Psocoptera

Psocoptera
Temporal range: 163–0 Ma Late Jurassic – Recent
Echmepteryx hageni
Echmepteryx hageni
Unidentified barklouse
Unidentified barklouse
Scientific classificationEdit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
(unranked): Paraneoptera
(unranked): Psocoptera
Groups included
Cladistically included but traditionally excluded taxa

Psocoptera (/soʊˈkɒptərə/) are a paraphyletic group of insects that are commonly known as booklice, barklice or barkflies.[1] The name Psocoptera has been replaced with Psocodea in recent literature, with the inclusion of the former order Phthiraptera into Psocodea (as part of the suborder Troctomorpha).[2][3][4][5]

These insects first appeared in the Permian period, 295–248 million years ago.[citation needed] They are often regarded as the most primitive of the hemipteroids.[6] Their name originates from the Greek word ψῶχος (psokhos), meaning "gnawed" or "rubbed" and πτερά (ptera), meaning "wings".[7] There are more than 5,500 species in 41 families in three suborders. Many of these species have only been described in the early twenty-first century.[8] They range in size from 1–10 millimetres (1/32–13/32 in) in length.

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 on trees, feeding on algae and lichen.

  1. ^ "National Barkfly (Outdoor Psocoptera) Recording Scheme". www.brc.ac.uk.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference DeMoya2021 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Johnson2021 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference gbif was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference itis was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Christopher O'Toole (2002). Firefly Encyclopedia of Insects and Spiders. Toronto: Firefly Books. ISBN 978-1-55297-612-8.
  7. ^ John R. Meyer (5 March 2005). "Psocoptera". North Carolina State University. Archived from the original on 5 February 2007.
  8. ^ Alfonso N. García Aldrete (2006). "New genera of Psocoptera (Insecta), from Mexico, Belize and Ecuador (Psoquillidae, Ptiloneuridae, Lachesillidae)" (PDF). Zootaxa. 1319: 1–14. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.1319.1.1.