Cave Book Louse - Pseudorypteryx mexicana

Moved

Moved from Nymphs (or reduced-winged adults).

… john and jane balaban, 26 February, 2009 - 5:10pm

Probably Pseudorypteryx mexicana Garcia Aldrete

Ed Mockford det.
His comment: "Jillian sent me a specimen, and subsequently, I went collecting with her and a guide to the place where she found it. I took P. mexicana there, and I think this is the nymph."

… v belov, 25 February, 2009 - 10:18pm

Moved

Moved from Barklice and Booklice.

… john and jane balaban, 18 January, 2009 - 3:30pm

Neat.

Moving image to level of "order" because cave-dwelling species can often represent entire families specific to that habitat. Hope we can eventually get something concrete on this little one:-)

… Eric R. Eaton, 23 June, 2008 - 4:12pm

wow

Cool... I'd never be able to go spelunking, but that is an interesting find... I wonder what it's feeding on in that cave?
Definitely something esoteric that's worth adding to the guide.

… Jonas Insinga, 24 May, 2008 - 11:59pm

Feeding

I don't know what it was feeding on, but I do know what was feeding on it. Each location where we found a bunch of these book lice, we found a pseudoscorpion (Albiorix anophthalmus) hunting in the middle of them.

… Jillian H. Cowles, 25 May, 2008 - 1:06am

Strange

...

… Jonas Insinga, 26 May, 2008 - 12:49am

Well

You've certainly found something unique and very important.
This will clearly be an invaluable addition to the guide.

If possible (and trust me, don't go risking your life because some 19 year old kid told you to), but it would be interesting to perhapse go back & collect one or two specimens to photograph under better light conditions back on the surface. That or going down to simple get more photos. I'm sure there must be more unique cave-dwellers down there!

If only I wasn't afraid of dark tight spaces... caves are something that would make me paranoid.
Unless i guess I had several people there with me (as one aught to when one goes spelunking).

… Jonas Insinga, 24 June, 2008 - 9:36pm

Some progress

I recently photographed what appears to be an adult (it has wings). I've also been in touch with an expert in the field (Ed Mockford) who will be coming out to take a look at the population in this cave. I'll post information as it becomes available.

… Jillian H. Cowles, 24 June, 2008 - 10:45pm