Porcellio Scaber
Porcellio Scaber
Habitat: New Zealand, these types of woodlice are found in cool, humid and damp conditions. They are mainly found in spring and autumn. Mainly under shelter such as bark and boards left in shaded, moist conditions. They may also be found in deep, damp soil under the shelter of bushes or trees. Summer cause them to retreat deeper into shelter making them more difficult to locate. Winter also cause them to retreat further into shelter.
Behaviour: Many of the behavioural responses are concerned with water conservation and the need to avoid desiccation. Most woodlice are terrestrial. Woodlice have a high surface area to volume ratio and are likely to lose water by diffusion more quickly than many other species. They also lack a waterproof cuticle and so water will diffuse through their exoskeleton more than in others. To replace water lost woodlice are able to take up water through their uropod. These structures are pressed against moist surfaces; using capillary’s resulting in water absorption. The behaviour of the woodlice helps it to prevent a lot of water loss and so it is able to successfully live in a range of terrestrial habitats.
Humidity: They show an increased speed of movement in dry conditions and slower rates of movement in more humid conditions. This will result in them accumulating in more humid areas. This means that they will spend more time in humid conditions and will not lose water from their bodies.
Temperature: As the temperature increases or decrease from their preferred value. By moving more they are likely to spend less time in these unfavourable conditions and therefore will avoid unnecessary desiccation.
Light: This would show them moving away from sunny conditions towards darker regions. Brighter conditions tend to be drier and warmer than dark conditions so this behaviour will again result in decreased desiccation.
Other objects: They are less active when more of their body surface is in contact with other objects
Habitat: New Zealand, these types of woodlice are found in cool, humid and damp conditions. They are mainly found in spring and autumn. Mainly under shelter such as bark and boards left in shaded, moist conditions. They may also be found in deep, damp soil under the shelter of bushes or trees. Summer cause them to retreat deeper into shelter making them more difficult to locate. Winter also cause them to retreat further into shelter.
Behaviour: Many of the behavioural responses are concerned with water conservation and the need to avoid desiccation. Most woodlice are terrestrial. Woodlice have a high surface area to volume ratio and are likely to lose water by diffusion more quickly than many other species. They also lack a waterproof cuticle and so water will diffuse through their exoskeleton more than in others. To replace water lost woodlice are able to take up water through their uropod. These structures are pressed against moist surfaces; using capillary’s resulting in water absorption. The behaviour of the woodlice helps it to prevent a lot of water loss and so it is able to successfully live in a range of terrestrial habitats.
Humidity: They show an increased speed of movement in dry conditions and slower rates of movement in more humid conditions. This will result in them accumulating in more humid areas. This means that they will spend more time in humid conditions and will not lose water from their bodies.
Temperature: As the temperature increases or decrease from their preferred value. By moving more they are likely to spend less time in these unfavourable conditions and therefore will avoid unnecessary desiccation.
Light: This would show them moving away from sunny conditions towards darker regions. Brighter conditions tend to be drier and warmer than dark conditions so this behaviour will again result in decreased desiccation.
Other objects: They are less active when more of their body surface is in contact with other objects