Trichoniscus pusillus Brandt, 1833

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Common name

Common Pygmy Woodlouse

Synonyms

  • Trichoniscus pusillus form pusillus
  • Trichoniscus pusillus sensu stricto

Status:

GB IUCN status: Least Concern

ID Difficulty

4 (or 2 for for T. pusillus/provisorius species agg.)

Identification

The pygmy woodlice of family Trichoniscidae (and Styloniscidae) are readily distinguished from other woodlice by the shape of the antennal fagellum which comprises a tapered cone (of indistinct segments) bearing a terminal bristle.

Trichoniscus species are characterised by having the eyes composed of three ommatidia and a smooth body surface. Body and eye pigments are retained in alcohol. 

Trichoniscus pusillus a small purplish-reddish species of identical in appearance to the closely related T. provisorius, but is consistently larger with gravid females reaching 4.5 mm (gravid females of T. provisorius rarely exceed 3.5 mm in length).

The two species can be reliably separated by microscopic examination of the male first exopod (see image and BMIG Newsletter 18, pg2). Unfortunately, T. pusillus is parthenogentic and males are rarely encountered. Thus, T. pusillus s.str. is relatively under-recorded. 

Steve Gregory
Keith Lugg
Keith Lugg
Bill Urwin
Warren Maguire
Nicola Garnham
Nicola Garnham
Warren Maguire

Distribution

Trichoniscus pusillus is very common throughout Britain and Ireland and the verified records indicates that it occupies a very broad habitat niche. Unfortunately, most records are not differentiated between the two species (simply given as T. pusillus agg.).

Habitat

There is considerable overlap with T. provisorius, but T. pusillus appears to be better suited to cooler, damper habitats.  It is usually found close to the soil surface, typically on the underside of stones and dead wood or amongst leaf-litter and moss.  However, both species my occur in close proximity. 

This summary is based on the detailed account in Gregory (2009).

References

Gregory, S. (2009) Distinguishing species within the Trichoniscus pusillus species aggregate, BMIG Newsletter 18: pg 2.

Gregory, S. (2009) Woodlice and Waterlice (Isopoda: Oniscidea & Asellota) in Britain and Ireland.  Field Studies Council/Centre for Ecology & Hydrology.

Links

World List of Marine, Freshwater and Terrestrial Isopod Crustaceans: https://www.marinespecies.org/isopoda/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=263752

BRC code

72

idBmigTaxa

Cru_1727