Quebec Occlupanid Research Institute

We’ve just had the pleasure of discovering a Canadian N. virtipalpus!
Along with our specimen of N. vocivenetus, this further supports our theory that the integument of USA Neotessera is not adapted to the Canadian climate.
Below is a comparison between our Canadian (top) and USA (bottom) specimens.

Further update on this specimen. HORG has since described this species as N. vocivenetus! It does appear that the type specimen received from the USA had the same integument as other Neotessera specimens from the country.

The hardness of the protrusions is very low, though they are stiff enough to scrape the skin.

It is also worth noting the visible similarity between this new genus and the recently described genus of Neotessera and other round palped genera. The palps this new genus are much narrower and positioned farther apart. Each palp is tipped with a hair-thin needle-like protrusion.

The specimens recovered were observed to have very similar body properties as our recovered Canadian specimen of N. vocivenetus. This seems to point to an external stress selecting for this trait in multiple species. Modern specimens of Amydromorphus and Exomiphora display similar body composition.

Our research has concluded that this species is most closely related to P. acies and other round-hooked genera of tridentid. This species recently discovery coincides with the resurfacing of multiple Amydromorphus species and the recent takeover of E. washingtonensis.

We’ve recently come across a very exciting find! What appears to be a brand new genus of Tridentid! This new species was discovered preying on La Récolte St-Méthode bread with Kamut. This specific bread was once closed by M. illusio, and most recently S. hollandium before this week.

We apologize for our prolonged absence, we’ve been hard at work on new research!

With the quick spread of these towards the east of the continent, I do wonder whether we’ll be seeing these up here as well.

Both the newest version of the Amydromorphus and the Exomiphora undescribed have a shiny finish and are much more flexible than the common occlupanid.

Amydromorphus sp. (left) and Exomiphora sp. (right)

This white specimen (left) on the other hand is recent! A very rare modern sighting of Amydromorphus, it was seen closing 2x bags of bread, replacing H. zanclocytus on select brands for roughly one week before being replaced by a different undescribed species from the Exomiphora genus (right)

Continuing our undescribed escapade! These specimens are undescribed members of the genus Amydromorphus. The blue one was found in a hoard acquired from a Renaissance in Montreal, it most likely dates to when Amydromorphus ruled the bread aisle here in Quebec.

It's definitely among the most extreme in terms of oral groove to body ratio. In fact it apears to have the largest ratio of any toxodentid!

Here is the new species next to Palpatomimus chilensis, as well as a comparison of the oral grooves.

Exciting discovery! This new undescribed species was discovered yesterday on a bag of Dole apples imported from Chile. The clear resemblance to P. chilensis as well as their location of origin means this is very likely a new species of the genus Palpatomimus.

Again with the timing of these posts, it appears both S. pictus and S. triconis have been outcompeted by R. imitator. This makes both species essentially extinct in the wild.

This species is also a clear mimic of Harpops chydaeus, here they are next to one another.

This species has only been found sporting a blood red stripe, seen below with R. imitator and S. pictus of the same color. Having only been found in this striking color has earned it the proposed name Sanguinops triconis (blood faced trickster)

These specimens are from an undescribed genus of toxodentaceae. This species has quite an interesting ecology, being found mixed in with S. pictus on rare occasions. They also prey on bags of Auger bread, though they can be quite elusive and can be hard to tell apart from S. pictus.

Species card of Hyalocardis novicyanus, "New blue glass heart" a newly described occlupanid.

Species card of Neotessera hemilaevis, "Half-smooth new tile" a newly described occlupanid.

Species card of Neotessera vitripalpus, "Glass-palped new tile" a newly described occlupanid.

This trio of hyaline specimens have now been formally described. All feature a translucent pliable integument that is polished on one side and gently textured on the obverse, and vestigial rounded lateral palps. Collected from Thomas' English Muffins and bags of hot dog buns in N. America.

Spinoselis pictus (left) and Peramordeo acies (right)

This species, which we’ve been internally referring to as Spinoselis pictus, is a clear mimic of Peramordeo acies. Evidence has shown that Auger bread bags were indeed closed by P. acies before being driven out by this new species.

These brightly colored specimens are part of a yet undescribed genus and species of occlupanopsid. They've been spotted on bread bags of the Quebec brand Auger. So far this species has been seen sporting green, yellow, red, blue, as well as white stripes corresponding with the day of they were born!

Seems our timing was quite coincidental! #HORG has just described this new genus, so we can now officially say that this individual is a member of the genus Neotessera. Here’s hoping another specimen comes up so we can send it to HORG to be officially described.

Here they are next to each other for reference

After some research through our archives we’ve found H. zanclocytus specimens with identical markings. This might suggest the host to have been 2x bulk bags of bread. These H. zanclocytus have been spotted on different brands of bread from Selection to Compliments.

I believe it’s also worth noting that if the July 2024 theory is correct, this individual predates the boom of this genus in the west coast of the United States. Interesting considering the distance between the two locations.

The markings point to this specimen being on host around July of 2024 if we assume it closed a quickly perishable food item.
Additionally this individual lacks the translucency typical of other members of this new genus.

Why not star by talking about a real mystery specimen! This individual seems part of a recently blooming new genus of occlupanids featuring symmetrical rounded palps. It was found in a hoard we acquired from a Renaissance in Montreal. It is so far the only individual of this new species. #occlupanid