Redescription of Terrestrial Isopod Porcellio laevis Collected From Sohag Governorate, Egypt with an Overview of Epicuticular Structures Using Scanning Electron Microscopy

Abstract

The terrestrial isopod Porcellio laevis belongs to the genus Porcellio in the family Porcellionidae. It is a cosmopolitan species and was collected previously in Egypt. In the present study, this species was collected from two sites, guava and citrus plantations in Sohag Governorate, Egypt. This species can be identified visually from many other species of the Porcellio genus by the smooth, glossy dorsal surface and long, slender uropods of males. Porcellio laevis was first described by Latreille in 1804, and since that time, all articles have depended on this description and were supported with drawings. The present work uses a light and scanning electron microscope to study the external morphology of this species to enhance our knowledge about its taxonomic status. Also, surface epicuticular microstructures were investigated in this species using scanning electron microscopy, which reflects the large diversity of these microstructures, including microscales, plaques, polygonal micro-ridges, and tricorn sensilla.