Outer Barklice

Ectopsocidae

Classification

Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Psocodea
Suborder: Psocomorpha
Infraorder: Homilopsocidea
Family: Ectopsocidae

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Ectopsocidae: //ɛk.toʊˈsɒ.sɪˌdiː//

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Images

Summary

Ectopsocidae is a family of small visitors to bark and leaves, known as outer barklice, characterized by their morphology and absence of certain wing features. They are primarily found in leaf litter and dead leaves.

Physical Characteristics

Robust, small-bodied bark lice measuring 1.5-2.5 mm in length, typically brown in color with or without markings on the wings. Forewings are short and broad, held in a horizontal position rather than the tent-like position seen in other psocids. The forewing pterostigma is rectangular, and the areola postica is absent.

Identification Tips

Look for the absence of areola postica in the wings, short and broad forewings, and small size of 1.5-2.5 mm.

Habitat

Ectopsocidae inhabit dead leaves on tree branches and leaf litter.

Distribution

Distributed worldwide with the highest diversity in Asia; fourteen species are known from North America.