Trogiomorpha

Introduction

The suborder Trogiomorpha includes the families Lepidopsocidae, Psoquillidae, and Trogiidae, comprising more than 300 species in 37 genera.  Trogiomorphs are distributed worldwide with the greatest diversity in the tropics.

Characteristics

Synapomorphies

• Female:
  • Ventral and dorsal valves are strongly reduced or absent.
  • External valve of gonapophyses is well developed and close to ventral midline of abdomen, forming the ovipositor.
  • Subgenital plate is short, covering at most basal part of external valves.

General characters:

• Antennae generally have more than 20 segments, sometimes more than 50.
• Antennal segments do not have ringed sculpturing (annulations).
• Labial palpi have 2 segments: a minute basal segment and a rounded or somewhat elongated distal segment.
• Forewing pterostigma is not thickened; it is completely transparent or slightly opaque.
• Tarsi have 3 segments.
• Female:
  
• Subgenital is plate short, covering at most the basal part of external valves.
• Gonapophyses are reduced:
• Ventral and dorsal valves are strongly reduced or absent.
• External valve is well developed and hairy; it comes close to ventral midline of abdomen, forming the ovipositor.

Discussion of Phylogenetic Relationships

Monophyly of the suborder Trogiomorpha is strongly supported by the unique characters of the female genitalia (described above) and by molecular analysis including all three families (17 species, 15 genera; genes 18S & Histone3 nDNA, 16S rDNA; Yoshizawa et al. 2006).

Other Names for Trogiomorpha

• Vernacular Names: Bark lice

References

Lienhard, C. and C.N. Smithers. 2002. Psocoptera (Insecta) World Catalogue and Bibliography. Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle, Geneva, Switzerland.

Mockford, E.L. 1993. North American Psocoptera (Insecta). Gainesville, Florida: Sandhill Crane Press.

Smithers, C.N. 1996. Psocoptera. Pp. 1-80, 363-372 (Index) in Wells A. (ed.) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Vol. 26. Psocoptera, Phthiraptera, Thysanoptera. Melbourne: CSIRO Publishing, Australia.

Smithers, C.N. 1972. The classification and phylogeny of the Psocoptera. Memoirs of the Australian Museum 14: 1–349.

Yoshizawa, K., C. Lienhard, and K.P. Johnson. 2006. Molecular systematics of the suborder Trogiomorpha (Insecta: Psocodea: ‘Psocoptera’). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 146: 287–299.