Psilopsocus mimulus
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| Psilopsocus mimulus | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Psocodea |
| Family: | Psilopsocidae |
| Genus: | Psilopsocus |
| Species: | P. mimulus |
| Binomial name | |
| Psilopsocus mimulus Smithers, 1963 | |
Psilopsocus mimulus is a species of bark louse in the family Psilopsocidae. Found in Australia, it is the first known member of its order to bore into wood.[1]
Like other Psocodea, P. mimulus has a life cycle consisting of egg, nymph and adult. Unlike other Psocodea, in which nymphs resemble smaller versions of adults, nymphs of P. mimulus are very different from the adults. This reflects their adaptation to a wood-boring lifestyle.[1]
First instar nymphs are mostly colourless except for the last two tergites, which are brown, heavily sclerotised and covered in long setae with slightly expanded tips. They have 8-segmented antennae that each have a broad basal segment.[1]
Later instars are different again. The head is almost as wide as the widest part of the abdomen. It bears antennae in which the first flagellar segment is slightly curved. There are wings buds held close to the sides of the thorax and abdomen. The abdomen is mostly weakly sclerotised except for the distal third, which is heavily sclerotised, black, almost cylindrical and appears unsegmented from above. The end of the abdomen is densely covered in short setae, most of which have the apex divided into several divergent points. This unique abdominal end resembles that of a bostrichid beetle.[1][2]
The adult is 4.0-4.5 mm long with ocelli on the head, antennae longer than the body, and developed wings. The hind legs are unusually long compared to other legs.[2]
Adults can live for 6-67 days under laboratory conditions, usually less than 40 days. Adult females start laying eggs as soon as 4 days after the final nymphal moult and they lay eggs singly on bark. Eggs are covered in crusts of fecal material similar in colour to bark, camouflaging them. It takes 20-26 days for the eggs to hatch, starting the life cycle again.[3]