Trichopsocus clarus

This species is similar to Trichopsocus dalii. In that species the areaola postica cell in the forewing isn't usually as shallow and the dark mark at the tip of vein Cu1 in the hindwing extends to both sides of the vein. The internal phallosome is only faintly visible in clarus but more conspicuous in male dalii. At the time I examined this, I interpreted the triangular structure faintly visible in the cleared abdomen as being this phallosome but looking back at my photos I wasn't convinced I was right about that. Either way, it hadn't shown either the conspicuous phallosome of a male dalii nor the conspciuous spermatheca opening of a female dalii, so I think this supports my ID of clarus.

Trichopsocus clarus showing forewing, hindwing and cleared abdomen, North Elmham (Norfolk, UK), 11th August 2020

After reviewing my record above, I checked my outstanding Trichopsocus specimens which included the next two, caught together at light in my garden in 2024. The wings suggested clarus but I was keen to see if either of these had genital structures like the last one. On a first look, both had a similar triangular structure to the last one, but now equipped with a better microscope I could see that this was actually formed by two distinct structures meeting at their tips to form a triangle, and there were additional structures that I could not make out on the previous one with a lower spec microscope in 2020. I am still not entirely sure about what structures I am seeing, nor of the sex, however I think these two and probably also the first are females. In any case I'm sure I can't see a conspicuous phallosome and neither did they have a conspicuous spermatheca opening, so I think it's safe to conclude that dalii is ruled out regardless of the wing pattern.

Trichopsocus clarus showing wings, close-up of hindwing, closer-up of tip of vein Cu1 and cleared abdomen (2 focuses), North Elmham (Norfolk, UK), 16th October 2024

second Trichopsocus clarus showing wings, close-up of hindwing and cleared abdomen (3 focuses), North Elmham (Norfolk, UK), 16th October 2024