ID : Rosy Woodlouse (Androniscus dentiger)

Andrew C · #1 (**permalink**) 13-02-2011, 08:09 PM

Evening,

I have had a look through the AIDGAP key to British and Irish Woodlice and with the bare use of a Triplet 10x hand lens I have narrowed this down to either Androniscus dentiger or Miktoniscus patiencei after skipping a step that involved examining the ocelli (eye) under 70% alcochol simply due to the fact I do not have this (neither do I have a binocular microscope!).

I plumped for Rosy Woodlouse (Androniscus dentiger) due to it being more common and having a longer antennae.

This was found on oak leaf litter in Yarner Wood near Bovey Tracey in Devon yesterday and measutres about 4mm in length at the most not including the long thin antennae or uropods.

Does anyone have an opinion or advice please?

Regards,
Andrew.

Fauna · #2 (**permalink**) 13-02-2011, 09:00 PM

Hi Andrew.

I'm not sure what this is, but it ain't a woodlouse. Perhaps it a larvae of something?

Regards Chris...

Jason Green · #3 (**permalink**) 13-02-2011, 10:26 PM

Evening Andrew,

Yes, as Chris says it's a larvae. This reminds me of Lonchopteridae, but don't quote me on that! I haven't got my book handy.

Take care,

Jason

Andrew C · #4 (**permalink**) 13-02-2011, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason Green

Evening Andrew,

Yes, as Chris says it's a larvae. This reminds me of Lonchopteridae, but don't quote me on that! I haven't got my book handy.

Take care,

Jason

Chris and Jason,

No wonder I struggled with it but.

A Google suggests that Lonchopteridae looks good for this.... Lonchopteridae - Encyclopedia of Life

Thanks,
Andrew.

Fauna · #5 (**permalink**) 14-02-2011, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew C

Chris and Jason,

No wonder I struggled with it but.

A Google suggests that Lonchopteridae looks good for this.... Lonchopteridae - Encyclopedia of Life

Thanks,
Andrew.

I can see where you got confused, it has got the appearance of a woodlouse.

If you want to see the Rosy Woodlouse, i would suggest looking in rubble piles, quarries, gravel/chipping areas etc. I have them in my garden in a stone pile that has been sieved out of the vegetable plot. They are always in small numbers when i come across them, five is probably the most i have seen at one time.

Good call Jason.

Regards Chris...

Andrew C · #6 (**permalink**) 14-02-2011, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fauna

I can see where you got confused, it has got the appearance of a woodlouse.

If you want to see the Rosy Woodlouse, i would suggest looking in rubble piles, quarries, gravel/chipping areas etc. I have them in my garden in a stone pile that has been sieved out of the vegetable plot. They are always in small numbers when i come across them, five is probably the most i have seen at one time.

Good call Jason.

Regards Chris...

Thanks for the suggestion Chris, we do have a rubble cum wood pile in one corner under a fir tree which has been productive for a few Woodlice so far. I shall now be looking out for Rosy Woodlice.

Regards,
Andrew.