Psocoptera: India
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Psocoptera
Introduction
Psocoptera, popularly known as 'Book Lice', or 'Psocids' is peculiar of Insecta. Earlier Bunneister (1839) named Psocopterans as 'Corrodentia', then Wardle (1937) placed it in the order 'Psocoptera' These are very small, soft bodied insects and may be winged or apterous, with two or three segmented tarsi. Mouth parts are biting-type, maxillae single lobed, the lacina used for rasping of fragments of bark or other tissues. These are gregarious in habit. A number of arboreal species are found either on bark or on foliage, others may be found mainly on litter or associated with building and domestic habitats or with haystacks, organic debris, lichens or yeasts. A group of Psocopterans also have special preference for cellulose in form of books, papers and book binding materials, hence the common name 'Book Lice.' Arboreal and litter forms lay eggs in groups, covered with silken webs.
There exists a number of theories indicating the origin and phylogeny of the order. Sellards (1909), Crampton (1919), Zellasky (1937) and Smithers (1972) have traced the probable origin from the 'Neuropteroid' group of Insects.
Prosoptera are relatively inconspicuous and less represented order of Insects. Most of these are of little economic importance, except of course, extensive damage caused by those which inhabits our valuable books, zoological and botanical specimens, herbariums and other house hold material. A few individuals may occasionally deseminate plant disease by feeding pathogenic fungi and leaving viable spores in faeces deposited elsewhere (New, 1971). They may also act as vectors for some animal parasites. Allen (1959) reponed that Psocids were vectors of the fringed tape worms of sheep in North America.
Historical Resume
i)Pre-1900
Perusal of literature reveals that there was no work done on this group either in India or in the world. Burmeister (1839) and McLachlan (1866) are the pioneers in Psocoptera; and former is credited with coining of word Corrodentia for this Order. It was later changed to 'Psocoptera' by Wardle (1937). McLachlan (1866) summarised and added a few genera and species.
ii)1900-1947
The credit of first consolidated monograph from Systematic point of view goes to Enderlin (1903), who recognised 115 species from Indo-Australian regions. From mainland India within 'Oriental region, Enderlin (1903) described two.species of the genus Ectopocus viz, E. denudants and E. myrmecophilus. The latter species was placed under Micropsocus by Enderlin (1903).
Another comprehensive account by Banks appeared in 1920 dealing witl! 23 species and published in a monograph from covering Philippines, Luzon, Borneo and Singapore. Tillyard (1923), published a monograph embracing 13 species from New Zealand. Peannan (1929) reponed a dozen species from domestic stored cereal. In the same year Banks (1929), Kamy (1931) and Lameere (1935) gave the classification of Psocoptera, while Roester (1944) is credited with contributions of keys of world genera of these insects. It is thus seen that, during this period, there was contribution on.ly on basic understanding of Psocoptera, but none on Indian component of these insects.
iii) 1948-1990
During this period the fIrst important contribution goes to the credit of Badonel (1955). This was after an gap of 11 years since Roester's contribution. On world basis 'Catalogue of The Psocoptera of World' including Indian component was published by Smithers (1965), with a comprehensive bibliography by Smithers (1967). Lee and Thorton (1967) contributed on the family Pseudocaecilidae of Oriental and PacifIc areas comprising thirty three species. A check list of Peripsocid fauna of the Oriental and Pacific region has been published dealing with 53 species. Thornton and Wong (1968) dealt in further details: ~eripsocid fauna of Oriental and Pacific regions. Under this seven species (5 under Ectopsocus and 2 under Peripsocus) from India are dealt with.
Dutta 1965-1977 has contributed number of taxa, including new ones, from India. Contributions are thus on 5 families viz. Peripsocidae (3 ~p.), Pseudocaeciliidae (1 sp.); Mypsocidae (1 sp.), Psocidae (3 sp.); 1969a: Redescription of Dypsocus coleoptratus Hagen; 1969b.: a new sp. Hemipsocus (Hemipsocidae) and further . descriptions of a Psocidae (Amphigerontia nubila Enderlin); 1969 c. 1 ns. sp. of Caeciliidae. Peripsocidae -2 species; Psocidae -1 species; 1969d : Peripocus 1 sp.; 196ge: on 4 families 1 n. sp. of each, Stenopsocidae, Mypsocidae, Psocidae, Phyllipsocidae. Dutta (1977) gave further description of Ectopsocus briggse McLachlan (Peripsocidae).
New (1977) brought out a review of Psocopteran species from Indian sub-continent, along with oriental region. Roy (1979) dealt with 17 species under 11 families from Calcutta and four other districts of West Bengal. Badonnel (1981) contributed two papers recording 14 Psocopteran species from Darjiling (West Bengal), Assam and Uttar Pradesh. Roy (1984) dealt with 43 Psocopterans, representing several families, from north eastern India. Roy (1987) contributed on the bioecology and seasonal fluctuation of three Psocopteran species, collected from Rabindra Sarobar, Calcutta. Out of these two species were under Ecotopsocus (Ectopsocidae) and one species of genus Tapinella (pachytroctidae).
