Scientific name
Porcellionides floria
Porcellionides floria is treated as a distinct species, separated from P. pruinosus in Garthwaite and Sassaman’s 1985 work. Its resemblance to the latter requires every identification to be documented. [1][2]
Origin
Distribution documented in North America, including the southern United States and Mexico. The precise native range is not delimited here; a ‘Florida’ label does not prove provenance. [2]
- Distinct species
- Fast
- Strain identification
Documentary synthesis: natural-history data and husbandry limits distinguished.
At a glance
A species distinct from P. pruinosus, Porcellionides floria strongly resembles it: strain identity must remain documented. [1][2]
| ADULT SIZE | Not provided No robust measurement adopted for this species. |
|---|---|
| LIFESPAN | Not established No supported individual lifespan in the selected sources. |
| LIFESTYLE | Ground-dwelling Long legs; environments associated with human activities. [1] |
Adult size
No robust adult measurement adopted from the documents opened; do not automatically copy that of P. pruinosus.
Lifespan
Individual lifespan is not established by the sources consulted; a colony’s persistence does not measure its founders’ ages.
Lifestyle
Grey, powdery appearance, long legs and association with human environments described for North American animals. [1]
Housing
ATTRIBUTED BREEDING PRACTICE
Ventilated litter — Springtails US method with distinct wetting zones; attributed captive account. [3]
Springtails US uses ventilated, food-providing litter and distinct wetting areas; attributed captive practice. [3]
Care parameters
CAPTIVE CLIMATE
Not established — No validated husbandry range in the selected sources.
Humidity
Substrate gradient — Commercial reference; no validated air-humidity percentage. [3]
Temperature
Not defined by the selected research sources A range published for another species in the complex cannot fill this field.
Humidity
Substrate gradient in breeder practice [3] Physically identify both areas and track their changes; no air percentage is validated here.
Feeding
DIET AND CALCIUM
Leaves, protein supplement and calcium source in the Springtails US method; no experimental ration established. [3]
Scope of this profile
Documentary synthesis: natural-history data and husbandry limits distinguished.
Scientific name and resemblance
BugGuide, hosted by Iowa State University, recalls that southern California specimens examined in the foundational work belonged to P. floria. [1] This result concerns an identified sample, not every woodlouse now sold under colour names. For a culture, retain the supplier, date, photographs and any specialist identification accompanying the group.
Do not turn the powdery bloom into a diagnosis
Characters accessible without electron microscopy overlap between the two species; the Canadian synthesis even reports a fraction of specimens that could not be identified using the criteria discussed. [2] A ringed antenna or bluish colour therefore remains a clue. If the strain is unconfirmed, enter that uncertainty beside the name rather than allowing it to disappear from the profile.
Setup and diet
Springtails US describes leaves, a protein supplement and a calcium source in its breeding method. [3] Placing supplementary portions on an identifiable surface makes leftovers easier to examine. The aim is to distinguish consumption, drying and mould. Keep the habitat clear enough to inspect a shelter without disrupting the whole colony.
Wetting, ventilation and measurements
Ventilation is part of the commercial setup consulted. [3] To document the culture, record the amount of water added and shelter condition before correcting a hygrometer figure. A percentage measured near the lid does not necessarily describe contact between animal and litter. The taxonomic publications used establish no captive thermal instruction.
Reproduction and young
The seller reports rapid multiplication, without a controlled trial or universal schedule. [3] Record the first appearances of young without assigning an exact birth date when they may have remained hidden. Do not mix this colony with P. pruinosus to artificially increase numbers: a mixed culture would then prevent observations being linked to a reliably identified species.
Limits and log
This profile distinguishes the taxon’s existence from a commercial group’s authenticity. Lifespan, thermal thresholds and reproductive output remain open questions. Each day, check lid integrity, food leftovers and the presence of a usable shelter; document changes before proposing a cause.
Checklist
- Label identification uncertainty.
- Separate pruinosus and floria groups.
- Prepare an observable feeding point.
Observations to record
- Origin and identification
- Water additions
- Young seen, moults, losses
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Sources
Document-based overview; not a substitute for veterinary advice.