Search

The article "Report on the first detection of Stevenia deceptoria (Rhinophoridae) in Germany" reports on the first occurrence of the fly species Stevenia deceptoria in Germany. The finding was made in a heat island within the Franconian Sand Axis in northern Bavaria. The fly was photographed in the field and characterized microphotographically. It is suspected that the larvae of S. deceptoria develop as endoparasites in woodlice. The article describes the characteristics of the fly species Stevenia deceptoria, which are called Rhinophoridae and are calyptrate flies with light yellow calypters at the base of the wings. [Extracted from the article]

The aim of this study was to test the effect of two tagging product on the locomotor rhythm parameters of individuals of the desert isopod Hemilepistus reaumurii collected from the marginal zone of a salt lake in Bchachma (Middle of Tunisia) in laboratory-controlled conditions. Results showed that locomotor activity of control individuals (CI) and individuals tagged with oil painting (IOP) was very similar highlighting sensitivity to dawn and dusk, respectively. Further, results showed that CI locomotor rhythm was statistically more stable than that of IOP and individual tagged with nail polish (INP). Additionally, individuals tagged with nail polish (INP) were more active than CI and IOP. This could highlight the effect of this last marking product on the locomotor rhythm parameters of H. reaumurii. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The existing descriptions of the woodlouse Trachelipus vespertilio are based on a single female collected in Croatia in the nineteenth century. No further information on the occurrence of this species has been reported in published literature and the morphology of the male, which may offer additional reliable diagnostic characters, has remained unknown. New information On the basis of new material collected in Slovenia, a description of the male morphology of T. vespertilio is provided along with a species diagnosis. The rediscovery of this woodlouse after more than a century extends its distribution range to Slovenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DNA barcoding has become the most popular approach for species identification in recent years. As part of the German Barcode of Life project, the first DNA barcode library for terrestrial and freshwater isopods from Germany is presented. The analyzed barcode library included 38 terrestrial (78% of the documented species of Germany) and five freshwater (63%) species. A total of 513 new barcodes was generated and 518 DNA barcodes were analyzed. This analysis revealed surprisingly high intraspecific genetic distances for numerous species, with a maximum of 29.4% for Platyarthrus hoffmannseggii Brandt, 1833. The number of BINs per species ranged from one (32 species, 68%) to a maximum of six for Trachelipus rathkii (Brandt, 1833). In spite of such high intraspecific variability, interspecific distances with values between 12.6% and 29.8% allowed a valid species assignment of all analyzed isopods. The observed high intraspecific distances presumably result from phylogeographic events, Wolbachia infections, atypical mitochondrial DNAs, heteroplasmy, or various combinations of these factors. Our study represents the first step in generating an extensive reference library of DNA barcodes for terrestrial and freshwater isopods for future molecular biodiversity assessment studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among the Oniscidea, the family Olibrinidae is still poorly known and was not yet recorded from Italy. The genus Castellanethes Brian, 1952, previously included in the family Trichoniscidae, is transferred to the family Olibrinidae, representing the first record of this family for Italy. Castellanethes sanfilippoi Brian, 1952 is redescribed from specimens collected in a cave in Apulia, Italy, close to the type locality. The genus Adoniscus Vandel, 1955 is considered to be a junior synonym of Castellanethes. Castellanethes soloisensis (Vandel, 1959) from Morocco is also figured. A diagnosis of the genus, key to species and distribution map are given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, seven species of terrestrial isopods are reported from Iran for the first time. These include Platyarthrus schoblii Budde-Lund, 1885; Trichorhina tomentosa (Budde-Lund, 1893); Armadillo alievi Schmalfuss, 1990; A. officinalis Duméril, 1816; Armadillidium azerbaidzhanum Schmalfuss, 1990, A. nasatum Budde-Lund, 1885 and Schizidium golovatchi Schmalfuss, 1988. The male of the latter species is described for the first time and its diagnostic characters are illustrated. Sampling localities for the species are presented on a map. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A faunistic catalogue of terrestrial isopods from an urban environment is reported for the first time in Spain. The study zone is located in the east of the municipality of Madrid, an area in the process of renaturalisation which has been altered by mining and construction waste dumping. To characterise the terrestrial isopod fauna from the environment of the Lagunas de Ambroz, surveys were carried out from 2020 to 2021. A total of 433 specimens belonging to 11 species of the families Armadillidae, Armadillidiidae, Philosciidae and Porcellionidae were studied. Armadillidium cf. arcangelii Strouhal, 1929, a non-Iberian taxon which had previously been reported as an indeterminate species in greenhouses in Great Britain, is recorded for the first time in the Iberian Peninsula. Additionally, Chaetophiloscia sicula Verhoeff, 1908, Leptotrichus panzerii (Audouin, 1826) and Lucasius andalusicus Garcia, 2019 are recorded for the first time in the Meseta Central. Results reveal the complexity and richness of the terrestrial isopod communities and stress the importance of conserving the environment of the Lagunas de Ambroz. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An overview of the Estonian terrestrial isopod fauna is given, based on literature data and material collected from 1984 to 2021. The identified material consisted of 10915 specimens belonging to 14 species and collected from 172 localities throughout Estonia. In combination with previous data from the literature data, there are now reliable records of 16 species of woodlice from Estonia. Two species, viz. Platyarthrus hoffmannseggii Brandt, 1833 and Hyloniscus riparius (C. Koch, 1838), are new for the fauna. The latter has probably colonised Estonia recently and range expansions have been reported elsewhere. The data on Philoscia muscorum (Scopoli, 1763) are dubious, and this species is currently excluded from the Estonian list. