Australian Biological Resources Study

Australian Faunal Directory

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Family MESOPSOCIDAE


Compiler and date details

C.N. Smithers Australian Museum, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Introduction

Only one of more than 70 species in 11 genera in the family Mesopsocidae has been found in Australia. Mesopsocids are often inhabitants of drier areas and are found on bark. Sexual dimorphism is common in this family. In such cases the males are slender and winged, the females stout, apterous or brachypterous and very much bigger than the males.

Mesopsocids often have protuberances on the abdomen or the abdomen itself is grossly enlarged. They have 13-segmented antennae and 3-segmented tarsi; the claws have a tooth. The wing venation is similar to that of the Caeciliidae but the wings are glabrous. The phallosome has simple sclerifications of the penial bulb. The gonapophyses are complete, the ventral valve being pointed and dilated near the apex. The dorsal valve is broad, almost rectangular and the external valve is ovoid and setose. The eggs are laid in groups; they are smooth and are covered with both encrustation and silken threads.

 

History of changes

Note that this list may be incomplete for dates prior to September 2013.
Published As part of group Action Date Action Type Compiler(s)
12-Feb-2010 (import)