English

A psocid, Psococerastis gibbosa

Noun

psocid ‎(plural psocids)

1. (zoology) Any insect of the order Psocoptera.
   • 1993, Charles Leonard Hogue, Latin American Insects and Entomology, page 186,

     Psocids (New 1987) are free-living insects that feed on microflora and organic debris on surfaces of vegetation or on other surfaces. […] Psocids are frequently gregarious as nymphs or adults and may even group together under a communal web.

   • 2005, William H. Robinson, Urban Insects and Arachnids: A Handbook of Urban Entomology, page 367,

     The houe psocid, Liposcelis bostrychophilus, is a tropical species, but it occurs primarily in households in temperate regions.

   • 2008, John L. Capinera (editor), Encyclopedia of Entomology, Volume 4, page 396,

     Nymphs and adults of psocids are regularly found in caves. Psyllipsocidae (in Europe the most common psocid in caves is Psyllipsocus ramburii) and Prionoglarididae are perhaps particularly characteristic of caves. […] In the case of psocids, it has been suggested that the Psyllipsocidae (an ancient group) may have survived by avoiding competition with more recent forms by inhabitibg caves or similar habitats.

Synonyms

• (any species of Psocoptera): bark fly, bark louse, book louse, psocopteran