Psocoptera

Psocoptera

The Psocoptera RES Handbook contains identification keys to all families, genera and species of the Psocoptera in Britain and Ireland.

An updated checklist of species in Britain and Ireland includes 98 species, with representatives of 19 families. Seven new species of Psocoptera have occurred in Britain since the first edition of this Handbook (1974). There is also a general introduction to the classification, relationships, biology and external morphology.

Psocoptera are one of the lesser-known orders of small insects. Of the 98 British species, around 65 occur naturally, while the other are casual imports. Perhaps the most familiar psocids are members of the large and cosmopolitan genus Liposcelis (‘booklice’), frequently associated with domestic habitats and stored products. However most species of Psocoptera live out-of-doors (the ‘barklice’ or ‘barkflies’). Often ignored as they have no economic importance, they can occur in enormous numbers on trees. Although many barkfly taxa are arboreal, others are more usually found on grasses, other low vegetation or in leaf litter.

Handbooks for the Identification of British Insects is a series of books produced by the Royal Entomological Society (RES). Each Handbook provides illustrated identification keys to the insects of Britain, together with concise morphological, biological and distributional information. Accordingly all books contain line drawings, and the most recent volumes feature colour photographs. RES Handbooks are suitable for experienced users. The series also includes several Check Lists of British Insects. Field Studies Council has published RES Handbooks for many years. Many out-of-print Handbooks are now available for free download from the RES.

RES Handbook vol 1 part 7