Cladiopsocidae

Definition

A family of barklice and booklice (order Psocodea, suborder Psocomorpha) distinguished by a labrum bearing two sclerotized ridges, a diagnostic feature of the infraorder Epipsocetae. Members are small, often gregarious psocids found in tropical and subtropical forest habitats, where they feed on lichens, algae, and detritus on bark and foliage.

Etymology

From Greek klados (branch) + opso- (resembling) + -idae (family suffix), alluding to the branched or complex wing venation characteristic of the group.

Example

Cladiopsocus species, the type genus of Cladiopsocidae, exhibit the family's diagnostic wing venation with multiple branches in the radial sector, distinguishing them from the simpler venation of psocids in families like Psocidae.

Related Terms

• Psocodea
• Psocomorpha
• Epipsocetae
• barklice
• Labrum
• Sclerotization
• Psocoptera

Usage Notes

The family was established by Smithers in 1972. Cladiopsocidae is one of several families formerly grouped broadly in Psocoptera, now placed in Psocodea following molecular phylogenetic revisions. The two-sclerotized-ridge labrum character is shared with other Epipsocetae (including families Epipsocidae and Ptiloneuridae) and serves as a key morphological synapomorphy for the infraorder.