Booklice usually feed on molds, fungi, grains, insect fragments, and other starchy material, including glue from bookbindings. These are small leafhopper looking insects that move about in clusters or herds. Archipsocidae introduction distribution description life cycle and biology selected references introduction back to top. Bark lice, booklice or psocids psocoptera, figure 11 mechanism of absorption of atmosp heric water. Phylogenetically, the order psocoptera psocids, barklice, and booklice is closely related to the phthiraptera lice, thysanoptera thrips, and hemiptera bugs, cicadas, aphids, etc. Here are 6 common ways to get rid of these tiny bugs. The only feed on bits of old bark, lichens and algae.
His book, north american psocoptera sandhill crane press, 1993, is the essential reference for this group. What are those tiny white bugs in or around your home. Archipsocus nomas gurney is a communal webspinning barklouse. Bark lice and psocids are known from all the mhi except for niihau. A liceremoval professional claims selfies are contributing to an increase in the spread of head lice among young people, but for now at least, the link is by. Back lice webbing, although unsightly, causes no damage to trees. However, the majority of psocids are woodland insects having no contact with humans and thus are of little economic importance. They have numerous common names including tree cattle and bark lice. Psocids do well in areas with high humidity that support the growth of their food. They have chewing mandibles, and the central lobe of the maxilla is modified into a slender rod. Psocids, also called book lice although they are not truly lice, live in warm, moist places. Ant milking bark lice stock image c0387207 science photo. These creatures range in color from translucent white to gray or brown and are very tiny, typically less than 116 of an inch in length when full grown. Inside, they can be difficult to see with the naked eye.
They can be found on tree bark, tree and shrub foliage, and under stones. Commonly called barklice or booklice, members of the order psocoptera. Chapter 26 the best control for barklice or booklice or. A spectacular if not spooky sight, nearly this entire tree is covered in webbing done by the work of a group of insects known as tree cattle, bark lice or psocids.
Psocids live outdoors and have wings for the most part. Eggs are laid singly or in groups, and may be bare, covered with silk webbing, or encrusted with fecal material. Bark lice and psocids order psocoptera order includes. Bark lice aka booklouse bark lice pixelmasterdesign. May 18, 2016 psocids, pronounced sohsids, are actually commonly referred to as booklice, or bark lice, although they are not true lice. The name booklice comes from the fact that they gather on moldy books in damp homes. The webbing of larvae can completely cover the bark of trees, but appear to. Larvae hatch from eggs using a specialized eggburster.
There are over 200 species of psocids in the united states. Most booklice are found outdoors on or under the bark of trees and shrubs. Most psocids live outdoors, have wings as adults, and are commonly found on or under the bark of trees. Bark psocid ufifas tropical research and education center.
These conditions promote the growth of mold or fungi on the pastes and glues of book bindings. While the webbing can come to cover large portions of trees, it is not harmful to them. Most leaf and barkdwelling psocids are common and seem to. Heres how to know if your tree has bark lice southern living. Basically, they feed on lichen, moss, algae, fungi, spores, pollen and possibly the remains of other insects found on the trees bark. Pest control information sheet psocids or book lice psocids or booklice are common and harmless household pests found in about one in three homes. They first appeared in the permian period, 295248 million years ago. Psocids are small, scavenging insects with a relatively generalized body plan. Psocoptera corrodentia, copeognatha constitutes an order of neopterous, exopterygote insects commonly called psocids, barklice, or booklice. The tiny insects that make the webbing are called psocids pronounced socids. Eggs of psocids are laid singly or in clusters and are sometimes covered with silk or debris. The webbing often causes concern to homeowners and landscape maintenance. Instead, just watch it awhile and im sure it will trail back to its nest site and eventually show you where its living.
Barklice, booklice or psocids psocoptera springerlink. Booklice may also be referred to as psocids or paper lice. Common places for psocids populations to thrive include window sills, under outside siding of homes, tree trunks, shrubs, flowers, around garden hoses, under bricks and rocks, around light fixtures and under boxes. The whitegreylight brown coloured insects running around in your cupboards and on work surfaces are more than likely psocids pronounced sosids often known as booklice.
