Ectopsocus richardsi
(Pearman, 1929)
outer barklouse
Ectopsocus richardsi is a of outer barklouse in the Ectopsocidae, first described by Pearman in 1929. The species exhibits an exceptionally broad geographic distribution spanning six continents, with documented occurrences across Africa, Australia, Europe, Northern Asia, Central America, North America, Oceania, South America, and Southern Asia. This range is notable among barklice and suggests either high capability or cryptic species status. The species is classified within the order Psocodea, which includes both parasitic lice and free-living barklice.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Ectopsocus richardsi: /ɛkˌtɒpsəˌkəs riˈkɑrdzi/
These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.
Distribution
Documented from Africa (including West Africa, Congo, Madagascar, Tanzania), Australia, Europe (including Great Britain, Switzerland), Northern Asia (excluding China), Central America, North America (including USA, Mexico), Oceania (including Azores, São Miguel, Norfolk Island, Philip Island, Galápagos Islands, Hawaii), South America (including Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Panama), and Southern Asia (including China, Hong Kong). The has been recorded from all 27 states of Brazil.
More Details
Taxonomic note
The extremely broad geographic distribution reported for E. richardsi is unusual for a barklouse and may warrant taxonomic re-examination. Such ranges in Psocodea sometimes indicate cryptic rather than single widespread species.