A significant novelty for the Palaearctic entomofauna: Sphaeropsocopsis (Italopsocopsis n. subgen.) utriusquemariaechristinae n. sp. (Insecta Psocodea Troctomorpha Sphaeropsocidae), a new synanthropic psocid living in northern Italy

Based on specimens of both sexes, Sphaeropsocopsis (Italopsocopsis n. subgen.) utriusquemariaechristinae n. sp. (Insecta Psocodea Troctomorpha Sphaeropsocidae), a new tiny sphaeropsocid found in buildings in two towns in northern Italy - Piacenza and Cremona - is described. The new taxon, collected by means of sticky traps, was found relatively frequently in the rooms of institutions preserving items of cultural heritage. At a global level, this is the second sphaeropsocid which has been found living in an indoor environment; the first, Badonnelia titei Pearman, 1953, is also the only recent previous species of the same family known for the Palaearctic region (B. titei occurs in northern and central Europe), but it is not believed to be autochthonous, because the other congeneric species have a Neotropical distribution. In the case of the new species here described (perhaps also of Neotropical origin), there is not sure evidence that it is an introduced alien taxon; its discovery is, in any case, of clear zoogeographic interest. Some bio-ecological observations on the new sphaeropsocid are provided.