Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Psocodea, in part, see
Tree of Life.
Explanation of Names
A combination of unrelated Greek words,
psokos, meaning "rubbed small", i.e., "gnawed", perhaps referring to manner of eating, plus
pteron wing
(1).
Numbers
Arnett
(1) lists 28 families, 78 genera, 288 species for North America.
Borror et al.
(2) list 69 genera, 280 species for the United States.
Size
typically 1.5-5 mm, rarely smaller than 1 mm, up to 10 mm
Identification
body soft, oval
typically pale or dusky in coloration
thorax enlarged, giving a hump-backed appearance
antennae long, thread-like (
setaceous), typically one-half length of body or even longer than body
antennae with 12-20 or more segments
wings typically present (may be reduced or absent), when present, held roof-like over body, front wings larger than hind wings
wings membranous, with few cross veins
legs not highly modified,
tarsi with 2-3 segments
Nymphs resemble adults and often found with them.
Food
Bark lice feed on lichens and fungi on tree bark. Book lice are best known for feeding on the starch in book bindings.
Life Cycle
Psocopterans undergo simple
metamorphosis (specifically,
gradual metamorphosis, i.e., they are
paurometabolous): the eggs hatch into nymphs that are wingless, but otherwise similar to adults. Adults may or may not have wings
(1) (2).
Print References
Arnett, Order 17, pp. 213-227
(1)
Borror et al.
An Introduction to the Study of Insects (2)
