Trichopsocidae (?) #1 - Trichopsocus clarus

Mockford says...

Eye color in insects is a bit complex. The outer cuticle may be clear or pale yellow, green, or orange, allowing plenty of light to pass through, and then there are pigment cells in each of the units of the compound eye, surrounding the optic nerve cell. The pigment cells are elongate and the pigment moves up and down in them according to the amount of light hitting the eye. Thus, the pigment moves out towards the surface in bright light, giving the eye a dark color, and away from the surface in dim light, giving the eye a pale color. Dead specimens that have been in alcohol a long time almost always have dark eyes. I think that results from the pigment dispersing throughout the eye.

… Diane Young, 24 July, 2017 - 1:54pm

Very interesting, Diane, thank you!

When I was young my eyes would turn brown if I was outside on a sunny day. When I went inside they would stay brown for a few minutes. I've heard others who have had the same sort of transformation.

To add to the phenomenon (of mayfly eye color) is that when they are green there is a dark pupil. Compound eyes with pupils is something I knew was not do to having an iris and a pupil, but know it is much easier to understand.

It wasn't just the eyes though. The bodies were different. Maybe sex based differences.

Your french speaking author has written another book. "Psocoptera of Tropical South-East Asia" or something like that. He is co-author, and it is in English. I bet it is good, yet at $175 I will probably never see it! Just thought I'd mention it though. Sorry I don't remember the exact details, but it's probably old news to you, anyways!

… Arthur Scott Macmillan, 24 July, 2017 - 9:06pm

Moved

Moved from Barklice, Booklice, and Parasitic Lice.

… v belov, 24 July, 2017 - 1:54pm

This is Trichopsocus clarus male

the areola postica "relatively long and low" as opposed to T. dalii in which the areola postica is "approximatelt semicircular".

… Diane Young, 24 July, 2017 - 9:54am

Moved

Moved from ID Request.

… Aaron Hunt, 23 July, 2017 - 9:46am