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| Ant Woodlouse (Platyarthrus hoffmannseggii) |
We have a few cut log pieces dotted along the edges of our drive to keep the AirB&B folks next door from driving over and parking in our garden, which they were doing before. We've found that turning those logs over occasionally reveals all sorts of creatures. The last time I looked, I found these tiny white woodlice amongst an (unfortunately disturbed) ant colony. They're Ant Woodlice (
Platyarthrus hoffmannseggii) and, as their name suggests, they're well-known for associating with various species of ants. Small (5mm or just over 3/16 of an inch) and blind, they live within the colony, eating droppings and mildew. Their short antennae and oval shape help to distinguish them from other small, pale woodlice. In the British Isles, they're widespread in semi-natural grasslands, churchyards, gardens and roadside verges across southern England, Wales and south-eastern Ireland but are rare further north and west. Elsewhere in the world, they're found across much of Europe and have been introduced to North America and Australia.
