Troctomorpha

Roesler, 1940

Family Guides

Amphientomidae(Tropical Barklice)
Liposcelididae(booklice)
Pachytroctidae(thick barklice)
Sphaeropsocidae

is one of three major suborders of Psocodea (barklice, booklice, and parasitic lice), alongside Psocomorpha and Trogiomorpha. It comprises more than 30 and over 5,800 described . The suborder includes free-living barklice and booklice as well as all parasitic lice (), which are most closely related to the booklice family Liposcelididae. The oldest fossil record is Paramesopsocus adibi from the Late Jurassic of Kazakhstan.

Liposcelis ornata by (c) northerly, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by northerly. Used under a CC-BY license.

Liposcelididae by (c) Mario Bassini, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Mario Bassini. Used under a CC-BY license.

Liposcelididae by (c) Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Troctomorpha: //trɒkˈtoʊmɔːrfə//

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

is distinguished from other Psocodea suborders by phylogenetic placement and encompasses the parasitic lice (), which are not found in Psocomorpha or Trogiomorpha. Within the suborder, members of are tropical barklice, includes booklice (Liposcelididae) and thick barklice (Pachytroctidae), and Phthiraptera comprises all parasitic lice.

Images

Distribution

Global distribution. The suborder includes the first record of Lithoseopsis in South America (Brazil, Pará state).

Behavior

In Pachytroctidae ( within ), courtship involves a lengthy male-above position followed by brief copulation in female-above position with both sexes facing the same direction; this pattern may be unique to this family. In three of four studied Pachytroctidae , the remnant protrudes from the male after copulation and is immediately deposited on the substrate. Sympatric Tapinella species exhibit courtship differences that may function as reproductive isolating mechanisms, with females rejecting heterospecific males.

Human Relevance

Includes parasitic lice of medical and veterinary importance: Pediculidae (, ), Pthiridae (crab lice or pubic lice), and various affecting livestock and companion animals (Menoponidae, Haematopinidae, Linognathidae, etc.).

Similar Taxa

PsocomorphaOther major suborder of Psocodea; distinguished by not containing parasitic lice ()
TrogiomorphaOther major suborder of Psocodea; distinguished by not containing parasitic lice ()

More Details

Classification

contains two infraorders (, ) and one parvorder (). Amphientometae includes seven of tropical barklice. Nanopsocetae includes Liposcelididae (booklice), Pachytroctidae (thick barklice), and two smaller families. Phthiraptera comprises all parasitic lice across four superfamilies: , , Ischnocera (), and Rhynchophthirina.

Fossil record

The oldest suggested record is Paramesopsocus adibi from the Late Jurassic Karabastau Formation of Kazakhstan.