Psocids are small and softbodied and therefore have received little attention from collectors. Order psocodea is comprised from paraphyletic order psocoptera book lice or bark lice and polyphyletic order phthiraptera. These insects feed on the algae and lichen growing on tree bark, which has the effect of cleaning the trees of excess fungal growth and debris. Unlike true lice, booklice are not external parasites and do not bite man or other animals. Rather, they eat fungi, dead bark and other materials, especially on rotting wood. 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. Bark lice and psocids are an important food source for native birds and other insecteaters. Psocoptera synonyms, psocoptera pronunciation, psocoptera translation, english dictionary definition of psocoptera. Commonly called bark lice or book lice or barl lice, the psocopterans sport membranous wings held rooflike over abdomen. So to know where to treat, start taking note of where youre finding these 1015 book lice every day. 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.
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. The name is a bit of a misnomer, as these insects are not closely related to lice. Book lice can live under carpeting, appliances, in couches and other furniture, under sinks, around refrigerators, etc. 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. At fossil and mineral shows he would typically be found seated at an amber dealers booth, a great pile of amber pieces before him, peering through a loupe at the world inside each piece. Booklice psocoptera extreme close up, focus on booklice eye. As an extra precaution, they will also treat the perimeter of your homes foundation with a barrier treatment. Basal groups are microbial surface feeders, whereas more advanced groups feed on plant or animal fluids. Paraneoptera is a monophyletic superorder of insects which includes four orders, the bark lice, true lice, thrips, and hemipterans, the true bugs. Theyre also not parasitic and not considered pests. Booklice and their relatives psocoptera utah pests utah state. Barklice is the common name for the winged forms and the wingless forms are called booklice potato, potahto. Mouthparts are adapted for chewing, with the upper jaw usually. If you took a magnifying glass to examine them, you would see that their soft bodies appear bulbous due to large heads and abdomens attached to a narrow midsection.
The habit of psocids includes living or dead foliage, ground litter, bark of trees, and inside human habitations. They are wingless and much smaller than barklice less than 2 mm. Barklice or booklice or dust lice or psocids appearance. These insects were until recently placed in the order psocoptera with the lice in a separate order phthiraptera. 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. Psocoptera corrodentia, copeognatha constitutes an order of neopterous, exopterygote insects commonly called psocids, barklice, or booklice. The spencer entomological museum was formally established in 1953 from the holdings of dr. A diy guide on how to get rid of booklice and prevent an. 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.
And remember, they dont forage far from their nest site. 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 from booklice and this finding has brought about a taxonomic reshuffling in which bark lice and parasitic lice share the order psocodea. Booklice and barklice psocoptera 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. Bark lice are gregarious and live together underneath layers of silken webbing.
About this book since the first edition of this handbook was published in 1974, seven new species of psocoptera have been recorded in britain. However, it is not a legal authority for statutory or regulatory purposes. Oct 23, 2009 yorktown virginia, oct 23rd, about 65f outside. Itis taxonomy is based on the latest scientific consensus available, and is provided as a general reference source for interested parties. There are several species of psocids commonly referred to as booklice. Rons passion ron cauble, founder of the bone room, was obsessed with inclusions in amber. Barklice, booklice or psocids psocoptera springerlink. Psocoptera comes from the greek words psocos, which means gnawed, and ptera, which means wings.
They are of rather similar appearance and they all have a superficial resemblance to some other lice species hence their names. Bark lice and psocids hawaii department of land and. One study found that modified atmospheres during packing map helped to control the reoccurrence of pests during the manufacturing process and prevented further infestation in the final products that go to consumers. Psocid book lice control new houses are not the only places that have problems with psocids, however. They are known as book lice because they are often found in association with old books stored in damp conditions such as in a basement. They have sharp teeth that cut numerous galleries between the wood and the bark of the tree creating severe damage to the tree. The more gregarious species live in silken webs on trunks or branches of trees. Thus, eliminating moist conditions effectively regulates control of pests. Psocomorpha, troctomorpha, trogiomorpha suborders lacroixiella genus, incertae sedis edgariekiidae extinct family, incertae sedis beipiaopsocus, empheriopsis extinct genera, incertae sedis references. They survive by feeding on residues of feathers or skin cells, but never on the birds themselves. There are 50 families of bark lice with over 200 genera.
