Psyllids

JRsbugs · #1 (**permalink**) 16-11-2009, 10:41 PM

Hi,

Three Psyllids taken recently. Problems with Image Library upload, one lot didn't go then when I reloaded they went into the 'identifed insects' where I hadn't put them.

I don't have much of a clue on any of them, I searched around for the orange one with no luck.

The orange one, which happened to be dead inside. It got wafted away on the breeze when I took it outside or I would have had a specimen!

Janet

JRsbugs · #2 (**permalink**) 16-11-2009, 10:42 PM

This one taken on the water barrel.

JRsbugs · #3 (**permalink**) 16-11-2009, 10:44 PM

This I got when it landed on my arm, stuck in my mohair cardigan. One of those tiny soft insect blobs with big wings and only around 1.5mm body length. I managed to get it on my hand and take pics with the other.

Jason Green · #4 (**permalink**) 16-11-2009, 10:59 PM

Evening Janet,

The wing venation for me suggests Triozidae for the first... and then I will throw the Gauntlet to Joe or Tristan

Take care,

Jason

Jason Green · #5 (**permalink**) 16-11-2009, 11:02 PM

Your second is surely Trioza urticae - the Nettle one, and the third set are, again, Triozidae...

JRsbugs · #6 (**permalink**) 16-11-2009, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason Green

Your second is surely Trioza urticae - the Nettle one, and the third set are, again, Triozidae...

I have been looking at that one, not sure though! The female looks similar, that's as far as I go....

I have a pic of a nymph I found under a leaf too, will upload that too but I have things to do just now.

JRsbugs · #7 (**permalink**) 17-11-2009, 12:52 AM

This is the nymph under an Oak leaf, it looks spot on for Trioza remota.

Acutipuerilis · #8 (**permalink**) 17-11-2009, 09:17 PM

Don't think there's much left to say here!

Yes, the first certainly appears to be Trioza remota (and the nymph too - well done on that one), and the second is certainly T. urticae. The third, though, is intrgueifying... if it wasn't for the colouring, I'd be sure it was T. urticae again. The antennal colouring is quite characteristic, but there are a few other options such as salicivora, which fits several other features. With a specimen it would be easy to identify urticae (there are virtually no spinules on the forewings), but I'm going to have to hold back a definite ID on this one, I'm afraid.

In general, colouring is not reliable with these things (although it can be characteristic and a very useful pointer), but features of the wings, antennae and genal cones are of much more use. Also, the number of black spines on the apex of the hind tibia are important at a relatively high level within a family... handy, eh?

JRsbugs · #9 (**permalink**) 17-11-2009, 10:50 PM

Thanks Joe, I didn't think the first one could be identified (couldn't find a match

) but as you say colour is one thing you can't go on.

I can see two very clear black spines on top of the joint between the tibia and femur on the third one, blowing the pic up a little more shows them well. There's a lot of spines on the femur too as well as the apex of the tibia but that can't be seen so well. Amazing what can be seen on such a tiny insect!

Next I need to sort out all my springtails.