Answer to the Parasite Case of the Week 768: Non-parasitic psocid (booklouse/barklouse). In case you were wondering, Psocid is pronounced SO-sid.
Many thanks to everyone on social media and the blog comments, including Florida Fan, Idzi, and Blaine.
Idzi noted " Definitely a book louse (psocid). Possibly Liposcelis sp. (Order Psocodea - suborder Troctomorpha - Family Liposcelididae). Although these insects resemble lice, these critters are not true lice, not even parasites! They live in moist places and feed primarily on molds, fungi, starch, etc. They can be easily recognized by that funny weird "nose" (or "clypeus" in scientific terms) they have."
Idzi further suggested "...not to report this, as it concerns in incidental find or a contaminant. If found on a more regular basis, try to eliminate the source of contamination as quick as possible." It's likely that it was introduced into the specimen or the agar plate from the environment.
I laughed out loud at some of the clever comments I received:
Jefferson Vaughan: I love those little guys. So humble. So innocuous..except to librarians"
James Richardson: "Risk factor-reading on the toilet?"
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