Epipsocidae

Look for the combination of a labrum bearing two sclerotized ridges and forewings with hairy ventral surfaces. Wing reduction occurs in some species (e.g., Bertkauia lucifuga is almost always apterous), so identification of apterous specimens requires examination of head capsule characters. The family is distinguished from other Epipsocetae by specific wing venation and genitalic characters that require microscopic examination.

Primarily tropical forest habitats, where members occur on bark and vegetation. The only European species, Bertkauia lucifuga, occupies a disjunct temperate distribution.

Pantropical distribution with highest diversity in the Neotropics and Oriental regions. Documented from Bolivia, Colombia, Brazil (Amazonas, Rondônia, Atlantic Rainforest), and the Amazon basin. The only European occurrence is Bertkauia lucifuga, recorded from Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. New Guinean endemic genus Dicropsocus represents insular Pacific diversity.

• Other Epipsocetae familiesShare the diagnostic labrum with two sclerotized ridges; distinguished by forewing venation patterns, presence/absence of forewing hairiness, and male genitalic structures.
• Other Psocomorpha familiesLack the two sclerotized ridges on the labrum characteristic of Epipsocetae; forewing venation and areola postica shape differ.

• barklice
• tropical
• Neotropics
• apterous
• Psocomorpha
• Epipsocetae

• BugGuide
• Wikipedia
• GBIF taxonomy match
• iNaturalist taxon
• NCBI Taxonomy
• Catalogue of Life
• Neurostigma Enderlein, 1900 (Psocodea: ‘Psocoptera’: Epipsocidae) from Brazilian Amazon Rainforest: new species and variations in forewings
• Neurostigma Enderlein, 1990: new records, update diagnosis, description, redescription, description increment of females, and a new synonymy (Psocodea: “Psocoptera”: Epipsocidae)