Bark lice, booklice or psocids psocoptera, figure 11 mechanism of absorption of atmospheric water. Psocoptera the scientific name for this order of insects are a large group of. Barklice, likely common barklice cerastipsocus venosus, family psocidae, order psocoptera. Psocids psocoptera, or booklice, are very common in new houses. Psocoptera have long been known as book lice and the outdoor species as bark lice, but they are not true lice and the new term bark. Ent 425 general entomology resource library compendium. Pdf barklice, booklice or psocids psocoptera researchgate. Other control measures include the use of insecticides in varied forms.
It has a very flat shape superficially resembling the shape of head lice. Psocids, among other arthropods, have been studied to develop new pest control techniques in food manufacturing. Based on your answers to the questions, you have identified your insect as being in the order psocoptera. Instead, just watch it awhile and im sure it will trail back to its nest site and eventually show you where its living. Although they are called lice, the psocoptera are freeliving insects, not parasites. Characteristics psocids or booklice as they are commonly known are small usually dull coloured insects with a body length of 110 millimetres. Eliminating sources of mold will help control booklice. Psocid, order psocoptera, any of a group of about 5,000 species of softbodied insects, usually less than 5 mm 0. They feed on mold or fungi and if found in decaying organic material, as well as grains, insects, and starches like book binding glue it is the result of psocids eating the mold andor fungi growing on these items. Barklice arent related to head lice, and have no interest in humans. Chapter 26 the best control for barklice or booklice or psocids. 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. 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. 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.
There are over 1,000 species of psocoptera in europe, and around 100 in the british isles. Psocoptera the scientific name for this order of insects are a large group of primitive insects commonly known as booklice, dustlice, deathwatches drees and jackman 1998. Consequently, they are considered harmless and perhaps beneficial to the trees they infest. Psocoptera winged like psocus with ability to grind to pieces. The mouthparts of the paraneoptera reflect diverse feeding habits. 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. Booklice are tiny, measuring about 116 inch in size. All psocids possess silk glands and in some species large webs are formed in which the community lives. Heres how to know if your tree has bark lice southern. Book and bark lice the psocoptera the psocoptera are a group of small soft, stout bodied insects which include book lice liposcelis sp. Bark lice type 1 psocoptera possiibly myopsocus sp. Booklice psocid infestations method of control vale pest control. Psocoptera book lice, bark lice, dust lice fast facts about psocoptera book lice, bark lice, dust lice minute less than 6 mm though a few are as large as 10 mm, softbodied, winged and wingless.
The species cerastipsocus venosus is one of the most. At auburn universitys entomology site you can find more information on bark lice. You can also look for them under bark or stones and on the bark of trees. These analyses indicate that parasitic lice evolved from within the psocoptera suborder troctomorpha. Entomology questions and study guide quizlet flashcards by. Most bark lice and psocids are scavengers or feed on lichen found on woody vegetation. They are wingless and are common in moist or damp areas. This is the first insect order to show the beginnings of a transition to sucking mouthparts.
The first course of action that will get rid of book lice is to start doing some treatments. Barklice feed on fungi, algae, dead plant tissues and other debris. Further, sucking and chewing lice originated from a common nonparasitic ancestral group within, the psocoptera book lice and bark lice. Psocoptera are an order of insects that are commonly known as booklice, barklice or barkflies. The psocoptera are a small order of paraneopteran insects near 4,000 species have. Psocid occasional invaders control pest control by. The order is thought to have appeared in the permian, and some 6000 extant species have been described. Most species are freeliving and not pests, but several species of book lice are found indoors, e. Its slender antennae are at least as long as its body, and wing venation is simple, with no crossveins. Chapter 26 the best control for barklice or booklice or. Troctomorpha are now known to also contain the order phthiraptera lice, and are therefore paraphyletic, as are psocoptera as a whole. Although most psocoptera are freeliving, a few genera live in the nests of birds. So where ever it is youre seeing them, there must be a nest close by.
