Mesopsocus unipunctatus

Mesopsocus unipunctatus is a species of barklouse found across the Holarctic. It is a member of the Mesopsocidae family. It is a generalist that occurs on branches of deciduous and coniferous trees, as well as lower hedgerows and shaded meadows.[1]

Mesopsocus unipunctatus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Psocoptera
Family:
Mesopsocidae
Genus:
Mesopsocus
Species:
M. unipunctatus
Binomial name
Mesopsocus unipunctatus
(Mueller, 1764)

Description

This species is a generally greyish or otherwise pale species with one or two prominent transverse bands across the abdomen. The rest of the body is erratically mottled with dark markings. It is flightless and the antennae are almost twice the body length. The body length ranges from 2.5-3.7mm.[2]

Range

This species occurs frequently in Great Britain and Ireland. It can also be found in Bulgaria, Hungary, Latvia, Poland, Romania, and Western Europe (except Greece).[3]

Some populations also exist in North America, where it occurs throughout Canada and the United States.

Habitat

The species feed on trees of various kinds including alder, ash, beech, birch, blackthorn, cedar, elder, elm, gorse, hawthorn, hazel, juniper, maple, larch, oak, pine, sea buckthorn, sycamore, and yew. It also likes to feed on apples, bramble, pears, plums, and snowberries.[1]

References
  1. Description and habitat
  2. "Species Mesopsocus unipunctatus - BugGuide.net". Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  3. "Mesopsocus unipunctatus (Mueller, 1764)". Fauna Europaea. 2.6.2. August 29, 2013. Retrieved October 13, 2013.
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