Chaetophiloscia cellaria (Dollfus, 1884)
Status:
Unknown
ID Difficulty
Identification
Chaetophiloscia cellaria is a small to medium sized woodlouse, ranging from 5-8 mm in body length. It is a relatively well pigmented, fast running species, with a strongly discontinuous (stepped) pereion-pleon body outline and an antennal flagellum composed of three articles. Thus, it is reminiscent of Philoscia sp., and could be confused with Philoscia affinis. However, the conspicuous orange corners to the posterior angles of the last pereionite (most obvious in live specimens) are characteristic of C. cellaria.
A brief description, with figures, is given by Gregory & Marquis (2019).
Distribution
Currently, Chaetophiloscia cellaria is known from just two sites on Guernsey, Channel Islands some 4.5 km apart. It is undergoing an expansion of range into north-west Europe aided by human activity and is probably a relatively recent colonist of the Channel Islands.
Habitat
Initially it was recorded from a domestic garden (from leaf-litter in a dark damp corner behind a shed) and under a stone at the upper shoreline of a shingle beach (Gregory & Marquis, 2019). It has proved to be well established at the garden site and subsequently found at two additional coastal sites (Gregory, 2024).
It is, perhaps, just a matter of time before it reaches the south coast of England.
Links
World List of Marine, Freshwater and Terrestrial Isopod Crustaceans: https://www.marinespecies.org/isopoda/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=259721
BRC code
76