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TranslateArmadillidium vulgare
BTB Armadillidium vulgare
Order: Isopoda suborder: Oniscidea, (Latreille, 1802).
Family: Armadillidiidae
Common names: Pill-Bug, Pill Wood louse, Potato Bug, Roly-Poly, Doodle Bug and Slater; it has many more common names and over 5000 species of woodlice exist.
When threatened A. vulgare usually roll-up into a defensive ball, as its exoskeleton, forms a protective armour, hence, so some of its common names derive upon its protective appearance. They have two stages in each moult, first the back half, then within 2 to 3 days the front half. The exoskeleton acts much like a shell, protecting the individual from variations in temperature, as well as humidity. Woodlice continuously lose water through their cuticles and by excretion; because of this they prefer damp, dark places, under logs and large stones and rocks.
Up to 18mm in Length. Life span: Approx. 3 years.
Woodlice are found Worldwide, this species being one of the commoner species of large woodlice, being more populated in the temperate climatic countries of Europe, especially around the Mediterranean Basin; although it can be found as far north, as southern England.
Armadillidium vulgare is a Terrestrial Isopod crustacean, other Isopods are aquatic and live in salt or fresh water environments, such as crabs, lobsters, barnacles and shrimps. (All having an external shells). Woodlice are the only crustacean that do not live in the water.
Habitat: Armadillidium vulgare is able to tolerate hotter and dryer conditions that many other species of woodlice cannot. Mainly restricted to calcareous soils and coastal areas, feeding more often on decaying plant matter (in some images below, show A. vulgare, storing rabbit droppings inside a hole). Will also be seen feeding on algae and lichens, from tree bark and walls, (A lichen is a composite organism that grows from algae, usually seen growing on the more shaded side of stones, rocks and brick walls). When temperatures in more northern countries of Europe fall below freezing, they will enter a state of dormancy, during the winter months. Often seen as an unwelcome visitor inside a home, although they are harmless creatures, as they will only feed on wood that is starting to decay.
The female will produce around 50 eggs, up to three broods a year, she will keep the fertilized eggs in a marsupium which is located on the underside of her body till they hatch. The young are known as “Manca” their development is slow, so the adult female will often remain close by until they become adults. Many woodlice die before they become adults, mainly through predation. Wasps, millipedes, spiders of the genus Dysdera (known as woodlouse hunting spiders).
They are beneficial in gardens, as they play a role in controlling certain pests and help in producing compost, by digesting dead vegetation and organic matter. On the other hand, they can become a pest to certain growers, especially to strawberry growers when the fruit ripens.
A. Vulgare has been introduced to many locations in North America, it is also kept as a pet, needing a very moist habitat, limited light and plenty of decaying botanical matter.
Read MoreOrder: Isopoda suborder: Oniscidea, (Latreille, 1802).
Family: Armadillidiidae
Common names: Pill-Bug, Pill Wood louse, Potato Bug, Roly-Poly, Doodle Bug and Slater; it has many more common names and over 5000 species of woodlice exist.
When threatened A. vulgare usually roll-up into a defensive ball, as its exoskeleton, forms a protective armour, hence, so some of its common names derive upon its protective appearance. They have two stages in each moult, first the back half, then within 2 to 3 days the front half. The exoskeleton acts much like a shell, protecting the individual from variations in temperature, as well as humidity. Woodlice continuously lose water through their cuticles and by excretion; because of this they prefer damp, dark places, under logs and large stones and rocks.
Up to 18mm in Length. Life span: Approx. 3 years.
Woodlice are found Worldwide, this species being one of the commoner species of large woodlice, being more populated in the temperate climatic countries of Europe, especially around the Mediterranean Basin; although it can be found as far north, as southern England.
Armadillidium vulgare is a Terrestrial Isopod crustacean, other Isopods are aquatic and live in salt or fresh water environments, such as crabs, lobsters, barnacles and shrimps. (All having an external shells). Woodlice are the only crustacean that do not live in the water.
Habitat: Armadillidium vulgare is able to tolerate hotter and dryer conditions that many other species of woodlice cannot. Mainly restricted to calcareous soils and coastal areas, feeding more often on decaying plant matter (in some images below, show A. vulgare, storing rabbit droppings inside a hole). Will also be seen feeding on algae and lichens, from tree bark and walls, (A lichen is a composite organism that grows from algae, usually seen growing on the more shaded side of stones, rocks and brick walls). When temperatures in more northern countries of Europe fall below freezing, they will enter a state of dormancy, during the winter months. Often seen as an unwelcome visitor inside a home, although they are harmless creatures, as they will only feed on wood that is starting to decay.
The female will produce around 50 eggs, up to three broods a year, she will keep the fertilized eggs in a marsupium which is located on the underside of her body till they hatch. The young are known as “Manca” their development is slow, so the adult female will often remain close by until they become adults. Many woodlice die before they become adults, mainly through predation. Wasps, millipedes, spiders of the genus Dysdera (known as woodlouse hunting spiders).
They are beneficial in gardens, as they play a role in controlling certain pests and help in producing compost, by digesting dead vegetation and organic matter. On the other hand, they can become a pest to certain growers, especially to strawberry growers when the fruit ripens.
A. Vulgare has been introduced to many locations in North America, it is also kept as a pet, needing a very moist habitat, limited light and plenty of decaying botanical matter.
