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. 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. Head of both adults and larvae rounded with bulging. This is because the environment is relatively humid, and these bugs do well in humid conditions. Visit the virginia cooperative extension webpage on psocids. Bark lice and psocids order psocoptera order includes. Order phthiraptera is polyphyletic within order psocoptera, so they are moved under order psocodea. This is the first insect order to show the beginnings of a transition to sucking mouthparts. Jul 27, 2019 these are barklice or tree cattle in the insect order psocoptera, and though we were not able to locate any similar looking species from panama or surrounding countries, we did locate this somewhat similar looking individual from bolivia on flickr. Bark lice are gregarious and live together underneath layers of silken webbing.
Range in size from onetwentyfifth to onethirteenth of an inch. Psocids are small and softbodied and therefore have received little attention from collectors. Their name originates from the greek word, psokhos meaning gnawed or rubbed and, ptera meaning wings. Dear linda, these are barklice or tree cattle in the insect order psocoptera, and though we were not able to locate any similar looking species from panama or surrounding countries, we did locate this somewhat similar looking individual from bolivia on flickr daniel, thank you for your help. Bark lice are insects often found on the bark of trees. They are wingless and much smaller than barklice less than 2 mm. Bark lice and psocids are an important food source for native birds and other insecteaters. However, some psocids are clearly sensitive to human impact. Although most psocoptera are freeliving, a few genera live in the nests of birds. Psocoptera bed bugs 20200501 20200501 tagged bugs that look like bed bugs 9 bugs that mistaken as bed bugs. The common housedwelling booklouse is wingless or its wings are reduced to small scalelike, nonfunctional wings.
Only one species of chewing louse, the dog biting louse, in the family. Dorothy is a master gardener, former newspaper reporter, and the author of several books. All psocids possess silk glands and in some species large webs are formed in which the community lives. 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 and or fungi growing on these items. They are of rather similar appearance and they all have a superficial resemblance to some other lice species hence their names. Although they are called lice, the psocoptera are freeliving insects, not parasites. Bark lice and psocids hawaii department of land and. Minute less than 6 mm though a few are as large as 10 mm, softbodied, winged and wingless. Psocoptera are regarded as the most primitive amongst the hemipteroids true bugs, the thrips and lice because their mouthparts show the least modification from those of the earliest known fossils. The psocoptera are a small order of paraneopteran insects near 4,000. Whether by necessity, due to the coronavirus lockdown, or by choice, such as selfemployment or flexible working, many people are now working from home. Apart from their similarities with phthiraptera, the psocoptera are most likely to be confused with the jumping plant lice in the hemipteran psylloidea, as they can be found in similar situations. Barklice, booklice or psocids psocoptera springerlink.
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. Psocoptera definition of psocoptera by merriamwebster. Psocids psocoptera, or booklice, are very common in new houses. Bottom left of frame shows one of the lice taking shelter inside the skull of a bee. These analyses indicate that parasitic lice evolved from within the psocoptera suborder troctomorpha. It has a very flat shape superficially resembling the shape of head lice.
Booklice are tiny creatures although they are not actually lice at all, and this article will show you how and where to look for them. If you wish to keep any of the infested items, wrap them in a plastic bag, put them in your freezer for 2 days to kill the lice, and then vacuum the dead booklice off of items. 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. These four orders compose a monophyletic group, the paraneoptera hemipteroid insects, and psocids retain the most primitive features in the group. Psocoptera are an order of insects that are commonly known as booklice, barklice or barkflies. Everything you need to know about a booklice infestation tue, 01262016 so, were going to skip over the scientific data on these pests, like the fact that they are of the order psocoptera and that the staples of their diet are fungi, algae, lichen, and organic detritus, and get right to what matters most. The order is thought to have appeared in the permian, and some 6000 extant species have been described.
They tend to be more pigmented than the booklice and most develop wings. They are small fragile insects ranging in size from 1 to about 10mm long and are often cryptically coloured. Most species feed on stored grains, book bindings, wallpaper paste, fabric sizing, and other starchy products. A brood of bark lice aka book lice psocoptera living inside an old leafcutter bee nest.
Barklice, booklice or psocids psocoptera, figure 11 mechanism of absorption of atmosp heric water. Although the psocoptera are called lice, they are not parasites, instead they are free living insects. Their presence in the home may also set off allergy and asthma attacks. Psocoptera, and are mostly innocuous inhabitants of trees and other vegetation. Apr 25, 2019 dorothy is a master gardener, former newspaper reporter, and the author of several books. Book lice are considered a nuisance when they infest stored foods and libraries. Viewing families in the order psocodea book lice, bark lice. Thorax the thorax unites to the head with a membranous and flexible neck. 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. However, the psocoptera all have biting mouthparts, quite different to the sucking rostrum of the psylloidea.
These insects were until recently placed in the order psocoptera with the lice in a separate order phthiraptera. Most leaf and bark dwelling psocids are common and seem to endure human influence. In general, they need to live where humidity is high or moisture is present. Phylogenetically, the order psocoptera psocids, barklice, and booklice is closely related to the phthiraptera lice, thysanoptera thrips, and hemiptera bugs, cicadas, aphids, etc. Most species are freeliving and not pests, but several species of book lice are found indoors, e. Dont know why exactly, but they make an appearance often. Characteristics psocids or booklice as they are commonly known are small usually dull coloured insects with a body length of 110 millimetres. They are often regarded as the most primitive of the hemipteroids. Barklice feed on fungi, algae, dead plant tissues and other debris. Phthiraptera parasitic lice may have evolved directly from commensal barklice, and a close relationship between barklice and parasitic lice is. The species cerastipsocus venosus is one of the most. Book and bark lice the psocoptera the psocoptera are a group of small soft, stout bodied insects which include book lice liposcelis sp.