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploratory behavior is a commonly used instrument for studying animal behavior in the laboratory, usually using rodents. The goal of the present study was to investigate the exploratory behavior of woodlice (Armadillidium vulgare) and compare it to the behavior of rats (Rattus norvegicus). For this, we used two common rat laboratory models: the square open-field and another inspired by the rat Light/Dark box. In a first test, rats were submitted to a square open-field; woodlice were also submitted to an open-field adapted to their size. In a second test, rats were submitted to a Light/Dark box, and the woodlice were submitted to a Dry/Moist box designed to be equivalent to the rat apparatus but adapted to woodlice size. Results of the first test showed both rats and woodlice explored the square open-fields in similar ways, both in terms of frequencies of entries in the areas and in terms of the time spent in them. Subjects of both species occupied the corners more than the areas close to the walls and the latter more than the central areas. Results of the second test showed a striking resemblance: Both species spent more time in the safe areas (dark or moist) and less time in the aversive areas (light or dry). Given this similarity, woodlice could be used as laboratory animals for behavioral studies with advantages: They occupy little room in the animal facilities, are easy to catch in many places around university campuses, and cost very little to be fed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human activities in subterranean environments can affect different ecosystem components, including the resident fauna. Subterranean terrestrial invertebrates are particularly sensitive to environmental change, especially microclimatic variations. For instance, microclimate modifications caused by the visitors may directly affect local fauna in caves opened to the public. However, since numerous factors act synergistically in modulating the distribution and abundance of subterranean species, it remains challenging to differentiate the impact of human intervention from that of other factors. Therefore, evidence of the impact of tourism on cave invertebrate fauna remains scarce. Over a year and with approximately two visits a month, we investigated the effects of the presence of visitors on the subterranean endemic woodlouse Armadillidium lagrecai in the strict natural reserve of Monello Cave (Sicily, Italy). We found that natural microclimatic fluctuations, and not direct human disturbance, were the main factors driving the distribution of A. lagrecai. Specifically, A. lagrecai select for more climatically stable areas of the cave, where the temperature was constantly warm and the relative humidity close to saturation. We also observed a significant temporal effect, with a greater abundance of A. lagrecai in summer and a gradual decrease during the winter months. The number of visitors in the Monello cave had no effect on the abundance and distribution of A. lagrecai. However, considering the high sensitivity of the species to microclimatic variations, it seems likely that a significant increase in the number of visitors to the cave could indirectly affect this species by altering local microclimate. Constant monitoring of the environmental parameters within the cave is therefore recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During development, cells may adjust their size to balance between the tissue metabolic demand and the oxygen and resource supply: Small cells may effectively absorb oxygen and nutrients, but the relatively large area of the plasma membrane requires costly maintenance. Consequently, warm and hypoxic environments should favor ectotherms with small cells to meet increased metabolic demand by oxygen supply. To test these predictions, we compared cell size (hindgut epithelium, hepatopancreas B cells, ommatidia) in common rough woodlice (Porcellio scaber) that were developed under four developmental conditions designated by two temperatures (15 or 22°C) and two air O2 concentrations (10% or 22%). To test whether small‐cell woodlice cope better under increased metabolic demand, the CO2 production of each woodlouse was measured under cold, normoxic conditions and under warm, hypoxic conditions, and the magnitude of metabolic increase (MMI) was calculated. Cell sizes were highly intercorrelated, indicative of organism‐wide mechanisms of cell cycle control. Cell size differences among woodlice were largely linked with body size changes (larger cells in larger woodlice) and to a lesser degree with oxygen conditions (development of smaller cells under hypoxia), but not with temperature. Developmental conditions did not affect MMI, and contrary to predictions, large woodlice with large cells showed higher MMI than small woodlice with small cells. We also observed complex patterns of sexual difference in the size of hepatopancreatic cells and the size and number of ommatidia, which are indicative of sex differences in reproductive biology. We conclude that existing theories about the adaptiveness of cell size do not satisfactorily explain the patterns in cell size and metabolic performance observed here in P. scaber. Thus, future studies addressing physiological effects of cell size variance should simultaneously consider different organismal elements that can be involved in sustaining the metabolic demands of tissue, such as the characteristics of gas‐exchange organs and O2‐binding proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The family Platyarthridae Verhoeff, 1949 includes eight genera ( I Cephaloniscus i , I Echinochaetus i , I Gerufa i , I Lanceochaetus i , I Niambia i , I Papuasoniscus i , I Platyarthrus i and I Trichorhina i ) and 132 described species of oniscidean isopods with worldwide distribution (Boyko et al., 2019). Terrestrial isopods of the family Eubelidae Budde-Lund, 1899 from Iran, with description of a new species (Isopoda, Oniscidea). First recorded cave-dwelling terrestrial isopods (Isopoda: Oniscidea) in Iran with a description of a new species. [Extracted from the article]

Woodlice are commonly investigated in schools; however, there is little in-depth research about their behaviours or learning capabilities. This student investigation aimed to find out whether woodlice can learn to follow a given stimulus after a period of training with a delayed reward. The results show that woodlice spend more time in the stimulus area after training than the control group and that even after leaving the stimulus area they return. This behaviour suggests that they can both learn and make neural representations of their surroundings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • The terrestrial isopod community in the fen was impoverished due to the high water table, which suppressed colonization from adjacent habitats. • The exception was Ligidium germanicum , which maintained stable populations in the fen. • Successional changes promoted higher isopod activity density due to the lower water table and higher vegetation complexity compared to the fen. • Preservation of hydrological conditions in the fen is essential for suppressing colonization of forest and generalist species. Abstract Peatlands in the Western Balkans are becoming rapidly reduced due to vegetation succession, further enhanced by climate change and abandonment of traditional land management practices. Currently, the peatlands of this region act as habitat islands embedded mainly in a forest landscape matrix. This allows them to host more forest and generalist species of animals and plants than would be expected from such ecosystem. We were interested in testing if a taxon, unspecialized for such extreme habitats, can maintain stable populations in a peatland, and how environmental fluctuations