Pachytroctidae
Enderlein, 1905
thick barklice
Subfamily Guides
2is a of thick barklice in the order Psocodea, containing approximately 15 and at least 90 described . Members are small, often fully winged (), with distinctive wing venation patterns. The family is notable for a courtship that appears unique among psocodeans: males court from above, followed by brief copulation with the female positioned above, both facing the same direction.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Pachytroctidae: /ˌpækɪˈtrɒktɪdiː/
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Images
Behavior
Courtship involves a lengthy male-above position followed by brief copulation in female-above position with both sexes facing the same direction; this pattern has not been documented in other Psocodea and may be -specific. In at least some , males deposit remnants on surfaces immediately after copulation. Closely related sympatric species show distinct courtship differences that may function as reproductive isolating mechanisms; females reject heterospecific males even when courtship is attempted.
More Details
Taxonomic note
The was historically classified in , now subsumed into the expanded order Psocodea (which also includes parasitic lice). belongs to the infraorder within suborder Troctomorpha.
Research opportunities
Courtship has been described in only four across three ; the extent of behavioral diversity across the remaining ~90 species and 12+ genera remains unknown. Video documentation exists for the studied behaviors (DOI: 10.32870/dugesiana.v27i2.7104).