Barklice are members of an order of insects called psocoptera. Common places for booklice populations to thrive include window sills, under outside siding of homes, tree trunks, shrubs, flowers, around garden hoses, under bricks and rocks, around light fixtures and under boxes. Prior to that any algae on the tree or other sources of food will have been scoured from all the nooks and crannies of the bark. An invasion of barklice is lucky and just like having ladybugs. Pdf barklice, booklice or psocids psocoptera researchgate. Nymphs hatching from eggs resemble tiny wingless adults. Bark lice or psocids are small soft bodied insects which are often seen in groups or tiny herds on the surface of tree bark where they feed on lichens, fungi, and other superficial plant materials. An invasion of barklice is lucky and just like having. Psocid occasional invaders control pest control by terminix. They are often regarded as the most primitive of the hemipteroids. They do not affect you and they dont affect the tree either. Eventually when the young are ready to move on to other locations, the webbing is eaten.
Body lice, bed lice, head lice and other pests that feed on blood are not related in any way to psocids. Pdf on jan 1, 2004, arturo baz published barklice, booklice or psocids. They are of rather similar appearance and they all have a superficial resemblance to some other lice species hence their names. Book lice book lice, called psocids, are members of the insect order psocoptera, which has about 340 identified species in north america mockford, 1992.
The species cerastipsocus venosus is one of the most. Thus, any manufactured material of plant origin that would support the growth of these moulds is susceptible to their attack. They are commonly called barklice, a general name for the insects in the order, and theyre related to booklice which you can often find nibbling on the. Booklice are rarely damaging inside homes and are harmless to people or pets. In homes, psocids typically are found in damp, warm, undisturbed places where mold and fungi are growing. Bark lice webbing information about bark lice in trees. During some years they make extensive silken webs that often cover the trunks and. Head of both adults and larvae rounded with bulging. Dellinger and eric day, department of entomology, virginia tech description psocids are small, oval insects with soft bodies that usually measure only several millimeters long.
Imagine the task of taking on an entire order of insects for your lifes work. They are found in nature on the bark of trees and shrubs, preferring damp, warm, undisturbed environments. The small insects lay their eggs under this webbing. Most commonly noticed on live oaks, people usually identify this insect by its widespreading, silky web that can cover large areas of trunks and branches. Also, they normally live outdoors in damp places, such. Mockford remains active in the field of psocidology. The insects of the order psocoptera copeognatha, corrodentia are commonly called psocids, although outdoor species living on tree trunks and branches have been called barklice, whereas indoor species, sometimes found in old books, have been called booklice. They do not even look like lice except for their very small size. Outside, theyre commonly found under the bark of trees, which has earned them the nickname bark lice.
Chapter 26 the best control for barklice or booklice or psocids. A few psocids are viviparous such as archipsocopsis and phallocaecilius species. Most species are freeliving and not pests, but several species of book lice are found indoors, e. Carol cloud bailey believe it or not, the web and its 6legged creators do no damage to the tree. Image 0014151 is of book lice, psocids, and trogiids order psocoptera features. Book lice can live under carpeting, appliances, in couches and other furniture, under sinks, around refrigerators, etc. Barklice or booklice or dust lice or psocids appearance.
The largest number of endemic species occurs within the genera ptycta, palistreptus, and kilauella, respectively. The presence of webbing and a colony of small insects may indicate a bark lice infestation. They are wingless and are common in moist or damp areas. They are known as book lice because they are often found in association with old books stored in damp conditions such as in a basement. They feed on mold or fungi and if found in decaying organic material, as well as grains, insects, and starches like book binding glue it is the result of psocids eating the mold andor fungi growing on these items. Referring to psocids as book lice, or bark lice can be a bit misleading, because psocids do not bite or feed on books or bark and, unlike true lice, they do not feed on people or animals.
Psocids, booklice, barklice horticulture and home pest news. The habit of psocids includes living or dead foliage, ground litter, bark of trees, and. Barklice psocoptera psocids bark lice order psocoptera. Bark lice and psocids hawaii department of land and. While you may find some of the bark lice on other areas of the tree, they normally live in large communities within. Thorax the thorax unites to the head with a membranous and flexible neck. Sep 04, 2019 the white webbing looks a bit like spider webs but thicker. The most reliable way to eliminate psocids and moulds is to dehumidify the building and affected objects. The psocids found indoors are extremely tiny and difficult to see. For further information, if you have access to the internet search for booklice or psocids. The webbing of larvae can completely cover the bark of trees, but appear to cause no damage. They are quite harmless, they are often found in the packaging of dry foodstuffs such as flour, dried milk, sugar, semolina etc. Most bark lice and psocids are scavengers or feed on lichen found on woody vegetation.
