Minnesota Seasons - Minnesota Barklice, Booklice, and Parasitic Lice

Order Psocodea

Psocodea is the order of barklice, booklice, and parasitic lice. Until recently, barklice and booklice were placed in the order Psocoptera, and parasitic lice were were separated into the orders Mallophaga (chewing lice) and Anoplura (sucking lice).

Psocodea are small, soft-bodied, scavanging insects distinguished by the following:

small, rarely more than 3⁄16″ (5 mm) long;
large heads and bulbous bodies;
mouthparts optimized for chewing;
the central lobe of the lower mouthparts (maxillae) are rod-like and are used for stability while feeding;
swollen forehead;
long, thread-like antennae, with 13 to 50 segments, that are swept backward;
huge compound eyes and three simple eyes (ocelli); and
last part of the leg (tarsus) has 2 of 3 segments.

Many are wingless. Winged species

have four membranous wings;
wings are held roof-like and steeply angled over the body when at rest;
the forewing is larger than the hindwing; and
wing veination is reduced.

There are about 11,000 species in more than 400 genera in 7 suborders of Psocodea worldwide. There are about 1,200 species in 3 suborders in about 200 genera in 43 families in North America north of Mexico. Only 15 species have been collected at Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve in Anoka, Minnesota. The total number of species in Minnesota is probably closer to 60.

common barklouse (Hyalopsocus striatus)

Photo by Alfredo Colon

Glossary

Maxillae

Paired mouth structures of arthropods located immediately behind the mandible and used for tasting and manipulating food.

Ocellus

Simple eye; an eye with a single lens. Plural: ocelli.


Recent Additions

Common barklouse (Hyalopsocus striatus)

There are just two North American species of Hyalopsocus. Only one, Hyalopsocus striatus, has been recorded in Minnesota. Hyalopsocus striatus is a small insect but a medium to large sized common barklouse. It occurs mostly in the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada. There are spotty records in the western United States, and only a few records in Minnesota. It is probably underreported, being overlooked due to its small size, and being difficult to distinguish from many similar species for the same reason. It is found on the trunks and branches of both hardwood trees and pine trees, on the shady sides of wood buildings, and on shaded wood piles. Adults have a soft body, long wings, and a relatively large head. The species is identified by the pattern of brown markings on the forewing.
				Photo by Alfredo Colon






Other Recent Additions


This list includes only bark lice, book lice, and parasitic lice that have been recorded in Minnesota, but not all of the bark lice, book lice, and parasitic lice found in Minnesota.

Profile	Photo	Video

			common barklouse (Hyalopsocus striatus)
			common barklouse (Metylophorus novaescotiae)
			common barklouse (Psocus leidyi)
			common barklouse (Trichadenotecnum majus)
			fateful barklouse (Lachesilla andra)
			fateful barklouse (Lachesilla nubilis)
			f-winged barklouse (Graphopsocus cruciatus)
			hairy-winged barklouse (Polypsocus corruptus)
			lizard barklouse (Valenzuela pinicola)
			reticulate-winged trogiid (Lepinotus reticulatus)
			tree cattle (Cerastipsocus venosus)

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Minnesota Barklice, Booklice, and Parasitic Lice

This list includes only bark lice, book lice, and parasitic lice that have been recorded in Minnesota, but not all of the bark lice, book lice, and parasitic lice found in Minnesota.