Some troctomorpha, such as liposcelis which are similar to lice in morphology, are often found in birds nests, and it is possible that a similar behavior in the ancestors of lice is at the origin of the parasitism seen today. Everything you need to know about a booklice infestation. Bottom left of frame shows one of the lice taking shelter inside the skull of a bee. Barklice, booklice or psocids psocoptera, figure 11 mechanism of absorption of atmosp heric water. Spencer, a professor in the ubc zoology department. Psocoptera book lice class insectaorder psocopteranumber of families 36 or 37 source for information on psocoptera book. Bark lice or psocids are small soft bodied insects which are often seen in groups or tiny herds on the surface of tree bark where they feed on lichens, fungi, and other superficial plant materials. Most species feed on stored grains, book bindings, wallpaper paste, fabric sizing, and other starchy products. Discovery of the bark lice family calopsocidae psocoptera. Some recent molecular phylogenetic analyses embed the parasitic lice within the nonparasitic bark lice and book lice, and some authors now recognize the order psocodea, which includes the parasitic lice as. The greatest deterrent to booklice is to keep things dry. The common housedwelling booklouse is wingless or its wings are reduced to small scalelike, nonfunctional wings. Also called barklice and paperlice, booklice thrive in papers, books, walls, tree barks, and moist places. The main issue posed by booklice is the nuisance they cause when they are in large numbers.
They first appeared in the permian period, 295248 million years ago. When you are cooking, boiling a kettle or even just using the washing. Jan 23, 2020 booklice are more common in human dwellings and warehouses. But, when these pests take root, it is necessary to have professional pest service. However, there are no reports on the allergenicity of psocoptera spp. 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. 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. Booklice, barklice, moldlice, and dustlice are members of the order. Psocoptera, the bark lice, include 4,400 described species arranged in 3 suborders, trogiomorpha, troctomorpha, and psocomorpha. Their closest relatives are the phthiraptera or true lice.
They are known as book lice because they are often found in association with old books stored in damp conditions such as in a. Here is some information on how to get rid of booklice infestation. The tiny bugs can live outdoors on bark feeding on mosses and lichens and in grass, leaves and damp. The psocids found indoors are extremely tiny and difficult to see. While every effort has been made to provide the most reliable and uptodate information available, ultimate legal requirements with respect to species are contained in. Bark lice and psocids order psocoptera order includes. In fact, the next time you find one out and about, dont kill it. So, how can you tell if your trees are home to barklice. The tiny bugs can live outdoors on bark feeding on mosses and lichens and in grass, leaves and damp wood. A brood of bark lice aka book lice psocoptera living inside an old leafcutter bee nest. Barklice psocoptera psocids bark lice order psocoptera. Visit the virginia cooperative extension webpage on psocids. Thorax the thorax unites to the head with a membranous and flexible neck.
They are often regarded as the most primitive of the hemipteroids. Finding booklice indoors is common, but the pest can become a problem when your home is overrun with them identifying booklice. Booklice are more common in human dwellings and warehouses. Psocoptera booklice are found living throughout the entire world, in the united states alone there are about 287 species. The psocoptera are a group of small soft, stout bodied insects which include book lice liposcelis sp. 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. Psocids or booklice are softbodied fragile insects with long thread. There are many other psocids that occur outdoors, including barklice. The bark lice family calopsocidae is a minor group in the psocoptera, currently comprising 33 validly described species in the world. They are found in nature on the bark of trees and shrubs, preferring damp, warm, undisturbed environments.
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