THE BRITISH WOODLICE. 



91 



Genus— PHILOSCIA Latreille, 1804 (37), p. 43. 



Flagellum with three joints; abdomen narrow; head without 

 lateral lobes. 



If any further differences of an obvious kind be required to 

 distinguish Philoscia from Oniscus, one at least will be found in 

 the much greater development of the hinder legs in the former 



Philoscia muscorum Scopoli. Plate X. 

 [Not of Lereboullet, which is an Oniscus, see Bate and Westwood (1).] 



1763 Oniscus muscorum Scopoli (67), p. 415. 



1793 Oniscus si/lccstris Fabricius (26), p. 397. 



1793 Oniscus agilis Koch in Panzer (51), part 9, pi. XXIV. 



1833 Philoscia manuonda Brandt (3), p. 183. 



1838 Ligia melanocephala Koch (34), part 22, pi. XVIII. 



1847 Zia melanocephala Koch (38), part 40, pi. I. ?, p. 212. 



1868 Philoscia muscorum Bate and Westwood (1), p. 



1898 Philoscia muscorum Sars (59), p. 174, pi. LXXVI., fig. 1. 



This species lives chiefly at the roots of grass and under the 

 stones or sticks that lie among it. Philoscia 

 muscorum has a very smooth and shining body, 

 and its long legs enable it to move very rapidly. 

 The ground colour of its dorsal surface varies 

 from light yellow to deep brown. There are 

 characteristic dark markings down the middle 

 of the thorax and on the sides, between which 

 are lighter patches. In dark coloured speci- 

 mens the markings are by no means so evident. 



BRITISH LOCALITIES:— 



England : High Beach, Epping ; Warley ; 

 (W.M.W.): Maldon; (W.M.W. from R.M.) : 

 Kew ; Langley ; Han well, yellow variation ; 

 Bluebell Hill, Maidstone ; (W.M.W.) : Liphook ; 

 (C.S.) : Pamber Forest ; Kingston-on-Soar ; 

 (W.M.W.) 



Scotland : (Scott, 68). 



Ireland : Almost throughout ; (Scharff, 63). 



FIG. 44.— FLAGELLUM 



AND LAST PEDUNCULAR 



JOINT OF THE ANTENNA 



OF 



Pliiloscia muscorum. 



FOREIGN DISTRIB UTION :— 



Europe: Fiance; (25) : Spain; (12): Sicily; (19): Hertsogovinia ; (22): 

 Sweden; (21) : Norway ; Denmark ; Prussia ; Germany ; Holland ; Poland ;, 

 Austria; Italy; (59): Sardinia; (21). 



Africa : Algeria ; Tunis ; (24). 



