Reductoniscus costulatus Kesselyák, 1930
Status:
GB IUCN status: Not applicable (non-native)
ID Difficulty
Identification
Reductoniscus costulatus is a very small woodlouse, reaching 2 mm body length, and is capable of rolling into a sphere when disturbed. The head and body are covered in characteristic broad rounded tubercles (confusion is only likely with Buddelundiella cataractae). However, the telson of R.costulatus has a characteristic ‘hour-glass’ shape (also seen in Venezillo parvus) and it has truncated 'square' uropods typical of the family.
A brief description of this species, with figures, is given in Gregory (2014).
Distribution
Reductoniscus costulatus has been collected from Kew Gardens on several occasions and more recently at Eden Project (Rainforest Biome), Cornwall, where it has proved quite numerous in 2009 and 2010. A few additional sites are reported by Gregory & Lugg (2020).
Habitat
Specimens have been found beneath dead wood, among leaf-litter, peaty soil or detritus and under leaf sheaths of 'palms' and bananas.
Elsewhere it has been recorded in 'the wild' in Seychelles, Mauritius, Malaysia and Hawaiian Islands.
References
Gregory, S. (2014) Woodlice (Isopoda: Oniscidea) from Eden Project, Cornwall, with descriptions of species new to Britain, and poorly known British species. Bulletin of the British Myriapod & Isopod Group 27: 3-26.
Links
World List of Marine, Freshwater and Terrestrial Isopod Crustaceans: https://www.marinespecies.org/isopoda/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=262830
BRC code
80
idBmigTaxa
Cru_1656