affect its spatio-temporal distributions along a successional gradient. Terrestrial isopods were sampled in four habitat types: a fen, two successional habitats and a beech forest, with pitfall traps during two consecutive years. In total, 1069 individuals belonging to five species were recorded. Activity density increased more than four-fold along the successional gradient, from the fen to an older and more complex successional habitat. This pattern was governed by an increase in the structural complexity of the habitat, where succession habitats supported more favourable shelter sites for terrestrial isopods. Soil moisture decreased over 30% along the successional gradient. Additionally, the older successional habitat was more nutrient rich than the fen, providing higher substrate quality for decomposers and enabling the survival of forest species. The fen was inhabited by a single species, Ligidium germanicum , while other species were extremely rare. Its seasonal activity started in the spring, reaching the maximum in June and decreasing at the end of summer. Spatial changes in isopod assemblages along the successional gradient imply that the groundwater level in the fen was sufficiently high to supress the invasion of forest species into the fen. Colonisation of the fen by terrestrial isopods will likely progress as environmental conditions become more suitable by progressive vegetation succession and climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bioaccumulation of and resistance to different heavy metals in soil was tested using Mongoloniscus sinensis, a terrestrial isopod endemic to china, and results show that: (1) the median lethal concentration (LC50) of Pb, Zn, Cd in the filter paper contact test after 48 h was 197.6, 503.7, 448.0 µg cm− 2, LC50 of Pb-Zn compounds was 173.8 and 440.8 µg cm− 2 and after 14 days of soil contamination LC50 was 2917.0, 2977.9, 5048.4 mg kg− 1, LC50 of Pb-Zn compounds was 1219 and 1463 mg kg− 1. Thus Zn turned out to be less toxic than Cd in the filter paper contact test, while their sequence of toxicity was reversed during the soil exposure test, which shows that M. sinensis can tolerate a dose of Zn and Cd. (2) analysis of body burdens showed that the sequence of internalized metal concentrations was Pb < Cd < Zn, which indicates that heavy metals in soil can be enriched and absorbed by M. sinensis, and that it is much more efficient at absorbing Zn and Cd than Pb. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Armadillo officinalis Duméril, 1816 (Armadillidae) is a widespread terrestrial isopod species in the Mediterranean basin and on the western coasts of the Black Sea. The species is adapted to live in xeric environments and has mainly nocturnal habits. This species is capable of producing stridulations, which is nowadays recognized as a synapomorphy of the genus. In both sexes, these vibrations are produced by a line of scales on the propodus of pereopod 4 and 5. The main goals of this study are: to describe the manca stages of Armadillo officinalis; to detect the presence of the stridulatory apparatus in the manca stages; to evaluate the differences of such apparatus in the various manca stages. The manca stages (I, II, III) of Armadillo officinalis are described for the first time showing: i, the shortest duration (known in literature) of the manca stage I (approximately 30 minutes); ii, the presence of a rudimental stridulatory organ that may be of great importance in terms of evolutionary aspects and adaptation to terrestrial life. Notes on the reproductive biology are also reported. Furthermore, some considerations on future perspectives for A. officinalis as a model species in biotremology are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arthropods require periodic molting in order to grow which presents a number of challenges to terrestrial taxa. Following ecdysis, the pliant new cuticle is susceptible to buckling under gravity and requires elevated hydrostatic pressure for support. Terrestrial species also require a mechanism of volume expansion and stretching of the integument prior to sclerotization, a need that is readily met in aquatic arthropods by drinking. Options for land arthropods include drinking of dew, swallowing of air, or using muscular contractions to inflate air sacs in tracheate taxa. In this study we tested the hypothesis that crinochete terrestrial isopods (Isopoda: Oniscidea: Crinocheta) exploit their capacity for active water vapor absorption (WVA) to increase volume during molting. Two crinochete species, Armadillidium vulgare and Porcellio dilatatus, were studied and compared with the non-absorbing species Ligidium lapetum (Oniscidea: Ligiamorpha). Pre-molting animals were identified by sternal CaCO3 deposits and exposed to 100% or 97% relative humidity (RH). Mass-changes were monitored by daily weighing and the timing of the posterior and anterior ecdyses was used to categorize time (days premolt and days post-molt) over the molt cycle. In each treatment RH, A.vulgare and P. dilatatus showed a progressive mass increase from 5 days premolt until the posterior or anterior ecdysis, followed abruptly by period of mass-loss lasting 3-4 days postmolt. The fact that the initial mass-gain is seen in 97% RH, a humidity below the water activity of the hemolymph, confirms the role of WVA. Similarly, since the post-molt mass-loss is seen in 100% RH, this must be due to active expulsion of water, possibly via maxillary urine. Concurrent changes in hemolymph osmolality were monitored in a separate batch of A. vulgare and show sustained osmolality during premolt and an abrupt decrease between the anterior and posterior ecdysis. These patterns indicate a mobilization of sequestered electrolytes during premolt, and a loss of electrolytes during the post-molt mass-loss, amounting to approximately 8.6% of total hemolymph solutes. WVA, in conjunction with pulses of elevated hemolymph pressure, provides an efficient mechanism of pre-molt volume expansion prior to and during the biphasic molt in these species. Premolt Ligidium lapetum exposed to same treatments failed to molt successfully and no premolt animals survived to day 3 (72 h) even in 100% RH. The apparent dependence of this species on liquid water for successful molting could explain its obligatory association with riparian fringe habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Terrestrial isopods, as successful colonizers of land habitats, show a great variety in species distribution patterns on a global, continental, or regional scale. On a local, within-habitat level these patterns reflect the species' tolerance limits and the presence of suitable hiding places (shelter sites, refugia). Humidity preference reflects a species' capability for water retention which, in turn, depends on the integumental barrier. Desiccation resistance is a key feature in isopod survival under different environmental conditions. The present study shows a correlation between cuticle thickness and desiccation resistance under three relative humidity (RH) ranges (about 30, 75 and 100% RH) in nine species, relating these to the species' differences in meso- and microhabitat choices. Habitat preferences are also associated with differences in cuticle surface morphology. The