Psocidae
Guides
Atropsocus
common barklice
Atropsocus is a genus of barklice in the family Psocidae, established by Mockford in 1993. It contains a single described species, A. atratus. Members of this genus are small, winged insects that inhabit bark and foliage surfaces, feeding on microflora such as lichens, algae, and fungal spores.
Atropsocus atratus
Atropsocus atratus is a species of barklouse in the family Psocidae, originally described as Psocus atratus by Aaron in 1883. The species is known from the United States and is part of the diverse Psocodea order, which includes booklice, barklice, and parasitic lice. As a member of the Psocidae family, it is likely associated with bark, leaf litter, or other decaying organic matter where these insects commonly feed on microflora. The genus Atropsocus contains multiple species distributed primarily in North America.
Blaste
barklice
Blaste is a genus of barklice in the family Psocidae, containing more than 100 described species. These insects are small, soft-bodied psocids commonly found on bark and foliage. The genus was established by Kolbe in 1883 and remains taxonomically active with ongoing species descriptions. Like other psocids, members of Blaste are generally considered harmless decomposers in their ecosystems.
Blaste garciorum
common barklouse
Blaste garciorum is a species of barklouse in the family Psocidae, described by Mockford in 1984. It is distributed across Central America and North America, including Mexico. As a member of Psocidae, it is part of a group of small, soft-bodied insects commonly known as barklice or booklice that inhabit tree bark and other surfaces. The species epithet 'garciorum' honors individuals with the surname García, though the specific honorees are not documented in available sources.
Blaste longipennis
common barklouse
Blaste longipennis is a species of barklouse in the family Psocidae. It is known from North America. Information on its biology and ecology is limited.
Blaste oregona
common barklouse
Blaste oregona is a species of barklouse in the family Psocidae. It was first described by Nathan Banks in 1900. The species is found in North America, particularly in the United States. Barklice are small, soft-bodied insects that typically inhabit bark, leaf litter, and other organic substrates where they feed on microflora.
Blaste persimilis
common barklouse
Blaste persimilis is a species of barklouse in the family Psocidae, first described by Banks in 1908. It is found in North America, with records from the United States. As a member of Psocidae, it belongs to a group of small, soft-bodied insects commonly known as barklice or booklice that typically inhabit bark, leaf litter, and other organic substrates. The species is part of a diverse genus within a family that includes many common and widespread barklouse species.
Blaste quieta
common barklouse
Blaste quieta is a species of barklouse in the family Psocidae, first described by Hagen in 1861. It is found in Central America and North America. Barklice in this family are typically associated with tree bark and other woody substrates, where they feed on microflora including algae, lichens, and organic debris.
Blastopsocus johnstoni
Blastopsocus johnstoni is a species of bark louse in the family Psocidae, described by Mockford in 2002. It belongs to the genus Blastopsocus, a group of small, winged insects commonly found on tree bark and foliage. The species is known from the United States. Like other psocids, it is likely associated with lichens, algae, and organic debris on vegetation surfaces.
Blastopsocus variabilis
common barklouse
Blastopsocus variabilis is a species of barklouse in the family Psocidae. It has been documented in Central America and North America, with distribution records from the United States and Panama. As a member of Psocidae, it belongs to a group of small, soft-bodied insects commonly found on bark, foliage, and other surfaces. The species was described by Aaron in 1883.
Camelopsocus bactrianus
Camelopsocus bactrianus is a species of barklouse described by Mockford in 1984. It belongs to the family Psocidae, a group of small, soft-bodied insects commonly found on vegetation, bark, and leaf litter. The genus Camelopsocus is part of the tribe Ptyctini, characterized by distinctive wing-rolling behavior and morphology. Very few observations of this species exist in public databases.
Cerastipsocus
common barklice
Cerastipsocus is a genus of barklice in the family Psocidae, containing at least 20 described species. These insects are commonly found on tree bark and foliage where they feed on lichens, algae, and other organic detritus. They are notable for producing silk from specialized mouth glands, which they use to create protective webs over eggs and dense aggregations. Unlike some related psocids that infest stored products, Cerastipsocus species are harmless decomposers in natural ecosystems.
