CRUSTACEA > MALACOSTRACA > ISOPODA > Oniscidea > Crinocheta > Porcellionidae

Closely related to the previous species, Porcellionides pruinosus has the same diagnostic features of a stepped body outline and two, rather than three, antennal flagella segments, the combination of which is unique to the genus. It is a little larger than Porcellionides cingendus reaching a maximum length of 12mm. The body is typically purplish-brown in colour with a characteristic plum-like bloom, although occasionally individuals may be found that may be more of an orange colour. The legs are long and whitish.

The species is widely distributed across most of Britain, although more frequently recoded in central and eastern areas. It occurs, almost exclusively, in dung heaps around stables and farmyards, or in garden or allotment compost piles, and far more rarely under decaying bark of hardwood trees on pasture land. The preferred habitat probably results in under-recording.