results support our hypothesis that species distribution and desiccation resistance are associated with particular cuticular morphological traits. Phylogenetic relations seem to be less important in desiccation resistance than cuticle thickness and external morphology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Terrestrial isopods are soil macroarthropods that have few known parasites and parasitoids. All known parasitoids are from the family Rhinophoridae (Insecta: Diptera). The present article reviews the known biology of Rhinophoridae flies and presents the first record of Rhinophoridae larvae on a Neotropical woodlouse species. We also compile and update all published interaction records. The Neotropical woodlouse Balloniscus glaber was parasitized by two different larval morphotypes of Rhinophoridae. Including this new record, there are 18 Isopoda species known to be parasitized and 13 Rhinophoridae species with known hosts, resulting in 35 interactions. There are a total of 53 interaction records from Holarctic and Neotropical countries. Of the 18 known isopod hosts, only five species have more than one parasitoid, including the new Neotropical host record presented in this work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Woodlice are key organisms for nutrient cycling in many terrestrial ecosystems; however, knowledge on this invertebrate group is limited as for other soil fauna taxa. Here, we present an annotated checklist of the woodlice of Belgium, a small but densely populated country in Western Europe. We reviewed all 142 publications on Belgian woodlice, the oldest dating back to 1831 and re-identified all doubtful specimens from the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (RBINS) collection. These data is complemented with observations from extensive field surveys dating from March 2014 until December 2017. We report 36 species of woodlice with free-living populations for Belgium. Nine species can be added compared to the latest checklist published in 2000 being Hyloniscus riparius (C. Koch, 1838), Miktoniscus patiencei Vandel, 1946, Trichoniscoides sarsi Patience, 1908, Haplophthalmus montivagus Verhoeff, 1941, Porcellio monticola Lereboullet, 1853, Metatrichoniscoides leydigii (Weber, 1880), Trichoniscus alemannicus Verhoeff, 1917, Eluma caelata (Miers, 1877) and Philoscia affinis Verhoeff, 1908. Two species are deleted from the checklist (Ligidium germanicum Verhoeff, 1901 and Armadillidium depressum Brandt, 1833) because records are doubtful and no material has been preserved. Additionally the data of the field surveys is used to determine a species status of occurrence in Belgium. For each species, a short overview of their first records is provided and their confirmation as part of the Belgian fauna, their current status, as well as a complete bibliography of the species in Belgium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper summarizes data regarding the terrestrial isopods of the White Carpathians range in the Western Outer Carpathians, based on field research undertaken during the past several decades in natural meadow, pasture, and forest localities. Using a combination of four collection methods, 19 species belonging to nine families were recorded. The most common representatives were Protracheoniscus politus, Trachelipus rathkii, and Ligidium hypnorum. In general, the biodiversity of isopod communities in the studied area was considerable, with half of the localities explored inhabited by six to ten species. The composition of the isopod assemblages was determined by the character of the biotope and its geographical location. Forest habitats were considerably richer in species than the meadow and pasture ecosystems. Some xerotermic localities in the Slovak part of the area were inhabited by Trachelipus nodulosus and Orthometopon planum, thermophilic species typically associated with warmer parts of Europe. Two relic species (Hyloniscus mariae and Ligidium germanicum) were confirmed for this area. Except for only one finding of Porcellio scaber, no other evidently introduced or synanthropic species were recorded. Based on the data analyzed, the high nature conservancy value of the given area is emphasised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The special environmental conditions of caves provide habitat for several endemic and relict species, among them terrestrial isopods. The Baradla Cave system (north-eastern Hungary) hosts Mesoniscus graniger (Frivaldszky, 1865) (Oniscidea, Microcheta, Mesoniscidae), a pygmy, blind, fragile troglophile woodlice species. Its stable environment can be characterised by the lack of light, high relative humidity (96%), low and constant temperature (about 10 °C). We explored the population characteristics (sex ratio, size distribution) and life history traits of the species (e.g. longevity, reproductive strategy, offspring number, and size). Sex ratio and size distribution of the individuals (head-width measurements) were estimated based on a yearly pooled pitfall-trap data set (N = 677). We studied the species' reproductive strategy under natural conditions (Baradla Cave, Aggtelek National Park). Model populations were set up in the cave and checked monthly between March and October, 2016 (15 replicates, each with 12 randomly chosen adult individuals; SN = 180). Digital photos were taken of the live animals and their length was estimated based on the photos by using ImageJ software (average body length: 6.56 ± 0.79 mm). The results showed female dominance in the population [(male:female = 0.43:0.57); p < 0.001 (GLM)]. Female head width (0.87 ± 0.18 mm) was significantly greater than that of males [0.79 ± 0.08 mm; p < 0.001 (t-test)]. Based on our present data we assume that the offspring number per single female is low (3-5), and new-borns have a relatively large size (body length: 4.22 ± 0.53 mm) compared to the adults. The probability of reproduction was continuous by monthly intervals (binomial test) and longevity exceeds one year. Our results suggest that the species follows a stenodynamic life history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Alpioniscus Racovitza, 1908 (Trichoniscidae) from Sardinia is revised. Three new cave-dwelling species are described: A. onnisi Taiti & Argano, sp. n., A. stochi Taiti & Argano, sp. n., and A. sideralis Taiti & Argano, sp. n. The genus Utopioniscus Schmalfuss, 2005 is considered to be a junior synonym of Alpioniscus, after morphological and molecular analyses. Alpioniscus fragilis (Budde-Lund, 1909) and A. kuehni from Grotta del Bue Marino are illustrated. With the new species, the genus Alpioniscus in Sardinia comprises six species: two troglobionts (A. fragilis and A. onnisi), one endogean and troglobiont (A. thanit Taiti & Argano, 2009), and three stygobionts (A. kuehni, A. stochi, and A. sideralis). All the species occur in karstic areas in the central-eastern and south-eastern part of the island. A key to all the Sardinian species of Alpioniscus is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of woodlice, Protracheoniscus pokarzhevskii Gongalsky & Turbanov, sp. n. is described from Kalmykia, NE Pre-Caspian region, Russia. Protracheoniscus kryszanovskii Borutzky, 1957 from the same area is also redescribed. Diagnostic