Pseudocaeciliidae

Pearman, 1936

False Lizard Barklice

Genus Guides

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is a of barklice in the order Psocodea, suborder Psocomorpha. The family name derives from superficial resemblance to the distantly related Caeciliusidae. It belongs to the infraorder Philotarsetae and is closely related to Philotarsidae and Calopsocidae. Members are small, soft-bodied insects commonly found on vegetation.

Pseudocaeciliidae by (c) Saryu Mae 前 朝琉, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Saryu Mae 前 朝琉. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Pseudocaeciliidae: //ˌsjuːdoʊˌsiːˈsɪli.aɪdiː//

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Identification

Distinguished from the superficially similar Caeciliusidae by characters of wing venation and genitalia. Closely related to Philotarsidae, with which they share infraordinal placement in Philotarsetae. Male Ophiodopelma exhibit unique specialized structures not found in females or other psocopteran .

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Habitat

Vegetation surfaces, particularly leaves. Pseudocaecilius citricola has been observed on mango (Mangifera indica) and Cordia collococca leaves, preferentially occupying older leaves over young ones.

Distribution

Widespread in tropical and subtropical regions. Documented from Jamaica, West Indies and Borneo (Sabah, East Malaysia).

Host Associations

  • Mangifera indica - leaf surface for web construction and deposition
  • Cordia collococca - leaf surface for web construction and deposition

Life Cycle

-batches deposited on leaf surfaces. Web construction associated with feeding and egg-laying activities.

Behavior

Constructs silk webs on leaf surfaces. Web distribution correlates with -batch distribution. Females may avoid leaves with existing webs or compete for space, as evidenced by negative correlation between web and egg-batches per web in Pseudocaecilius citricola.

Similar Taxa

  • CaeciliusidaeSuperficial resemblance in general , but distantly related and separable by wing venation and genital characters
  • PhilotarsidaeClose phylogenetic relationship within infraorder Philotarsetae; similar general

More Details

Taxonomic History

Formerly placed in order ; now classified in order Psocodea following molecular phylogenetic revisions. The was established by Pearman in 1936.

Sexual Dimorphism

In Ophiodopelma glyptocephalum, males possess unique specialized structures of hypothesized sensory and/or secretory function that are entirely absent in females. This represents an unusual condition within .

Sources and further reading