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Amphipsocidae

Emilie Bess and Kevin P. Johnson
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taxon links [up-->]Amphipsocopsis [up-->]Complaniamphus [up-->]Schizopechini [up-->]Amphipsocus [up-->]Afropsocus [up-->]Ctenopsocus [up-->]Calocaeciliinae [up-->]Xenopsocus [up-->]Harpezoneura [up-->]Pentathyrsus [up-->]Kolbia [up-->]Tagalopsocus [up-->]Taeniostigma [up-->]Polypsocini [up-->]Brachypsocus [up-->]Siniamphipsocus [up-->]Dasypsocus [up-->]Pseudokolbea [up-->]Capillopsocini [down<--]Caeciliusetae Interpreting the tree
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Containing group: Caeciliusetae

Introduction

The family Amphipsocidae includes 170 species in 17 genera with the center of diversity in Asia and Africa.  One species, Polypsocus corruptus, is known from North America.

Amphipsocids are large-sized bark lice, 4-6 mm in length.  They are known to inhabit broad-leaved, evergreen, and rainforest trees.

Characteristics

Synapomorphies

General Characters

How to Know the Family

Family Monophyly

The monophyly of family Amphipsocidae is supported by two morphological characters: presence of a pair of concave areas on the head and distinctive patterns of the hairs on the forewing (see description above). Molecular data also support the monophyly of Amphipsocidae (4 genera sampled, 18S nuclear DNA; Johnson et al. 2004).

Discussion of Phylogenetic Relationships

Relationships within the family have not been studied using molecular techniques.

References

Johnson, K. P. & E. L. Mockford. 2003. Molecular Systematics of Psocomorpha (Psocoptera). Systematic Entomology 28: 409-40.

Johnson, K. P., K. Yoshizawa, and V. S. Smith. 2004. Multiple origins of parasitism in lice. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B 271:1771-1776.

Lienhard, C. and C. N Smithers. 2002. Psocoptera (Insecta) World Catalogue and Bibliography. Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle, Geneva, Switzerland.

Mockford, E. L. 1993. North American Psocoptera (Insecta). Gainesville, Florida: Sandhill Crane Press.

New, T.R. 2005. Psocids, Psocoptera (Booklice and barklice), 2nd edition: Handbooks for the Identification of British Insects. Vol. 1, Part 7. Royal Entomological Society, London, UK.

Smithers, C. N. 1996. Psocoptera. Pp. 1-80, 363-372 (Index) in Wells A. (ed.) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Vol. 26. Psocoptera, Phthiraptera, Thysanoptera. Melbourne: CSIRO Publishing, Australia.

Yoshizawa, K. 2001. Systematic study of Amphipsocidae in Japan (Psocodea: 'Psocoptera' Caeciliusetae), with comments on higher classification within the family. Insecta Matsumurana 58: 1-25.

Yoshizawa, K. 2002. Phylogeny and higher classification of suborder Psocomorpha (Insecta: Psocodea:'Psocoptera'). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 136: 371-400.

Title Illustrations
Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window
Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window
Scientific Name Polypsocus corruptus
Location Groton, Ma.
Comments 10/28/2007
Specimen Condition Live Specimen
Sex m
Life Cycle Stage adult
View lateral
Copyright © Tom Murray
Scientific Name Polypsocus corruptus
Location Groton, Ma.
Comments 10/3/2007
Specimen Condition Live Specimen
Sex f
Life Cycle Stage adult
View frontal
Copyright © Tom Murray
Scientific Name Matsumuraiella radiopicta
Location Japan
Specimen Condition Live Specimen
Identified By K. Yoshizawa
Life Cycle Stage adult
View lateral
Size 3mm
Copyright © 2006 Kazunori Yoshizawa
About This Page

Emilie Bess
Illinois Natural History Survey, Champaign, Illinois, USA

Kevin P. Johnson
Illinois Natural History Survey, Champaign, Illinois, USA

Correspondence regarding this page should be directed to Emilie Bess at and Kevin P. Johnson at

All Rights Reserved.

Citing this page:

Bess, Emilie and Kevin P. Johnson. 2009. Amphipsocidae. Version 25 March 2009 (under construction). http://tolweb.org/Amphipsocidae/14469/2009.03.25 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/

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