A few days ago, I found a tiny guest in the bathroom: a woodlouse from the Porcellionides pruinosus species complex, also known as the “European woodlouse” or “blue powder woodlouse.”
These small creatures are terrestrial crustaceans, distant relatives of shrimp and crabs, but with the unique ability to live in dry, land environments. While Porcellionides pruinosus is a common species, it is not as easy to find or as abundant as Armadillidium vulgare in the area where I live. Unlike other woodlice that roll into a ball, these do not, and they usually have a grayish or bluish tone.
Afterwards, I took it out to the balcony and gently placed it among the plant pots so it could continue its life in a more suitable, natural place.
• European isopod / Blue powder isopod
• Cochinilla europea / Cochinilla polvo azul
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Crustacea
Superclass: Multicrustacea
Class: Malacostraca
Subclass: Eumalacostraca
Superorder: Peracarida
Order: Isopoda
Suborder: Oniscidea
Infraorder: Holoverticata
Zoosection: Crinocheta
Family: Porcellionidae
Genus: Porcellionides
Species complex:
Porcellionides pruinosus (P. floria / P. pruinosus)
Montevideo, Uruguay
