Porcellio spinicornis Say, 1818

Boeraeve, Pepijn, Arijs, Gert, Segers, Stijn, Smedt, Pallieter De, Spinicornis & Utm, Belgium. Every grid cell of the, 1908, Habitat and seasonal activity patterns of the terrestrial isopods (Isopoda: Oniscidea) of Belgium, Belgian Journal of Entomology 116, pp. 1-95 : 78

33. Porcellio spinicornis Say, 1818

( Fig. 20 e , Fig. 37 , Map 33 , Table 35)

Porcellio spinicornis is found in anthropogenic habitats all across the country ( Map 33 ). It is a typical species from old walls, old buildings and graveyards. It is mostly found above ground level in crevices and under loose stones in walls. Together with P. scaber , it is one of the few species that can also be found inside buildings. The species is also rather common in old gardens, where it can be found between stacked stones and on old walls. The few observations in open landscape habitat or in forest are all near roads and buildings ( Table 35). Like most species, P. spinicornis is nocturnal and can easily be found at night, foraging on old walls.

The corrected number of records are higher during the months May until August and November–December ( Fig. 37 ). P. spinicornis has a very high desiccation resistance ( DIAS et al., 2013) and therefore we could assume that the species’ activity peaks in summer. It is unclear why the species was recorded more during November–December than in other winter months.

Figures

Map 33. Distribution map for Porcellio spinicornis.

Fig. 20. a, Eluma caelata; b, Cylisticus convexus; c, Porcellio monticola; d, Porcellio scaber; e, Porcellio spinicornis; f, Porcellionides pruinosus; g, Porcellium conspersum; h, Trachelipus rathkii.

Fig. 37. Corrected number of observations per two-month period for Porcellio spinicornis (N = 448).