Lord Howe Island Psocoptera (Insecta)
Abstract
A brief history of collecting Psocoptera on Lord Howe Island is given. One new genus, Mauropsocus (Pseudocaeciliidae: Zelandopsocinae), and three new species, Mauropsocus monteithi, Lepolepis trifasciata (Lepidopsocidae) and Nimbopsocus huttoni (Myopsocidae) are described. An additional new genus and species is noted but not formally described and named because adult material has not yet been found. Twentyseven species of Psocoptera are now known from Lord Howe of which fourteen are probably endemic to the island. Of the thirteen non-endemic species eight have widespread distributions beyond the island (some being found in domestic situations); three occur otherwise only in Australia and one is known only from Norfolk Island. One species occurs in Australia, New Caledonia, Norfolk Island and New Zealand. It is anticipated that the fauna is not yet completely known but most of the endemic species are members of the related families Pseudocaeciliidae, Philotarsidae and Elipsocidae. Distribution of the species is summarized in a table.