features of these species as well as affinities within the genus are provided and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work, terrestrial isopods of the family Eubelidae are investigated in Iran. The genera Periscyphis and Somalodillo are reported for the first time. More localities are presented for Koweitoniscus tamei (Omer-Cooper, 1923) while K. shafieii Kashani, sp. n. is described and figured. A map indicating the sampling localities for the species is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porcellionidae is one of the richest families of Oniscidea, globally distributed, but we still lack a comprehensive and robust phylogeny of the taxa that are assigned to it. Employing five genetic markers (two mitochondrial and three nuclear) we inferred phylogenetic relationships among the majority of Porcellionidae genera. Phylogenetic analyses conducted via Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Inference resulted in similar tree topologies. The mtDNA genes cytochrome oxidase I (COI) and 16s rRNA (16s) were used for clade dating using previously published mutation rates. Our results provide evidence against the monophyly of both Porcellionidae and the largest genus of the family, Porcellio. These results are compared to previous published work based on morphological evidence. The genera Leptotrichus and Brevurus are not grouped with the rest of Porcellionidae whereas Agnaridae are grouped with part of Porcellionidae. Armadillidium and Schizidium (Armadillidiidae) occupy a basal position on the phylogenetic tree. Even though the African genera Tura and Uramba (distributed in East Africa) are grouped together, there is no general geographical pattern in other sub-clades. Additional taxonomic issues that arise in this work, such as the assignment of the recently described genus Levantoniscus, are also discussed. The status of Porcellionidae should be further revised and morphological characters traditionally used in Oniscidea taxonomy should be reconsidered in view of molecular evidence. The origin of the monophyletic clade within Porcellionidae, as indicated in the present work, is dated back to the Oligocene (~32 mya). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • A circular arena was used to evaluate aggregation in woodlice. • We assessed substrate-borne vibrations as the principal factor. • A. officinalis reacted significantly to micro-vibrations, unlike A. vulgare. • The capability of A. officinalis to produce vibrations might be involved. Abstract Gregarious behavior and aggregative phenomena among conspecifics in woodlice are thought to be a form of evolutionary adaptation to the terrestrial environment which has given these animals multiple advantages, e.g., against desiccation and predation. The reasons behind these phenomena, however, have not fully been clarified yet. This exploratory study has the aim to assess displacement and aggregation state relatively to the presence of substrate-borne vibrations in two different species of terrestrial isopods. To this goal, a circular arena was used to collect data from adult individuals of Armadillo officinalis , a stridulating species, and Armadillidium vulgare , a non-stridulating species, both exposed and non-exposed to micro-vibrations. Our results showed that exposed individuals of A. officinalis significantly react to micro-vibrations positioning themselves preferentially far from the vibrational source compared to non-exposed individuals of the same species. Furthermore, both the number of aggregates and of isolated subjects significantly increase in the presence of substrate-borne vibrations than in the absence of micro-vibrations. No statistically significant association with substrate-borne vibrations was found for A. vulgare for both placement and number of aggregates and of isolated subjects. Unlike A. vulgare , A. officinalis appears very sensitive to micro-vibrations which seem to represent a source of disturbance or potential danger. Substrate-borne vibrations seem to affect the capability of this species to aggregate leading to a greater number of aggregates and isolated subjects as if animals were a bit disoriented. This behavior might be related to a possible capability of this species to use micro-vibrations for inter- and intraspecific communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patterns of allocation between reproduction, survival, and maintenance are what we call life history. By investigating the life-history strategy of sympatric species, we may understand how they are able to coexist, as different strategies are expected to evolve in species that occupy similar niche space. Terrestrial isopods are a group in which multiple species frequently inhabit the same area. Notably, they are usually infected by Wolbachia Hertig, 1936, a notorious manipulator of the hosts' reproductive processes. Thus, the aim of this study was to analyze the investment in reproduction in three sympatric and closely related species of terrestrial isopods: Atlantoscia floridana (Van Name, 1940), Atlantoscia inflata Campos-Filho and Araujo, 2015, and Atlantoscia petronioi Campos-Filho, Contreira and Lopes-Leitzke, 2012, only the latter being infected with Wolbachia. We showed that the presence of the bacteria seems not to affect the fitness of A. petronioi, because there was no clear difference in the reproductive output of infected and noninfected individuals. On the other hand, we observed that the three species possess alternative life-history strategies; that is, they differ in how much they invest in maintenance (body size) and reproductive effort. Such differences probably facilitate the species coexistence, reducing the competition among them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Agriculture lowers the genetic variability in the woodlice Armadillidium vulgare. • The genetic distance between individuals grows with geographic distance. • Agriculture management produces bottleneck effects in soil organisms populations. • Genetic variability in soil arthropods can be used as a disturbance bioindicator. • Cattle raising produces an intermediate loss of genetic variability in A. vulgare. Abstract The Argentine Pampas region is recognized by its high productivity and fertility, which make its soils suitable for agricultural use. However, the intensification of agricultural activities over the last forty years has led to an intense disturbance regime, characterized by an increase in the soil degradation rate. Soil degradation and its relationship with soil fauna communities are crucial issues in resource management. In this study, we investigated the effects of land-use change on the genetic variability of the terrestrial isopod Armadillidium vulgare , chosen as a biological model. The diversity and population genetic structure of this species were analyzed using inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR)-PCR markers, in three land uses in two localities of Luján, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Genetic variability was high in natural grassland populations and lower in agricultural land uses. Both conventional F ST analysis and Bayesian approach for dominant markers showed significant genetic differences between land uses within each locality. The loss of genetic variability and the population genetic structure can be used as indicators of system disturbance. Thus, in the soils studied, the degree of genetic variability of representative populations of the soil fauna can be a good indicator of the disturbance degree. