Thread subject: Diptera.info :: which order? 2015-07-04, N. Germany > Psocomorpha

Posted by Lennart Bendixen on 05-12-2015 22:00
#1

Hello,

this insect is a mystery to me. I'd say it's a kind of Psocoptera, but with such a short abdomen?

I hope someone here can help me.

Lennart

2015-07-04, Northern Germany, S-H, Mohrkirch, house wall. Length about 1,5 mm.

Edited by Lennart Bendixen on 06-12-2015 21:14

Posted by Lennart Bendixen on 05-12-2015 22:00
#2

here's another picture

Posted by John Carr on 06-12-2015 01:11
#3

The antennae are wrong for Psocoptera. Maybe Sternorrhyncha?

Posted by Lennart Bendixen on 06-12-2015 10:43
#4

I have no experience with Sternorrhyncha, but this would really surprise me. But in fact, every order would surprise me ;-)

Edit: Good hint, I think - could it be a Psyllidae nymph?

Edited by Lennart Bendixen on 06-12-2015 11:21

Posted by Sundew on 06-12-2015 20:27
#5

Psyllidae nymphs look different. To me, this is a typical barklouse face, and I'd even say, the face of an adult. The antenna has 13 segments, so suborder Psocomorpha. The antenna of this group is described as follows: "The antenna of Psocomorpha comprises a short scape, short pedicel, and eleven long flagellomeres. Lengths of flagellomeres are progressively shorter distally. Flagellomeres are clothed densely with long setae..." That fits well. However, something happened during the development of this animal. The thorax looks OK, but wings and abdomen not. I am familiarizing myself with the Psocids, becoming a true fan of them, but I have not seen such a misshaped individual up to now. May be it can survive nevertheless.
Regards, Sundew

Posted by Lennart Bendixen on 06-12-2015 21:13
#6

Thanks a lot for your detailed and plausible answer.
Now I miss some better pictures of it...but at that time I didn't think of something exceptional. You say you're getting familiar to this group, so if you should meet a specimen like this one day or read about, maybe you can tell us here. I'm really interested in how this can happen - and especially if this is known from a specific family.
Greetings, Lennart

Posted by Paul Beuk on 07-12-2015 09:31
#7

Psocoptera, indeed. I guess the last moult went sour and the body and wings could not properly inflate.

Posted by Sundew on 07-12-2015 13:40
#8

You could contact Psocid expert Keith Alexander (https://www.brc.a...rding.aspx) - he might have seen something similar.

Posted by Lennart Bendixen on 07-12-2015 20:04
#9

Thank you both for your answers; I'll report if he's got something more to say about it.