Lachesilla pedicularia (Linnaeus, 1758)

Lienhard, Charles & Mifsud, David, 2015, Psocids from Malta (Insecta: Psocodea: ‘ Psocoptera’), with new synonymy for Peripsocus stagnivagus based on the discovery of its first Palaearctic male, Zootaxa 3936 (2), pp. 251-260 : 255

Lachesilla pedicularia (Linnaeus, 1758)

Material examined. Malta, Baħrija Valley, 6 km W of Rabat, 16. vii.1997, 4 ♀, DB; Mnajdra, 3 km E of Zurrieq, 12. vii.1997, 1 ♀, DB; Salina bay, 4. vi.1999, 1 ♀, BM; Fomm ir-Riħ bay, 14. vi.1999, 1 ♀, BM; Marsaxlokk beach, 4. v.2001, 2 ♂ and 5 ♀, BM; Fomm ir-Riħ, 29. x.2014, 1 ♂, beating vegetation, DM; Verdala Palace, 12–24. vi.2014, 11 ♂ and 1 ♀, Malaise trap, DM; same data but 25.vi.–10. vii.2014, 4 ♂ and 3 ♀; 11.vii.–1. viii.2014, 1 ♂ and 2 ♀; 1–15. viii.2014, 6 ♂ and 3 ♀; and 15–30. viii.2014, 1 ♀.

Notes. A new record for the Maltese Islands. It is an almost cosmopolitan species, mainly associated with dried twigs and branches of different shrubs and herbaceous plants, occasionally found also in leaf litter, in birds’ nests or in human dwellings ( Lienhard 1998).