species of psocoptera from elipsocidae family that can be found in great britain and ireland and are also common throughout europe. Psocoptera definition of psocoptera by merriamwebster. Itis taxonomy is based on the latest scientific consensus available, and is provided as a general reference source for interested parties. The order is thought to have appeared in the permian, and some 6000 extant species have been described. Most entomologists suspect that true lice ectoparasites of birds and mammals evolved directly from these commensal barklice. This lack of recording is not because the species are rarely encountered on the contrary. Parasitic lice are embedded within bark lice, and thus the single order psocodea is recognized for both groups. Barklice feed on fungi, algae, dead plant tissues and other debris. Psocoptera booklice are found living throughout the entire world, in the united states alone there are about 287 species. Pin share email button search clear search decor interior decorating.
Although they are called lice, the psocoptera are freeliving insects, not parasites. Pdf a sphaeropsocid bark louse in late cretaceous amber. The insects of the order psocoptera copeognatha, corrodentia are commonly called psocids, although outdoor species living on tree trunks and branches have been called barklice. Psocid, order psocoptera, any of a group of about 5,000 species of softbodied insects, usually less than 5 mm 0.
Psocoptera corrodentia, copeognatha constitutes an order of neopterous, exopterygote insects commonly called psocids, barklice, or booklice. The mouthparts of the paraneoptera reflect diverse feeding habits. Oct 23, 2009 yorktown virginia, oct 23rd, about 65f outside. The wild cousins of booklice are known as barklice.
New species and records of peripsocus hagen psocoptera, peripsocidae from southeast australia. Among the storage pests, psocids were ignored in the past due to unavailability of the significant. Not surprisingly there is some reluctance to accept this view fully, because it would have implications for the integrity of the psocoptera. If you find booklice on objects that can be taken outdoors, then do just that, and clean them thoroughly, allowing them to dry in the sun. Based on your answers to the questions, you have identified your insect as being in the order psocoptera.
Psocids psocoptera booklice and barklice royal entomological. Most species feed on stored grains, book bindings, wallpaper paste, fabric sizing, and other starchy products. A taxonomic order within the superorder psocodea book lice, bark lice or bark flies. They first appeared in the permian period, 295248 million years. Unlike bloodsucking lice, psocids pronounces sosid are phytophagous, feeding on organic matter including algae, lichen, fungi, pollen, decaying plant particles detritus, and occasionally dead animal matter. Hosted by the usgs core science analytics and synthesis. Most male psocids perform a mating dance and after fertilisation the female lays her eggs under bark, leaves or a silk mat.
The psocoptera are a group of small soft, stout bodied insects which include book lice liposcelis sp. Their name originates from the greek word, psokhos meaning gnawed or rubbed and, ptera meaning wings. Molecular genetic evidence has confirmed past suspicions that true lice evolved. Barklice psocoptera psocids bark lice order psocoptera. Psocoptera comes from the greek words psocos, which means gnawed, and ptera, which means wings. Their closest relatives are the phthiraptera or true lice. A new genus and species of sphaeropsocid bark louse is described and figured from a single individual in late cretaceous latest cenomanian amber from agapa, western taimyr peninsula, northern. Psocoptera definition of psocoptera by the free dictionary. They survive by feeding on residues of feathers or skin cells, but never on the birds themselves. Ent 425 general entomology resource library compendium. Phthiraptera parasitic lice may have evolved directly from commensal barklice, and a close relationship between barklice and parasitic lice is also supported by similarities in the structure of their mouthparts. Order psocodea barklice, booklice, and parasitic lice. It was very small and very fast and impossible to see against the bark unless it moved. Sep 19, 2014 16, 21714 i really am unsure what this insect is, but with some identification help, i have narrowed it down to psocoptera, known as barklice.
An order of small insects in which wings may be present or absent, tarsi are two or threesegmented, cerci are absent, and. They are wingless and much smaller than barklice less than 2 mm. Despite their name booklice, or bark lice, as they are commonly referred to, are not true lice because they only feed on fungi or mold. World catalogue and bibliography lienhard and smithers 2002. Psocoptera booklice, barklice wildlife journal junior. Unlike bloodsucking lice, psocids pronounces sosid are phytophagous, feeding on organic matter including algae, lichen, fungi, pollen, decaying plant particles detritus, and occasionally. These insects were until recently placed in the order psocoptera with the lice in a separate order phthiraptera. All psocids possess silk glands and in some species large webs are formed in which the community lives. Its slender antennae are at least as long as its body, and wing.
Psocoptera barklice, booklice, psocids discover life. So, now that you know what they look like and where you might find them, heres a good way to get rid of them although you will never completely get rid of them all, so just accept that fact. Bark lice, booklice or psocids psocoptera, figure 11 mechanism of absorption of atmospheric water. Psocoptera synonyms, psocoptera pronunciation, psocoptera translation, english dictionary definition of psocoptera. There are around 2 000 in the world and 68 in britain. Description of psocoptera psocoptera or corrodentia insects are found in various terrestrial habitats such as tree bark bark lice, decaying vegetable matter, bird nests, and sev eral of the wingless species occur in human habitations, particularly in old papers and books. Papers and proceedings of the royal society of tasmania 1949. The name psocoptera is derived from the greek psokos meaning rubbed or gnawed and ptera meaning wings. Psocoptera are an order of winged insects that are commonly known as booklice, barklice or barkflies. Commonly called barklice or booklice, members of the order psocoptera psocids are not true lice order phthiraptera although they are closely related to.
