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Photo#9132
Bark Louse? - Cerastipsocus trifasciatus

Bark Louse? - Cerastipsocus trifasciatus
Eastern, Oklahoma, USA
September 15, 2004
I Have this identified as a bark louse. however I was just looking at some images of Delphacid planthoppers at Cedar Creek and they look somewhat alike.
Help please! Size about 5mm.

Moved

Cerastipsocus trifasciatus
I agree with Eric that this is Cerastipsocus trifasciatus; Family Psocidae. I also love Robin's observation that it resemble the apple maggot fly. That is great parallel or convergent evolution. To add more of a twist to this I heard that the black patterns on the apple maggots flies wings may (when seen from behind) mimic a jumping spider. If so it would mean that both these insects would be able to scare off small foolish predators. But now that I think of it the wings need to be held open at and angle, so how does this work for the Psocoptera who keep their wings closed while walking...

Bark Louse?
I would guess some kind of bark louse - just by eyeballing its "general form and outline" (whatever that means!)
But what struck me most about the photo was the pattern in the wing: it's very much like the wing of the Apple Maggot Fly (Rhagoletis pomonella), shown here.
The resemblance is amazing, especially since (if your photo is indeed a bark louse) we're talking two different orders of insects. Is this an example of what they call "parallel evolution" or something?

 
Bark Louse
Yes the pattern match is amazing but I believe you are right it is a bark louse.
Thanks Robin

 
Bark Louse, Cerastipsocus sp.?
I was just reading about Psocoptera the other day. This might be a specimen of Cerastipsocus trifasciatus, but I'll see if I can get a confirming opinion. The wing-banding pattern is pretty distinctive.

 
Bark Louse
Thanks Eric, I appreciate it.

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