Diptera.info

Posted by Sundew on 13-10-2007 21:33

Hello,
I am uncertain whether this tiny animal is a Dipterid at all. The photos show a living specimen under the stereo microscope. It flew away after the session. I found dead ones in spider webs, too, so they seem to be rather frequent. Surely you will supply me with a name.
Thanks, Sundew

Edited by Sundew on 13-10-2007 22:10

Posted by jorgemotalmeida on 13-10-2007 21:35

Psocoptera. :) It is a psocid.

Sometimes they can be confused with Psyllidae (Hemiptera) but there are differences:

In the net they move very differently - psocids run around quite fast,
they do not jump - psyllids walk more slowly and frequently jump.
The wing venation - psyllids are more simplified.
Mouthparts - psocids are chewing, psyllids are piercing and sucking.

Edited by jorgemotalmeida on 13-10-2007 21:37

Posted by Sundew on 13-10-2007 22:07

So it is a barklouse. Never heard of them before (except of wingless booklice.) Thank you, dear Jorge, I have learned a lot.
Can we isolate a genus? Enlarged, the little guy looks quite distinctive! Tony might know...
Sundew

Posted by ChrisR on 13-10-2007 22:14

Diptera must have di-ptera ... two wings but this one clearly has a smaller pair under the front pair, so it can't be Diptera. :) So, to paraphrase Orwell, "two wings good; four wings bad" ;)

Posted by Sundew on 13-10-2007 23:03

Chris, my maths is as good as my Latin. Normally I am able to count four. However,

this one clearly has a smaller pair under the front pair

was not thus clear to me. Now I see it, but I took it for possible infoldings of the wings, whose outline was not recognizable. Besides, I relieved the delimited "Non-Dipteran" forum :p.
Any genus suggestions?
Sundew

Posted by Jan Willem on 15-10-2007 08:15

Yes, I have a genus and species suggestion: Graphopsocus crusiatus (Stenopsocidae).

Jan Willem

Posted by Tony Irwin on 15-10-2007 21:41

Confirmed as Graphopsocus cruciatus by Bob Saville, who runs the British Barkfly (Psocoptera) Recording Scheme (see http://www.brc.ac...mepage.htm for the website - including lots of images).

Posted by Sundew on 15-10-2007 22:26

I am delighted to get even a confirmed species name! Thank you very much indeed for all your efforts concerning my little psocid. Obviously there are several barkfly experts among us; I am much obliged to all of them. This forum is so helpful, I look forward to our continued successful cooperation.
Best regards, Sundew