Family MESOPSOCIDAE

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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.

General References

Badonnel, A. & Lienhard, C. 1988. Révision de la famille des Mesopsocidae (Insecta, Psocoptera). Bulletin du Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris [published 1907-1971] 4 10((A)(2)): 375-412-43 figs

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