Psyllopsis fraxinicola

Of the ash-feeding Psyllopsis species this one seems to be the commonest round here - I'd found several of these before I found any of the other species. Psyllopsis differ from other genera with similar wing venation in having at least nine thick black basal spines on their metatibia.

Psyllopsis fraxinicola, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows (Norfolk, UK), 9th July 2021

Psyllopsis fraxinicola, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows (Norfolk, UK), 22nd September 2018

It isn't really necessary to check the genal cones or genitalia when identifying this species, but as this was one of my first I thought it was worth checking it fully.

male Psyllopsis fraxinicola showing forewing, genal cones and genitalia, North Elmham (Norfolk, UK), 18th September 2018

This didn't show 9-10 black metatibial spines so if I hadn't noticed its distinctive genitalia first I would probably have keyed it as a different genus. In fact it did have 7 spines which is one more than Psylla etc. should have. The photo of the spines below show all 7 spines (the left hand two overlap so they look like one) - there were no more hidden behind.

male Psyllopsis fraxinicola showing wings, genitalia, metatibial and basitarsal spines and genal cones, North Elmham (Norfolk, UK), 30th June 2023

This was one of two nymphs shaken out of ash keys. The arolium of the claws isn't a perfect match for the diagram in the White & Hodgkinson handbook but I assume it's near enough as the circumanal ring appears to confirm the identification as fraxinicola. You need a high magnification to see this, and the specimen needs to be cleared first.

Psyllopsis fraxinicola nymph showing arolium (on front, middle and rear legs) and circumanal ring, Church Meadow, North Elmham (Norfolk, UK), 12th September 2022

These two were shaken from Ash keys and again they both had too few apical spines on the tibia - only 8 (should be 9-10). I'm content that they're Psyllopsis nevertheless.

female Psyllopsis fraxinicola showing metatibial spines and terminalia, Wendling Beck Environment Project (Norfolk, UK), 18th July 2025

second female Psyllopsis fraxinicola showing metatibial spines, Wendling Beck Environment Project (Norfolk, UK), 18th July 2025

male Psyllopsis fraxinicola, North Elmham Cathedral Meadows (Norfolk, UK), 30th August 2018