Bark Louse ( Psocodea ) | |
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PHOTO COMMENT | |
The species known as booklice received their common name because they are commonly found amongst old books?they feed upon the paste used in binding. The barklice are found harmlessly on trees, feeding on algae and lichen. | |
IDENTIFICATION | |
Identification: | Psocodea ) |
Common Name: | Bark Louse |
Life Stage: | (A) adult |
PHYLOGENY | |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Superorder: | Paraneoptera |
Order: | Psocodea |
Taxon Code: | PSO02348 |
ITIS/TSN: | 998435 |
LOCATION DETAILS | |
Location Name | |
Albany | |
County: | Alameda County |
ECI Site#: | CA01020000 |
RECOGNITION | |
Body Length | |
1-10 mm. | |
Diversity | |
3 Suborders, with about 1,220 species in more than 200 genera of 43 families in North America (including about 920 species in more than 130 genera and 17 families of parasitic lice) and about 8,000 species in genera of about 80 families worldwide. | |
Child Taxa | |
Now includes Suborder Trogiomorpha, Suborder Troctomorpha, Suborder Psocomorpha and Phthiraptera (Parasitic Lice). | |
BIOLOGY | |
Bark Lice are small, scavenging insects with a relatively generalized body plan. They feed primarily on fungi, algae, lichen, and organic detritus. They have chewing mandibles, and the central lobe of the maxilla is modified into a slender rod. This rod is used to brace the insect while it scrapes up detritus with its mandibles. They also have a swollen forehead, large compound eyes, and three ocelli. Some species can spin silk from glands in their mouth. | |
Diversity | |
3 Suborders, with about 1,220 species in more than 200 genera of 43 families in North America (including about 920 species in more than 130 genera and 17 families of parasitic lice) and about 8,000 species in genera of about 80 families worldwide. | |
CREDITS | |
Photographer Adrian Cotter Insect Sciences Museum of California | |
References | |
Order Psocodea - Barklice, Booklice, and Parasitic Lice. (http://bugguide.net/node/view/67). Accessed March 12, 2016. . | |
ITIS. | |
Psocodea. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psocodea). Accessed July 16, 2016. | |