Porcellionides pruinosus (Brandt, 1833)

Ostrovsky, Artsiom M., 2020, Porcellionides pruinosus (Brandt, 1833) - a new woodlouse species (Isopoda: Oniscidea: Porcellionidae) in the fauna of Belarus, Acta Biologica Sibirica 6, pp. 381-384 : 381

Porcellionides pruinosus (Brandt, 1833)

Figure 1

Material examined.

1♂, 1♀, Republic of Belarus, Gomel Region, near horticultural partnership “Romantika” not far away vill. Klenki under the bark of a fallen oak on the edge of the swamp, 52°27'45.4"N, 31°5'42.8"E, 21.06.2020 ; 1♂, 1♀, in the same place, 25.06.2020. A.M. Ostrovsky leg. et det., 2020. The examined specimens are preserved in ethanol 70% and housed at the author's collection.

Distribution.

P. pruinosus is widespread synanthropic species of Mediterranean origin, currently known from many European and American countries, as well as in Transcaucasia and Pakistan ( Schmalfuss 2003, Kuznetsova & Gongalsky 2012, Kazmi 2015). In European part of Russia this species has previously been found in central and southern parts of the country. It was also known from Siberia (Kuznetsova & Gongalsky 2012, Khisametdinova et al. 2016, Nefediev et al. 2018). The nearest localities of P. pruinosus are registered in Poland, Ukraine and the European part of Russia. The distribution of this species is associated with human settlements and dung heaps as compost substance keeps the warm temperature during winter periods ( Cawley 1996).

Remarks.

P. pruinosus is known to exhibit patterns of geographical variation between populations, and has been suspected to consist of several very closely related species ( Salzat et al. 2001). Ten subspecies are recognized. Recent investigations have suggested that some morphologically similar populations may consist of separate species. For example, the previously reported single North American species P. pruinosus in fact consisted from two separate species. Although these species had subtle physiological and morphological differences, they were electrophoretically, reproductively, and distributionally distinct (Garthwaite & Sassaman 1985). Formally, P. pruinosus can be distinguished from other species by the extent of white bands at the antennae. We supposed that world taxonomic status of P. pruinosus should be re-evaluated.

Figures

Figure 1. Porcellionides pruinosus (Brandt, 1833): A - general view, B - 1 pleopod ♂, S - 2 pleopod ♂.