Amphientomidae
Emilie Bess and Kevin P. Johnson
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close boxIntroduction
Amphientomidae contains 20 genera and about 100 species distributed worldwide with the greatest diversity in Africa and Asia. Three species in the genera Lithoseopsis and Stimulopalpus are found in North America.
Amphientomids have scales covering their bodies and wings. They are found on the surfaces of rocks, often near water.
Characteristics
- Body and wings covered with scales (often lost if insect is preserved in liquid).
- Head:
- Antennae have 15 segments.
- Antennal segments are sculptured with narrow rings (annulations).
- Ocelli are not in groups.
- Legs: Tarsi have 3 segments.
- Wings: Wings are covered with scales (often lost if insect is preserved in liquid).
- Forewings:
- Pterostigma not thickened
- Veins 1A and 2A end separately on the wing margin.
- Forewing has two anal veins.
- Male:
- Phallosome is open posteriorly.
- Parameres arise from a plate in the median anterior area of the phallosome.
- Female:
- Subgenital plate usually has a T-shaped or wedge-shaped sclerite.
- Gonapophyses are complete; the external valve has two lobes.
- Eggs: Eggs are smooth and encrusted with debris.
Discussion of Phylogenetic Relationships
Molecular analysis including three species of Amphientomidae does not support the monophyly of the family, but places it in a group with families Troctopsocidae and Musaposicdae (18S nDNA; Johnson et al. 2004). Further study will be necessary to resolve the relationships among these families.
References
Johnson, K. P., K. Yoshizawa, and V. S. Smith. 2004. Multiple origins of parasitism in lice. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B 271:1771-1776.
Lienhard, C. and C.N. Smithers. 2002. Psocoptera (Insecta) World Catalogue and Bibliography. Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle, Geneva, Switzerland.
Mockford, E.L. 1967. The Electrentomoid Psocids (Psocoptera). Psyche 74: 118-165.
Mockford, E. L. 1993. North American Psocoptera (Insecta). Gainesville, Florida: Sandhill Crane Press.
Smithers, C.N. 1972. The classification and phylogeny of the Psocoptera. Memoirs of the Australian Museum 14: 1–349.
Title Illustrations
| Scientific Name | Stimulopalpus japonicus |
|---|---|
| Location | Harvard, Ma. |
| Comments | 10/4/2008 |
| Specimen Condition | Live Specimen |
| Life Cycle Stage | adult |
| View | dorsal |
| Copyright | © Tom Murray |
About This Page
Emilie Bess
Illinois Natural History Survey, Champaign, Illinois, USA
Kevin P. Johnson
Illinois Natural History Survey, Champaign, Illinois, USA
Correspondence regarding this page should be directed to Emilie Bess at and Kevin P. Johnson at
Page copyright © 2009 Emilie Bess and Kevin P. Johnson
All Rights Reserved.
- First online 25 March 2009
- Content changed 25 March 2009
Citing this page:
Bess, Emilie and Kevin P. Johnson. 2009. Amphientomidae. Version 25 March 2009 (under construction). http://tolweb.org/Amphientomidae/14458/2009.03.25 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/
