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Lepidopsocidae

Emilie Bess and Kevin P. Johnson
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taxon links [up-->]Lepidopsocinae [up-->]Perientominae [up-->]Lepolepidinae [up-->]Thylacellinae [up-->]Echinopsocinae [down<--]Atropetae Interpreting the tree
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Containing group: Atropetae

Introduction

The family Lepidopsocidae contains 19 genera and about 200 species distributed worldwide.  Fifteen species are present in North America, mostly in tropical or subtropical regions. 

Lepidopsocids are small-to-medium sized bark lice that are easily recognized by their distinctive pointed wings, triangular head shape, and scaly or hairy body covering. Lepidopsocids can resemble tiny moths.  They live on trees, shrubs, and stone outcrops and are occasionally found in stored food products.

Characteristics

Synapomorphy

General Charaters

How to Know the Family

Discussion of Phylogenetic Relationships

The monophyly of family Lepidopsocidae is supported by the presence of scales or dense hairs covering the body and forewings. Molecular analysis including the five genera of Lepidopsocidae strongly supports monophyly of the family (18S & Histone3 nDNA, 16S rDNA; Yoshizawa et al. 2006).

References

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.

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.

Smithers, C.N. 1972. The classification and phylogeny of the Psocoptera. Memoirs of the Australian Museum 14: 1–349.

Yoshizawa, K., C. Lienhard, and K.P. Johnson. 2006. Molecular systematics of the suborder Trogiomorpha (Insecta: Psocodea: ‘Psocoptera’). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 146: 287–299.

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 Echmepteryx hageni
Location Dixville, N.H.
Comments 10/9/2007
Specimen Condition Live Specimen
Life Cycle Stage adult
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Copyright © Tom Murray
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. Lepidopsocidae. Version 18 March 2009 (under construction). http://tolweb.org/Lepidopsocidae/30215/2009.03.18 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/

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