Consequently, they are considered harmless and perhaps beneficial to the trees they infest. Order psocodea barklice, booklice, and parasitic lice bugguide. Received august 8, 1956 the psocids psocoptera are one of the minor orders of insects, with only about 145 species recorded from the united states. Updates for psocoptera are in the process of being added. About this book since the first edition of this handbook was published in 1974, seven new species of psocoptera have been recorded in britain. This is because the environment is relatively humid, and these bugs do well in humid conditions. These analyses indicate that parasitic lice evolved from within the psocoptera suborder troctomorpha. Barklice, booklice or psocids psocoptera, figure 11 mechanism of absorption of atmosp heric water. The habit of psocids includes living or dead foliage, ground litter, bark of trees, and inside human habitations.
The pscocoptera have long been regarded as phylogenetically close to the phthiraptera, but recent research has suggested. The scientific name comes from the greek psocus to grind and pteron wing and refers to the psocopteran. Psocopterabook lice class insectaorder psocopteranumber of families 36 or 37 source for information on psocoptera book. If you need help with booklice control in your home, contact us today for detailed information about how to get rid of booklice or to learn more about our pest control services in st.
Psocoptera definition is an order of tiny softbodied insects that have long antennae, chewing mouthparts, feed on organic matter, are either wingless or have two pairs of wings held over the back like a roof, and include the book lice and bark lice. In this revised handbook, a general introduction to. Psocomorpha, troctomorpha, trogiomorpha suborders lacroixiella genus, incertae sedis edgariekiidae extinct family, incertae sedis beipiaopsocus, empheriopsis extinct genera, incertae sedis references. Commonly called bark lice or book lice or barl lice, the psocopterans sport membranous wings held rooflike over abdomen. Res handbooks for the identification of british insects. They have sharp teeth that cut numerous galleries between the wood and the bark of the tree creating severe damage to the tree. Psocoptera, or booklice, are very common in new houses. Jan 23, 2020 booklice are more common in human dwellings and warehouses. Barklice are usually found in moist places, such as leaf litter, beneath stones, on vegetation or under tree bark. Psocopteran definition of psocopteran by the free dictionary. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. In this revised handbook, a general introduction to the classification, relationships, biology and external morphology of the psocoptera is followed by notes on their collection and study.
Psocoptera barklice, booklice, psocids discover life mobile. In fact, you could have a few in your home right now, but before you start itching booklice arent actually lice they are just named so because of. Thorax the thorax unites to the head with a membranous and flexible neck. Molecular genetic evidence has confirmed past suspicions that true lice evolved from booklice and this finding has brought about a taxonomic reshuffling in which bark lice and parasitic lice share the order psocodea. Psocids are found on a wide range of terrestrial habitat, such as on dead or living leaves, on stone or bark surfaces, and in leaf litter. Psocoptera are an order of insects that are commonly known as booklice, barklice or barkflies. Pending id psocoptera pending id psocoptera references edwards, b. Barklice, likely common barklice cerastipsocus venosus, family psocidae, order psocoptera. Adult barklice are about of an inch in length and usually have. Psocomorpha, troctomorpha, trogiomorpha suborders lacroixiella. Bark lice are gregarious and live together underneath layers of silken webbing. The order psocoptera is one of the least recorded insect groups.
Psocids are small and softbodied and therefore have received little attention from collectors. Barklice arent related to head lice, and have no interest in humans. However, there are no reports on the allergenicity of psocoptera spp. Basal groups are microbial surface feeders, whereas more advanced groups feed on plant or animal fluids. As an extra precaution, they will also treat the perimeter of your homes foundation with a barrier treatment. The scientific name comes from the greek psocus to grind and pteron wing and refers to the psocopteran jaws, which are shaped to grind food, rather like a pestle and mortar these insects can be conveniently, if somewhat arbitrarily, discussed in two groups, barklice and booklice, based on whether they. They are often regarded as the most primitive of the hemipteroids. Help pages, faqs, uniprotkb manual, documents, news archive and biocuration projects. The psocodea species file currently contains data from psocoptera insecta.
Psocoptera definition is an order of tiny softbodied insects that have long antennae, chewing mouthparts, feed on organic matter, are either wingless or have two pairs of wings held over. Rather, they eat fungi, dead bark and other materials, especially on rotting wood. Characteristics psocids or booklice as they are commonly known are small usually dull coloured insects with a body length of 110 millimetres. These guys were all piled up in one little cluster on some logs that have been sitting in the driveway for a bit i have no clue what they are, but. These insects are known to inhabit various terrestrial habitats such as tree bark bark lice, old papers, books.
They are commonly found on the bark and foliage of trees and shrubs where they consume. A study of the tasmanian psocoptera with descriptions of new species. The insects of the order psocoptera copeognatha, corrodentia are commonly called psocids, although outdoor species living on tree trunks and branches have been called bark lice, whereas indoor species, sometimes found in old books, have been called book lice. The psocoptera are a small order of paraneopteran insects near 4,000 species have. Psocoptera article about psocoptera by the free dictionary. Description of psocoptera psocoptera or corrodentia insects are found in various terrestrial habitats such as tree bark bark lice, decaying vegetable matter, bird nests, and sev eral of the. These insects are known to inhabit various terrestrial habitats such as tree bark bark lice, old papers, books, stored food products, etc and gain entry into human dwellings through these modes. Bark lice are found in leaf litter, under bark, or under rocks. They first appeared in the permian period, 295248 million years ago. Although most psocoptera are freeliving, a few genera live in the nests of birds. Barklice, booklice or psocids psocoptera springerlink. National barkfly outdoor psocoptera recording scheme.
1620 1075 1354 1301 815 1451 1119 449 1444 311 99 1535 1105 1259 1414 1522 481 1305 1145 1598 420 1467 668 442 113 766 1555 983 244 1306 571 1309 567 1102 448 1263 682 836 351 77