Food Preferences of Three Species of Woodlouse and Their Rate of Consumption of Plant Residue

Abstract

Rice and wheat straw are among the most common types of field residues. Earlier studies have shown that some soil detritophages, such as enchytraeids and woodlice, are able to utilize these residues at varying efficiency rates even under arid conditions, in which organic matter degradation is very slow. We have evaluated the decomposition of oak, birch, raspberry, linden, willow, wheat, rice, and corn residues by the Porcellio scaber, Porcellionides pruinosus, and Porcellio laevis woodlice. Ten woodlice belonging to each of the studied species were placed in containers, where they could choose from 1 g of each type of plant feed, for 21 days. The woodlice preferred linden, willow, birch, and corn residues, these being mostly feeds with a low silicon concentration. Porcellio laevis showed a wide range of food preferences and high survival rates on different feeds. Thus, when the structure of plant food resources in southern Russia changes, the studied species of woodlice are able to change their diet and switch to more accessible food sources. From the industrial point of view, P. laevis may be efficiently used for processing corn stover, including because of the low silicon content in its leaves.