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a novel laboratory activity to introduce students to experimental approaches often used by biologists to study orientation in animals. We first provide an overview of the current understanding of magnetoreception - the ability of some organisms to sense magnetic fields. We then outline an exercise that uses common pill bugs (Armadillidium vulgare) to examine whether a pulsed magnetic field affects their directional preference. The first part of the experiment includes the construction and visual testing of a pulse magnetizer built using low-cost and easily obtainable materials. Afterward, students examine the orientation of pill bugs both before and after being subjected to a magnetic pulse. Finally, students analyze their results with circular statistics using the open-source R coding platform, providing them experience in coding languages and statistical analysis. The interdisciplinary and biophysical nature of this experiment engages students in concepts of electromagnetic induction, magnetism, animal behavior, and statistics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Litter decomposition is a key ecosystem process which is dependent on the litter characteristics and diversity, the decomposer community and activity, and the environmental conditions. We assessed vine leaf decomposition by Armadillidium vulgare (Latreille, 1804), a terrestrial isopod widely distributed and naturally present in vineyards. We compared the decomposition of three grape varieties (Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Sauvignon) with regular laboratory food (Tilia tomentosa (Moench, 1785)) for seven consecutive weeks. Seven traits were measured on the four litters tested in order to define their importance concerning (i) litter mass loss by the action of microorganisms and isopods (ii) the trophic traits (consumption and assimilation) and (iii) life-history traits (survival and growth) of A. vulgare. Thus, the chemical and physical traits (C/N ratio, tannin and fiber content, thickness) known to influence litter palatability and digestibility for decomposers were determined by standardized methods. In addition, the copper frequently used in viticulture as a fungicide which is potentially responsible for toxic effects on decomposers was measured by ICP-OES after litter mineralization in nitric acid. Our results showed a higher percentage of decomposability by microorganisms in litter with low cellulose content and C/N ratio. Higher isopod consumption and assimilation was found in the litters which is the poorest in tannin, lignin and copper contents. Variation of consumption according to litter was on average 1.5 to 2.7 lower for grape varieties compared to T. tomentosa litter. Assimilation was significantly lower with Pinot Noir than the other litters. To conclude, after seven weeks of experimentation, this study showed that if the growth and survival of woodlice were not affected by inter-varietal differences in vine leaf quality, their role in the decomposition process may be strongly modulated and reduced, especially after consumption of grape variety litters rich in copper, lignin and tannin. • Feeding preferences of Armadillidium vulgare to vine leaves were tested. • Litter quality was estimating by trait-approach. • Consumption and assimilation rates of woodlice depend on grape varieties. • Tannin, lignin and copper contents in litter modulated consumption and assimilation. • No effect of vine litter consumption was found on life-history traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a result of great diversity in life histories and a large number of described species, taxonomic and phylogenetic uncertainty permeates the entire crustacean order of Isopoda. Large molecular datasets capable of providing sufficiently high phylogenetic resolution, such as mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes), are needed to infer their evolutionary history with confidence, but isopod mitogenomes remain remarkably poorly represented in public databases. We sequenced the complete mitogenome of Cymothoa indica, a species belonging to a family from which no mitochondrial genome was sequenced yet, Cymothoidae. The mitogenome (circular, 14484 bp, A+T = 63.8%) is highly compact, appears to be missing two tRNA genes (trnI and trnE), and exhibits a unique gene order with a large number of rearrangements. High compactness and the existence of palindromes indicate that the mechanism behind these rearrangements might be associated with linearization events in its evolutionary history, similar to those proposed for isopods from the Armadillidium genus (Oniscidea). Isopods might present an important model system to study the proposed discontinuity in the dynamics of mitochondrial genomic architecture evolution. Phylogenetic analyses (Bayesian Inference and Maximum Likelihood) conducted using nucleotide sequences of all mitochondrial genes resolved Oniscidea and Cymothoida suborders as paraphyletic. Cymothoa indica was resolved as a sister group (basal) to all remaining isopods, which challenges the accepted isopod phylogeny, where Cymothoida are the most derived, and Phreatoicidea the most basal isopod group. There is growing evidence that Cymothoida suborder might be split into two evolutionary distant clades, with parasitic species being the most basal split in the Isopoda clade, but a much larger amount of molecular resources carrying a high phylogenetic resolution will be needed to infer the remarkably complex evolutionary history of this group of animals with confidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neutral lipid fatty acid (NLFA) analysis is a promising tool to investigate energy fluxes and basal resources of soil animal communities. This study aimed at investigating the effect of common handling and storage procedures in soil animal ecology on the NLFA composition and marker NLFAs. First, we tested the effect of the method of killing (by freezing and by drowning in diethylene glycol mixed with water; 1:1) on NLFA composition of the woodlouse Oniscus asellus . Additionally, we inspected the effect of two reference methods (direct freezing at −20 °C and storage in methanol at −80 °C with evaporating methanol prior to lipid extraction) after 4 and 12 months on the NLFA profile of O. asellus . We investigated the effect of the collection solution used in heat extraction of soil animals (water and glycol), storage fluids (saltwater, glycerine, ethanol and methanol) and storage time (4 and 12 months) on NLFA composition and common marker NLFAs of two Isopoda species differing in body size. The NLFA composition and marker fatty acids (FAs) did not differ between the methods of killing and between the two reference treatments but the amount of saturated FAs and the saturated-to-unsaturated FA ratio generally increased after 12 months indicating oxidation processes. Generally, the collection solution was of minor importance, whereas storage fluid and storage