Srivastava (1990) has brought out an comprehensive account of 17 species of Psocoptera under nine genera and fIve families from West Bengal, with keys for all level of taxa. It included two tables; one indicating composition of Psocoptera from West Bengal vis-a-vis India and world fauna of this group of insect, other table dealt with distribution pattern and known male, female and larvae of each of the species.
Studies from Different Environs
It is seen, on perusal of literature, that Psocopter~n fauna of India have been extensively explored and worked out from north eastern India. This included mainly from West Bengal, Assam, Manipur and Meghalaya. It is also seen that detail bioecological studies, seasonal fluctuation and population dynamics and a comprehensive account of Psocopterans with keys have been made on the fauna of West Bengal. Besides, above Psocoptera of Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu have also somewhat received attention, but no comprehensive account is available and studies are generally based on sporadic exploration and collections. It is found that Himalayan range (north western Indian states), Gangetic plains (Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal) and Penninsular region (Orissa, Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu) have been explored, though not very comprehensively.
Estimation of Taxa
Indian. component of Psocopteran insects comprises of 85 species under 40 genera in 18 families; while the world fauna is about 2500 species under 230 genera in 31 families. Smithers (1967) classification and taxonomy of the order is presently accepted. Major component of Indian Psocoptera are represented under following families: Peripsocidae (10 species) Psocidae, Caeciliidae (nine species each). These three families taken together represent a little more than half of Indian Psocoptera (28:57). Other families worth mentioning are Lipodopsocidae (two species), Psyllipsocidae (three), Liposcelidae (four), Pachytroctidae (four), Epipsocidae, Amphipsocidae (two), Myopsocidae (three).
Classified Treatment
Psocoptera fauna of India vis-a-vis world, is being presented hereunder with obvious stress on Indian component. It comprises of species, genera and 12 families. World fauna of these families are also indicated for giving relative representation.
To begin with, following table gives at a glance a qualitative composition, of Indian Psocoptera vis-a-vis world under main Psocopteran families:
NOTE : There are 19 more Psocopteran families found in other parts of world, represented by 309 species and 70 genera.
Analysis of Psocopteran faunal component, reveal that Indian Psocoptera are represented maximum by Peripsocidae ten species followed by Caecillidae and Psocidae (each with nine species). Maximum number of genera, under single family in India belongs to the family Psocidae (seven genera). In contrast, world component of Psocoptera reveals that the maximum number of species (247) is known to be under family Caecillidae; while maximum number of genera (27) is under the family Psocidae. Peripsocidae, Lepidopsocidae and Liposcelidae are represented in world fauna by 96, 90 and 90 species respectively, whereas they are represented by only 10, 2 and 4 species in India.
Current Studies
Psocopterans are being studied in Z.S.I. from the view point of current stress on State faunal resources. Under this programme the fauna of Psocoptera is studied belonging to different ecozone. Study of Psocoptera is not receiving much attention in other parts of India, though it is getting relatively more attention in other countries.
Expertise India
In ZSI
v. D. Srivastava and K. K. Roy, both in Z.S.I., M Block, New Alipur, Calcutta 700 053.
Elsewhere
B. Dutta, 43/6, Muralipukur Road, Calcutta 700 067. ===Abroad=== C. N. Smithers, Australian Museum, 6-8, College Street, Sydney 2000, P.O. Box A 285, Sydney (South Australia). T. R. New and I.W.B. Thornton, La Trobe University, Dept. of Zoology, Bundoora, Victoria, 3083 (Australia).
Selected References
Badonnel, A. 1981. Psoopteres de I'Lude. Rev. Suisse Zool., 88 (2) : 381-411. Lee, S. S. &Thornton, I.W.B., 19'67. The family Pseudocaciliidae (psocoptera), a reappraisal based on the discovery of a new Oriental and Pacific Species. Pacific. Ins. Monogr., 16: 1-116, 187 figs, 25 tables. Menon, R. 1943. Studies on Indian Copegnatha (psocoptera) II, Nanopsocedae and Psocatropedae. Indian J. Ent. 4 (1): 23-42, 38 figs. Navas, L. 1934. Insects de la Indica. Rev. acado Cienc Zaragosa, 17: 35-48: 17 figs. New, T. R. 1977.
Psocoptera of the Oriental Region: A Review. Orient. Ins. Suppl., 6: 87 pp. Roy, K. K. 1984. Study on the collection of Psocoptera from certain parts of North-East India and Bhutan. Rec. zool. Surv. India., 81: 127-135.
