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 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Psocodea |
| Family: | Mesopsocidae |
| Genus: | Mesopsocus |
| Species: | M. unipunctatus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Mesopsocus unipunctatus (Mueller, 1764)
| |
Description
editThis species has one or two noticeable transverse stripes across the abdomen and is often greyish or light. 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
editThis 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
editThe 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
edit- ^ a b Description and habitat
- ^ "Species Mesopsocus unipunctatus - BugGuide.net". Retrieved May 1, 2016.
- ^ "Mesopsocus unipunctatus (Mueller, 1764)". Fauna Europaea. 2.6.2. August 29, 2013. Archived from the original on October 14, 2013. Retrieved October 13, 2013.