They graze on mold, yeasts, algae, fungi, and decaying plant matter with their chewing mouthparts. They first appeared in the permian period, 295248 million years. The name barklice probably comes from the fact that outdoors they gather under the bark of trees. Patricia cobb, professor alabama cooperative extension system mary baltikauski, county extension coordinator geneva county, geneva, al department of entomology auburn university 698. Females lay eggs which are either bare or encrusted and may sometimes be covered with webbing. Pest control information sheet psocids or book lice. Psocids are very common and abundant insects, but because of their tiny size, they generally go unnoticed. Psocoptera barklice, booklice, psocids discover life. Psocids are effectively controlled by heat disinfestation at temperatures of 4555c beckett and morton 2003. Facts about psocids psocid identification hulett pest. Psocid occasional invaders control pest control by. Booklice adults, which often occur indoors, are a common wingless species. They are placed in the open, covered with silk webbing or with psocid waste material.
Psocids need to live in moist areas since they feed primarily on microscopic molds. Mouthparts are adapted for chewing, with the upper jaw usually. In fact, the next time you find one out and about, dont kill it. Psocids or booklice are attracted to moisture and often found in bathrooms. They feed primarily on fungi, algae, lichen, and organic detritus in nature but are also known to feed on starchbased household items like grains, wallpaper glue and book bindings. Their closest relatives are the phthiraptera or true lice. Psocid, order psocoptera, any of a group of about 5,000 species of softbodied insects, usually less than 5 mm 0. Psocoptera barklice, booklice, psocids discover life mobile. The insects of the order psocoptera copeognatha, corrodentia are commonly called psocids, although outdoor species living on tree trunks and branches have been called bark lice, whereas indoor species, sometimes found in old books, have been called book lice. Bark lice live together in groups and are master web spinners. Their name originates from the greek word, psokhos meaning gnawed or rubbed and, ptera meaning wings. Range in size from onetwentyfifth to onethirteenth of an inch. The psocoptera are a small order of paraneopteran insects near 4,000 species have.
Facts about psocids psocid identification hulett pest control. Psocid book lice control new houses are not the only places that have problems with psocids, however. Since many psocids feed on mold, the presence of booklice is a good indication of high humidity. Most psocids live outdoors and have wings and are known as barklice. Its slender antennae are at least as long as its body, and wing venation is simple, with no crossveins. Heavy silk webbing produced by barklice on base of tree. Wayne brewer, professor alabama cooperative extension system dr. The webbing is the handy work of psocids also known as tree cattle and bark lice.
Psocoptera are an order of insects that are commonly known as booklice, barklice or barkflies. They are typically between 1mm and 2mm long and often found in dry foods. The tiny bugs can live outdoors on bark feeding on mosses and lichens and in grass, leaves and damp wood. They are small brown insects feeding on the debris found on the bark of trees and shrubs. Also, they normally live outdoors in damp places, such as under bark, in grass, leaves and on damp wood. The insect itself is very small less that 18inch long and live in. Bark lice are gregarious and live together underneath layers of silken webbing. Received august 8, 1956 the psocids psocoptera are one of the minor orders of insects, with only about 145 species recorded from the united states. These four orders compose a monophyletic group, the paraneoptera hemipteroid insects, and psocids retain the most primitive features in the group. Despite having lice in their common name, bark lice and book lice are not are not parasitic and do not cause harm to plants or people.
The webbing can be extensive, covering the entire trunk of the tree and extending to the branches. Psocids are small and softbodied and therefore have received little attention from collectors. Immature booklice, called nymphs, look very similar to adults but are smaller. They are found on tree bark, leaves of trees and shrubs. Barklice, booklice or psocids psocoptera, figure 11 mechanism of absorption of atmosp heric water. Psocids can be found indoors, and this type is extremely tiny and difficult to see. In general, they need to live where humidity is high or moisture is present. I live in arlington, va, we have noticed in the last several days small about the size of a small pepper flake brownishblack bugs in our bathtub below the ceiling fanvent not near the drain or faucet, and around some of our windows. Spinosad is a newly developed bacteriumderived protectant that can be effectively used to manage rhyzopertha dominica and cryptolestes ferrugineus subramanyam et al.
130 579 624 1571 555 1154 399 698 279 1086 1124 1000 399 244 192 167 356 558 588 1214 495 297 1499 178 95 1323 1433 524