Ectopsocus axillaris (Smithers)

Schmidt, Evan R. & New, Timothy R., 2008, The Psocoptera (Insecta) of Tasmania, Australia, Memoirs of Museum Victoria 65, pp. 71-152 : 106

Ectopsocus axillaris (Smithers)

Interpsocus axillaris Smithers, 1969: 293 .

Ectopsocus axillaris . --- Thornton and Wong, 1968: 3. Ectopsocus brunneus (Edwards) . Cole et al., 1989: 33 (in part).

Material examined. Site 66, 6, 3, 4 Sep 86; 38, 4, 2 nymphs, 30 Oct 86; site 67B, 1, 19 Feb 88; site 85, 4, 11 Sep 86; 1, 10 Oct 86; site 92, 2, 11 Sep 86; site 94, 1, 6 Nov 86; site 142C, 12, 2, 24 Feb 88; site 181, 1, 13 Nov 86; site 269, 6, 3, 1 Mar 88; site 278A, 7, 25 Mar 87; site 352, 3, 21 Mar 88; site 357, 1, 7, 18 Mar 88; site 361, 5, 3, 25 Mar 88; site 363, 1, 27 Mar 88; site 366E, 4, 2, 16 Feb 88; site 366F, 3, 4, 16 Feb 88.

Distribution. Tasmania, King I (Bass Strait), Victoria, New Zealand, Ireland and Britain.

Remarks. E. axillaris appears to have little habitat specificity, being found on dead foliage from rainforest, mixed forest, dry and wet forests. Smithers and O’Connor (1991) have noted the unusual distribution of this species with its discovery in Ireland. The records of Cole et al. (1989) of Ectopsocus brunneus (Edwards) from King I are incorrect. Subsequent examination of these specimens indicates that they are conspecific with Victorian and Tasmanian material of this species.

The incidence of E. axillaris (and the closely related E. brunneus ) suggests that they are spring and autumn species with summer and winter breaks. Few individuals were found, and the suggested phenology would need to be substantiated with additional sampling.