Myopsocus sp. (genus)

1 A Bark Louse at Downer, ACT

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Identification history

Myopsocus sp. (genus)	1 Apr 2021	michaelb
Myopsocus sp. (genus)	1 Apr 2021	michaelb
Myopsocus sp	1 Apr 2021	RogerF
Psocodea 'Psocoptera' sp. (order)	1 Apr 2021	RogerF
Psocodea 'Psocoptera' sp. (order)	1 Apr 2021	RogerF
Symphypleona sp. (order)	31 Mar 2021	MichaelMulvaney
Unidentified	31 Mar 2021	TimL

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User's notes

Unsure what these small insects were so have placed them under Barklice. They were sighted over a couple of days emerging from a crack in a tree and were covered in wood chips, so presumably newly emerged. Thanks to Marcus Leach for the initial sighting.

7 comments

RogerF wrote:

1 Apr 2021

These are nymphs and probaly would have been feeding on fungi growing udner dead bark. The nymphs often form aggregations either by attraction to the food source or gregarious behaviour. The winged adults are generally solitary (some are apterous). Why they are emerging like this is a puzzle as this exposes them to predation. As you hase seen them over several days did they return or disperse. There are more than 300 described species in 26 families, identificastion requires a specimen at hand and a specialist.

RogerF wrote:

1 Apr 2021

I was too hasty in my comments on their behaviour, because of the presence of 'sawdust', as this species is almost certainly a Myopsocus (see Zborowski, 3rd ed.). They are emerging to feed externally on algae and lichen on the bark surface and probably retreating into the crevice for shelter.

TimL wrote:

1 Apr 2021

See the earlier sighting of these insects under 4377702. Thanks to you all for your efforts in identification.

RogerF wrote:

1 Apr 2021

One of the problems with their identifications is that plant lice have been grouped as an Order under 'Parasites of mammals and birds' and as Lice. True lice are in a different Order, Phthiraptera and include the human head louse but I guess no one has taken a picture of one or indeed of any louse, very common on chickens. So they should be grouped in Other Insects. To complicate things Bark Lice have been correctly placed as Psocodea in 'Other Insects' but are simply a subset of plant lice. I have emailed MB about this and it will be rectified. Thanks for your additional pictures. Actually I knew nothing much about this Order before this morning so it was an interesting diversion. There about 300 specues to photograph!!

TimL wrote:

1 Apr 2021

Thanks Roger. 300 species? I'll see what I can do.....

KimPullen wrote:

5 Apr 2021

To add to Roger's comment about the different uses of the term 'lice', in the US the term 'plant lice' refers to Aphididae (i.e. what we generally call aphids), and 'jumping plant lice' refers to Psyllidae (what we more commonly call 'psyllids'). I have never seen the term 'plant lice' used for any Psocodea.
As an aside, I point out that 'lice' is plural (singular, louse). In the Species category, CNM common names seem to be in the singular as a rule.

RogerF wrote:

5 Apr 2021

The pitfalls of using common names. There appear to be two common names for free-living Psocodea (formerly Psocoptera) namely barklice (sub order Trogiomorpha and Psocomorpha)) and booklice (sub order Troctomorpha). To confuse things, not all species of barklouse are found on bark but occur in litter and on green leaves etc. while not all species on booklouse are found on stored products but also occur on plant material. My error was to use the term plant lice for those Psoccids living on plant material other than bark for which there is no precedent. Perhaps we should use the term psoccids as a common name for all of them. The 'true' lice formerly in the order Phthiraptera, have been moved to the sub order Troctomorpha on the basis of molecular studies. It has been suggested that they evolved from feeliving psoccids living in birds nests.

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