Peripsocidae

Definition

A family of barklice and booklice (order Psocodea, suborder Psocomorpha) comprising more than 300 species, distinguished by the absence of an areola postica—a small cell or thickened region near the wing base present in many related psocid families. Members are typically found on bark, foliage, or leaf litter, where they feed on microflora such as lichens, algae, and fungal spores. The family includes the type genus Peripsocus and numerous allied genera described in recent taxonomic revisions.

Etymology

From the type genus Peripsocus (Greek peri-, "around" + psocus, "gnawer/louse") + -idae, the standard family suffix.

Example

Peripsocus subfasciatus, a common European species, can be recognized by its reduced wing venation lacking the areola postica that characterizes families such as Psocidae.

Related Terms

• Psocodea
• Psocomorpha
• areola postica
• Psocidae
• barklice
• booklice

Usage Notes

Distinguished from the superficially similar family Psocidae by wing venation; molecular studies have reshaped generic boundaries within Peripsocidae, making older keys potentially unreliable. The family is cosmopolitan but most diverse in tropical and subtropical regions.