time strongly affected NLFA patterns. The NLFA profile of the larger species O. asellus was affected by storage in methanol and ethanol and to some extent in saltwater, while the NLFA profile of the smaller Trichoniscus pusillus was affected by each of the treatments. Notably, however, marker FAs of O. asellus and T. pusillus were not significantly affected by storing in glycerine even after 12 months in O. asellus . Therefore, if animals need to be stored prior to NLFA analysis for sorting and identification, storage in glycerine is advisable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Diversity of terrestrial isopods across habitats and altitude was studied in the National Park of Chambi (central Tunisia). Samples were collected over five years in seven sites (S1–S7), within an altitudinal range from 750 to 1,500 m a.s.l. Twelve species belonging to five families were identified, with one endemic species (Porcellio djahizi) to this area, and three species were present in all sites (P. djahizi, Leptotrichus panzerii and Armadillidium tunisiense). Agnaridae represented by Hemilepistus reaumurii species was the most abundant family (58.77%) and found in only one site. Our results showed differences in species richness between sites. Indeed, S2 and S3 (900 and 1,050 m) showed the highest species richness with 11 species each. This result validates the hypothesis of mid‐elevational richness peak and contradicts the theory of large sampling regimes in determining the relationship between species richness and elevation. Terrestrial isopod species richness in the Chambi Mountain tends to decrease with altitude: 11 species in S2 and S3 to four species in S7. The highest Shannon–Wiener diversity index value was observed in S2 (H′ = 3.21 bits). Canonical correspondence analysis revealed that H. reaumurii was positively correlated with temperature whereas A. tunisiense and P. djahizi were the only species positively correlated with altitude. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Terrestrial isopods (or woodlice), like the members of the other arthropod taxa, have a sophisticated nervous system that makes them sensitive to specific environmental factors. They can search for survival-related opportunities (e.g., approaching food sources or avoiding sunny areas). Two experiments examined how rotational stress could influence the propensity of common woodlice, Porcellio scaber to exhibit survival-related behaviors such as traveling and rearing up in a hostile environment. Experiment 1 assessed the behaviors of stressed and nonstressed woodlice exposed to a familiar or a novel environment without rewards. Experiment 2 assessed the effects of stress in woodlice given a free choice between a familiar and a novel environment without rewards. In the nonstressed individuals, the results showed a decrease in locomotor activity (habituation) and an increase in the time spent rearing up (sensitization) on the arena’s walls over time. In the stressed individuals, repeated rotation had a detrimental effect on the time spent rearing up, but locomotion was decreased only in the stressed individuals that were not preexposed to the test environment beforehand. In addition, immobilization periods—as a plausible indicator of stress—were longer in the absence of preexposure. It is suggested that preexposure had some antistress protective effects on habituated but not on sensitized, exploratory behaviors in woodlice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Even if we have written testimony that the ancient Greek intellectuals were already aware of the existence of woodlice, the history of scientific research on this group of animals starts 2000 years later. Beginning with Linnaeus, this survey portrays the more important researchers in this field, trying to outline the development from descriptive taxonomy into a broad field of biological science. Today isopodological research includes studies on ecology, behavior, nutritional biology, anatomy, functional morphology, neurology, physiology, biogeography, systematics, and phylogenetic analyses based on morphological and molecular data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The present work focuses on the moult cycle of Armadillo officinalis. For a 100‐day period, 134 animals were observed and routinely examined with the aim of detecting distinctive morphological characters in the several stages and substages of the moult cycle and of disclosing their duration. Statistical tests and Poisson regression models with robust standard errors were used to investigate differences and relationships between moult and the size and gender of the animals. The appearance of the calcium carbonate deposits on the pereon sternites during the premoult stage was documented in detail, and three main substages were identified. The average duration of the premoult and of the biphasic ecdysis was about 12 and 1.5 days, respectively. This observation period, however, did not allow to establish a determined average duration of the intermoult stage, which was extremely variable. This stage lasted for 2 months or more in most of the cases observed, but about 1‐month‐long intermoult stages were also recorded. No statistically significant association was found between the number of moults and gender and size of the animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents first materials on the fauna and distribution of the terrestrial isopods - woodlice (Oniscidea) inhabiting the central and southern parts of Kostanay Region (Kazakhstan, Northern and Southern Turgai), located in the steppe zone. Most of the specimens of woodlice were collected in the territory of the National Nature Reserve "Altyn Dala", a new protected area (established in 2012) and in the area of the Naurzum National Nature Reserve (established in 1931, World Heritage Site of UNESCO), on the Stipa lessingiana dry steppe. The list of woodlice includes six species (Crustacea: Isopoda: Oniscidea), belonging to five genera and three families in the study area. Four species are recorded for the first time in Kazakhstan - Desertoniscus subterraneus Verhoeff, 1930, Parcylisticus dentifrons (Budde-Lund 1885), Porcellio scaber Latreille, 1804, and Protracheoniscus major (Dollfus 1903). Distribution characteristics are provided for all of those species recorded in the study area. For the territory of Kazakhstan, according to a literature data, currently 16 species of terrestrial isopods have been recorded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we focused on the relationship existing between the phenomenon of alternating turns and substrate-borne vibrations in woodlice, utilizing Armadillo officinalis as an experimental behavioral model. A T-maze with multiple exits was used to collect information on the pattern of turn alternation in (i) adult individuals of A. officinalis exposed and (ii) non-exposed to micro-vibrations, and (iii) juveniles of A. officinalis exposed to micro-vibrations. Turn alternation was assessed as the number of times that an animal turned on the opposite side in the T-maze. Our best model pointed out a statistically significant increased expected number of alternating turns for both groups of adult individuals, non-exposed and exposed to micro-vibrations, compared