Cerastipsocus trifasciatus
common barklouse
Cerastipsocus trifasciatus is a barklouse species in the family Psocidae, described by Provancher in 1876. It is widely distributed across the Americas, with records from North America (Canada, USA, Mexico), Central America (Costa Rica, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama), and South America (Colombia, Venezuela). As a member of the Psocidae, it inhabits bark and related microhabitats.
Hyalopsocus striatus
common barklouse
Hyalopsocus striatus is a species of barklouse in the family Psocidae. It is found in North America, with records from the United States and Canada. As a member of the Psocidae, it is part of a group of small, soft-bodied insects commonly known as barklice or booklice, which are typically associated with tree bark, leaf litter, and other decaying organic matter. The species was described by Francis Walker in 1853.
Indiopsocus
common barklice
Indiopsocus is a genus of common barklice in the family Psocidae, containing more than 30 described species. These small insects are found primarily in the Americas, with records from the United States through Central America. As members of Psocidae, they inhabit terrestrial environments where they feed on organic detritus. The genus was established by Mockford in 1974.
Indiopsocus bisignatus
common barklouse
Indiopsocus bisignatus is a species of barklouse in the family Psocidae, first described by Banks in 1904. The species is distributed across parts of North and Central America, with records from the United States, Mexico, and Honduras. Barklice in this family are typically found in association with tree bark, lichens, and other surface substrates where they feed on microflora.
Indiopsocus campestris
common barklouse
Indiopsocus campestris is a species of barklouse in the family Psocidae, originally described by Aaron in 1886. It is found in the Caribbean Sea and North America. Barklice are small, soft-bodied insects that are easily mistaken for planthoppers or tiny moths but possess chewing mouthparts rather than piercing-sucking or siphoning mouthparts.
Indiopsocus lanceolatus
Indiopsocus lanceolatus is a species of barklouse in the family Psocidae, described by Mockford and Young in 2015. The species belongs to the genus Indiopsocus, which comprises common barklice found in various habitats across North America. As a member of Psocodea, it possesses chewing mouthparts and is typically associated with dead plant material, bark, and leaf litter.
Indiopsocus palmatus
common barklouse
Indiopsocus palmatus is a species of barklouse in the family Psocidae, described by Mockford & Young in 2015. Barklice in this genus are small, soft-bodied insects commonly found on tree bark and foliage. They are frequently attracted to artificial light sources at night. The species name refers to a hand-like or palmate structure, likely describing a morphological feature of the species.
Indiopsocus texanus
common barklouse
Indiopsocus texanus is a species of barklouse in the family Psocidae, first described by Aaron in 1886. It belongs to the order Psocodea, which includes barklice and booklice. The species has been recorded from Texas in the United States and Cuba in the Caribbean. Like other members of its family, it is likely associated with bark, lichens, and other organic substrates in its environment.
Loensia
barklice
Loensia is a genus of barklice in the family Psocidae, established by Enderlein in 1924. The genus contains more than 30 described species distributed across temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Members are small, soft-bodied insects commonly found on tree bark and in leaf litter.
Loensia conspersa
common barklouse
Loensia conspersa is a species of barklouse in the family Psocidae, first described by Nathan Banks in 1903. It is one of approximately 62 documented observations on iNaturalist, indicating it is a documented but not extensively studied species. As a member of the Psocidae family, it belongs to a group of small, soft-bodied insects commonly known as barklice or booklice, though the specific ecological habits of this species remain poorly documented.
Loensia maculosa
common barklouse
Loensia maculosa is a species of barklouse in the family Psocidae, first described by Nathan Banks in 1908. Originally placed in the genus Myopsocus, it was later transferred to Loensia. The species occurs in North America, primarily in the United States. Like other members of Psocidae, it inhabits bark and other decaying plant material.
