© Stuart M Bennett 2000
Philoscia muscorum


This animal is a brownish or reddish species which is heavily mottled with light patches. These patches are sometimes so numerous that the whole animal looks yellow. The abdomen or pleon is sharply marked off from the pereion, and there is not the smooth outline that we se in Oniscus and Porcellio. The animal is very abundant in the countryside, especially in grassland areas, but it is far less common in gardens than the aforementioned species. It can be found there however, usually under damp logs or in the leaf litter under the hedge. It becomes rare in the north. Unlike Oniscus and Porcellio, which pull their tails down tightly and sit still when disturbed, Philoscia is a very active creature and scuttles away on it's relatively long legs. It's body is never more than
11 mm long.

Back to main Woodlice page

Treatment

Back to main Casual Intruders page