to exposed juveniles. Adults of A. officinalis seem to be very reactive to substrate-borne vibrations, unlike juveniles. This reactivity might be related to a defense mechanism developed as an evolutionary adaptation to the xeric environment, increasing progressively from the juvenile condition until the adult state. This feature might also fit into a complex network of inter- and intraspecific communication mediated by substrate-borne vibrations, like in insects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although new methods and data are conquering space in the field of taxonomy, such as integrative taxonomy, most terrestrial isopod species are still described based only on morphology. Species of the genus Atlantoscia Ferrara and Taiti, 1981 were the first and are the unique terrestrial isopods from the Neotropics for which a molecular phylogeny was already conducted. Previous results indicated that this genus could be paraphyletic, and a more detailed analysis would be required. Our aim was to reconstruct the phylogeny of Atlantoscia using mitochondrial and nuclear markers and test its monophyly by integrating molecular and morphological data. We observed that, indeed, Atlantoscia is paraphyletic. Atlantoscia ituberasensis Campos-Filho, Lisboa and Araujo, 2013 and Atlantoscia rubromarginata Araujo and Leistikow, 1999 were placed in a new genus of terrestrial isopods, Paratlantoscia gen. nov., together with a new species described in the present study, Paratlantoscia robusta sp. nov. The new genus is defined by the presence of specialized respiratory areas in the pleopod exopods and its validity is highly corroborated by molecular analyses and by biogeographic information. This study highlights the importance of multiple and complementary perspectives as a way to improve the quality of species hypothesis and associated descriptions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urbanization causes considerable alteration across a wide range of ecosystem functions at regional and global scales. These changes could be key drivers of habitat stability and ecosystem services in urban greenspaces. The aim of this study was to test the influence of urbanization on taxonomic and functional diversities of arthropods of different trophic levels. We collected predator spiders, polyphagous rove beetles, and decomposer woodlice along a rural-suburban-urban gradient by litter sifting. Neither the taxonomic, nor the functional diversity (Rao’s quadratic entropy) using a morphological trait (body size) and ecological traits (habitat affinity, humidity preference, and disturbance sensitivity) of the spiders were significantly different along the urbanization gradient. For rove beetles, taxonomic diversity was significantly higher in rural sites compared to suburban and urban ones, while functional diversity did not differ significantly between sites. Both the taxonomic and the functional diversities of woodlice were significantly higher in the rural sites than in the suburban or urban sites. Detrended canonical correspondence analysis also showed that urbanization did not cause considerably changes in composition of spider assemblages, while rove beetle and woodlouse assemblages showed clear separation between rural and urban sites. This study pointed out that trophic levels may be a crucial driver of the responses to urbanization. Our results suggest that urbanization has a less harmful effect on predator spiders, as they can easily recolonize the managed urban greenspaces. Contrarily, recolonization of arthropods at lower trophic levels (rove beetles and woodlice) into the urban habitats is considerably restricted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Henri de Saussure and Jean Carl were both prolific taxonomists who worked on many groups. Both paid some attention to the terrestrial isopods, although neither was mainly concerned with the order Isopoda. The Muséum d'histoire naturelle de Genéve contains type specimens of nine species described by Saussure and eleven species or subspecies described by Carl. All of the species described by the two are enumerated, the presence of type specimens is noted and the current nomenclatural combination for each species is given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mesoniscus graniger (Frivaldsky, 1865) is a terrestrial isopod species generally known from mountainous karstic caves. Nevertheless, we found an endogeic population in Blahnița Plain, south-western Romania, on a stream bank, at 81 m altitude. The presence of this endogeic plain population may represent a new proof upon the species' habitat of origin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study focuses on the relationship existing between the phenomenon of turn alternation and substrate-borne vibrations in woodlice. Armadillo officinalis was utilized as a behavioral model in comparison to Armadillidium vulgare so as to assess its capability of perceiving external vibrations too. A T-maze with multiple exits was used to collect information on the pattern of turn alternation in i) adult individuals of A. officinalis exposed, and ii) not exposed to micro-vibrations, and iii) adult individuals of A. vulgare exposed to micro-vibrations. Turn alternation was assessed as the number of times that an animal turned on the opposite side in the T-maze. Our results showed a statistically significant association between turn alternation pattern and both exposure to micro-vibrations and species of the animals. According to our best-fitting model, A. officinalis not exposed and A. vulgare exposed to substrate-borne vibrations have 97% and 98% lower odds, respectively of being in a higher category of turn alternations compared to a lower category than exposed individuals of A. officinalis . A. officinalis seems to be very reactive to substrate-borne vibrations, unlike A. vulgare . This different reactivity might be related to a more complex defense mechanism developed as an evolutionary adaptation to the xeric environment, and/or to a means of communication mediated by substrate-borne vibrations, like in insects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Novamundoniscus includes eight species with distribution in Brazil and Venezuela. The new species Novamundoniscus adhara Campos-Filho & Cardoso sp. nov. from the state of Tocantins, northern Brazil, is described, which represents the first record to the family for the state of Tocantins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The urban invertebrate fauna and especially the Oniscidea, Diplopoda and Chilopoda (among the dominant groups of the arthropod decomposer and predator community in many habitats) are an interesting but under-investigated aspect of the Romanian invertebrate fauna. Our intention was to continue and develop our previous studies on the fauna of Bucharest and to provide a more complete inventory of the Oniscidea, Diplopoda and Chilopoda species recorded so far in Bucharest and to detail the differences in the number of species between the investigated parks. In addition, we report observations on three Oniscidea species, two Diplopoda species and ten Chilopoda species, some of them recorded for the first time in the Romanian Plain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]