Loensia moesta
common barklouse
Loensia moesta is a species of barklouse in the family Psocidae, first described by Hagen in 1861 under the name Psocus moestus. It is widely distributed across North America, with confirmed records from the United States and Canada. As a member of the order Psocodea, it is part of a group of small, soft-bodied insects commonly known as barklice or booklice. The species is relatively well-documented in entomological collections and citizen science platforms, with over 140 verified observations on iNaturalist.
Metylophorus
common barklice
Metylophorus is a genus of barklice in the family Psocidae, established by Pearman in 1932. The genus contains at least 50 described species distributed across multiple continents. As members of Psocidae, these insects are commonly found in association with tree bark and other woody substrates. The genus is taxonomically placed in the tribe Metylophorini within the subfamily Psocinae.
Metylophorus barretti
common barklouse
Metylophorus barretti is a species of barklouse in the family Psocidae. It belongs to a genus of small, soft-bodied insects commonly associated with tree bark and other plant surfaces. The species has been documented in North America and Central America. Like other members of Psocidae, it is likely associated with feeding on microflora such as lichens, algae, and fungal spores.
Metylophorus purus
common barklouse
Metylophorus purus is a species of barklouse in the family Psocidae, originally described as Psocus purus by Walsh in 1862. It belongs to a group of small, soft-bodied insects commonly associated with bark, foliage, and decaying plant material. The species is considered common within its range and represents one of approximately 100 species in the genus Metylophorus.
Psocus crosbyi
common barklouse
Psocus crosbyi is a species of barklouse described by Chapman in 1930. It belongs to the family Psocidae, a group of small, soft-bodied insects commonly found on bark, foliage, and other surfaces in wooded environments. The species is known from the United States.
Ptycta
barklice
Ptycta is a genus of barklice (family Psocidae) containing more than 150 described species. The genus was redefined based on the morphology of the male terminalia, specifically the forewing venation where veins Rs+M are fused for a short distance. Species occur across multiple continents including Asia, Australia, Africa, and the Americas. The genus is distinguished from the related Copostigma within the Copostigma–Ptycta complex by this wing venation character.
Ptyctini
common barklice
Ptyctini is a tribe of barklice in the family Psocidae, containing approximately 6 genera and at least 20 described species. Members are small, soft-bodied insects commonly found on bark, foliage, and other surfaces. The tribe was established by Mockford in 1993 and includes genera such as Ptycta, Steleops, and Trichadenotecnum.
Steleops lichenatus
Steleops lichenatus is a species of barklouse in the family Psocidae, described by Walsh in 1863. It belongs to the genus Steleops, a group of psocids characterized by their association with lichen-covered substrates. The species is known from the United States and represents part of the diverse North American psocid fauna. As with other members of Psocidae, it likely inhabits arboreal or rock-dwelling environments where lichen growth occurs.
Trichadenotecnum castum
common barklouse
Trichadenotecnum castum is a uniparental barklouse species in the family Psocidae, described by Betz in 1983. It is one of three obligately parthenogenetic species derived from the biparental ancestor T. alexanderae. Populations are composed exclusively of females that reproduce via obligate thelytokous parthenogenesis. The species belongs to the T. alexanderae species complex, a group of closely related barklice distinguished primarily by reproductive mode and subtle morphological differences.
Trichadenotecnum majus
common barklouse
Trichadenotecnum majus is a species of common barklouse in the family Psocidae. It has been recorded across Europe, Northern Asia (excluding China), and North America. As a member of the barklice, it inhabits environments where it feeds on organic debris such as lichens, algae, and dead plant material on tree bark and rocks.
Trichadenotecnum pardus
Trichadenotecnum pardus is a species of barklouse in the family Psocidae, first described by Badonnel in 1955. It belongs to a genus of common barklice that are frequently encountered on tree bark and foliage. The species has been recorded across multiple continents including North America, South America, Africa, and Asia, suggesting either a wide natural distribution or potential human-mediated dispersal. Like other psocids, it is likely associated with decaying organic matter and microhabitats on vegetation.