Family PERIPSOCIDAE

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Introduction

The Peripsocidae number three genera and 165 species worldwide. The Australian fauna includes 21 species, all in two genera. They are inhabitants of the bark of trees and shrubs; some species are common.

Peripsocids have 13-segmented antennae and 2-segmented tarsi. Peripsocus is a large genus in which some species are sexually dimorphic and some exhibit polymorphy in one or both sexes. Like the ectopsocids they lack an areola postica in the forewing but the pterostigma has a curved hind margin similar to that most commonly found in the Psocoptera. In both fore and hind wings the radius and media are fused for a length. The ninth tergite of the males often has a comb of some kind on the hind margin. The phallosome usually has complex sclerotisations of the penial bulb in the form of variously shaped rods and irregular structures, usually arranged symmetrically. The gonapophyses are complete, with the ventral valves being fairly thick, the dorsal valves well developed and unusual in having setae. The external valves are of various sizes and are setose. The eggs are laid singly, are rough and are covered with an encrustation of debris.

General References

Enderlein, G. 1903. Die Copeognathen des indo-australischen Faunengebietes. Annales Historico-Naturales Musei Nationalis Hungarici (Zoologica) 1: 179-344 12 figs pls iii-xiv

Thornton, I.W.B., Lee, S.S. & Chui, W.D. 1972. Insects of Micronesia: Psocoptera. Insects of Micronesia 8(4): 45-144, 32 figs

Thornton, I.W.B. & Wong, S.K. 1968. The Peripsocid fauna (Psocoptera) of the Oriental Region and the Pacific. Pacific Insects Monographs 19: 1-158 302 figs

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