Family EPIPSOCIDAE

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Introduction

Although Epipsocidae are represented worldwide by nine genera and around 120 described species, only a single species is known to occur in Australia. It is found in NE Queensland and also in New Guinea.

Epipsocids have antennae with 13 segments and their tarsi are 2-segmented. The claws are fairly straight with a tooth. The pulvillus is fine. The genae are long so that the head is long and the labrum has two strongly sclerotised bars running from its base to its anterior edge. The ocelli are grouped on a distinct tubercle. In the forewings the radial sector and the media are joined by a crossvein; the pterostigma, which is clearly thicker than other parts of the wing membrane, and the areola postica are usually long and narrow; the veins and margin have a single row of setae. In the hind wing the veins in the distal part are sometimes setose with the wing margin also setose. The gonapophyses are sometimes reduced so that the ventral valve is absent. The dorsal valve, when present, may be fused to the external valve, which is setose. The phallosome is open anteriorly and the aedeagus is in the form of an arch with broad external parameres which taper posteriorly. The eggs are smooth, are laid singly and are covered with an encrustation of debris.

General References

Badonnel, A. 1955. Psocoptères de l'Angola. Publicaçoes Culturais da Companhia de Diamantes de Angola 26: 1-267 625 figs

Smithers, C.N. & Thornton, I.W.B. 1977. On a new genus and some new species of Epipsocidae (Psocoptera) from the Melanesian arc. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 102(2): 60-75 44 figs

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