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. Psocids have chewing mouthparts, but they do not bite people or pets. Lisa jo lupo has 25 years of experience working in and writing about pest control. Jan 23, 2020 booklice are more common in human dwellings and warehouses. Barklice or booklice or dust lice or psocids appearance. There are many variations of bodies and wings among the species, which measure up to 12 inch. Jan 21, 2011 some species get into grain storage areas and munch away happily for ages. 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. While they are called bark lice, they are not lice. Flickr bark lice psocoptera psocoptera pixelmasterdesign. They are referred to as lice only because of their similar appearance to true lice species. Most bark lice and psocids are scavengers or feed on lichen found on woody vegetation. Chapter 26 the best control for barklice or booklice or. Viewing families in the order psocodea book lice, bark.
Psocoptera barklice, booklice, psocids discover life. Commonly called bark lice or book lice or barl lice, the psocopterans sport membranous wings held rooflike over abdomen. Everything you need to know about a booklice infestation. Flickr bark lice psocoptera psocoptera 20200503 20200503 tagged flickriver. Psocoptera, bark lice english geographic information geographic division. See more ideas about lice bugs, humming bird feeders, get rid of mold. The spencer entomological museum was formally established in 1953 from the holdings of dr. Their closest relatives are the phthiraptera or true lice. They are only known to damage books in library and museum as feed they on glues used for binding books. Spencer, a professor in the ubc zoology department. Liposcelidae, traditionally classified as psocoptera or book lice are the sister group.
The tiny bugs can live outdoors on bark feeding on mosses and. New houses are not the only places that have problems with psocids, however. Psocoptera barklice and booklice rhythms of insect. To get rid of booklice, start by throwing out any items that show signs of lice infestation, like books or boxes. Psocoptera booklice are found living throughout the entire world, in the united states alone there are about 287 species. There are about 5,500 species of book lice and bark lice. Everything you need to know about a booklice infestation tue, 01262016 so, were going to skip over the scientific data on these pests, like the fact that they are of the order psocoptera and that the staples of their diet are fungi, algae, lichen. Unlike true lice, these tiny species does not cause or transmit diseases. 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. Even though booklice resembles true lice, in real sense they are not lice and do not bite humans or pets. Despite their names, these small insects are not true lice. Most male psocopterans perform a mating dance, and after fertilization, the female lays eggs under bark, leaves or a silk mat. There are many other psocids that occur outdoors, including barklice species drees 2004.
There are 50 families of bark lice with over 200 genera. The barklice include various species of psocoptera that are only found outdoors. Booklice are actually a very small insect that range in length from 2 18 of an inch in length. The psocoptera are a small order of paraneopteran insects near 4,000 species have. Psocids, also called book lice although they are not truly lice, live in warm, moist places.
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. At auburn universitys entomology site you can find more information on bark lice. Chapter 26 the best control for barklice or booklice or psocids. Psocoptera is one of the oldest species of insects, first appearing over 250 million years ago. But, you will be happy to know that they dont bite, sting, or bother people or pets. Winged barklice look a little like aphids but their long antennae, broad heads and biting jaws show that they are not. The bark lice family calopsocidae is a minor group in the psocoptera, currently comprising 33 validly described species in the world. Todays friday 5 will highlight 5 places ive found booklice in my house. They first appeared in the permian period, 295248 million years ago. 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. 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. Book lice received this name because they like to eat the paste found in old book bindings.
Further, sucking and chewing lice originated from a common nonparasitic ancestral group within, the psocoptera book lice and bark lice. Psocoptera, the bark lice, include 4,400 described species arranged in 3 suborders, trogiomorpha, troctomorpha, and psocomorpha. Many live on bark and leaf surfaces feeding on algae, fungi or lichens. Bark lice, booklice or psocids psocoptera, figure 11 mechanism of absorption of atmospheric water. Oct 23, 2009 yorktown virginia, oct 23rd, about 65f outside. The tiny bugs can live outdoors on bark feeding on mosses and lichens and in grass, leaves and damp wood. The name, psocid short for psocidae, a family within psocoptera may be a better term to use for this group. About this book since the first edition of this handbook was published in 1974, seven new species of psocoptera have been recorded in britain.
Ent 425 general entomology resource library compendium. Psocoptera book lice class insectaorder psocopteranumber of families 36 or 37 source for information on psocoptera book. Psocids eat lichen lie kuhn or mosses, funguses, and other bits of plant and animal. Discovery of the bark lice family calopsocidae psocoptera. Consequently, they are considered harmless and perhaps beneficial to the trees they infest. The bark lice are scavengers that feed by scraping algae, lichens or molds and they can be common on bark. Unlike true lice, booklice are not external parasites and do not bite man or other animals. Common places for booklice populations to thrive include window sills, under outside siding of homes, tree trunks, shrubs, flowers, around garden hoses, under bricks and rocks, around light fixtures and under boxes. 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 their appearance. Psocids are scavenging insects with long antennae and small chewing. Nov 22, 2019 to get rid of booklice, start by throwing out any items that show signs of lice infestation, like books or boxes. Top american libraries canadian libraries universal library community texts project gutenberg biodiversity heritage library childrens library.
Pdf barklice, booklice or psocids psocoptera researchgate. 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 photo was poor quality due to the bugs being so high in the tree so i am amazed that you could id. Most psocids live outdoors, have wings as adults and are commonly found on or under the bark of trees.
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