Porcellionides cingendus (Kinahan, 1857)
Synonyms
Status
ID Difficulty
Identification
A medium sized species (to 9 mm), mottled in various shades of yellow, red or brown. It is a fast moving species, with a stepped body outline, and the antennal flagella comprising two segments.
Confusion is most likely with Philoscia muscorum (which has three flagella segments) or Ligidium hypnorum (flagella comprises many bead-like segments).
Distribution and Habitat
P. cingendus occurs widely throughout southern Ireland, but in England and Wales it is markedly south-western and predominantly coastal.
In Ireland it occurs widely in rough grassland, hedgerows, open woodland, gardens, waste ground, etc. In Britain it is typically inhabits semi-natural coastal grassland. It can be found beneath stones, dead wood or mat-forming plants, and within tussocks or amongst grass litter. It is inevitably associated with P. muscorum (hence frequent confusion).
This summary is based on the detailed account in Gregory (2009).
Distribution
Reference
Gregory, S. (2009) Woodlice and Waterlice (Isopoda: Oniscidea & Asellota) in Britain and Ireland. Field Studies Council/Centre for Ecology & Hydrology.