2-11-2024 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - POWDER BLUE ISOPOD (Porcellionides pruinosus)

Porcellionides pruinosus is a cosmopolitan and detrivorous woodlouse that is native to Europe, and is suspected to consist of very closely related species. Ten subspecies are recognised. The species carries Wolbachia endosymbionts, which is an alpha-proteobacterium that is known to modify the reproduction of their crustacean hosts by inducing cytoplasmic incompatibility or feminisation.

Porcellionides pruinosus is kept as a pet.

Since it is easy to keep, the species is bred as a food source for pets or as a pet itself. There are now numerous color forms such as "Orange", "Powder Orange", "White Out", "Oreo Crumble", "Red Koi", "Powder Blue", and "orange cream" although this is the nominated form. Some cultivated forms are traded for high prices by breeders.[citation needed]

These detrivorous isopods are relatively fast breeders and low maintenance and they prefer humid environments.[citation needed] They live for about one or two years.