CRUSTACEA > MALACOSTRACA > ISOPODA > Oniscidea > Crinocheta > Armadillidiidae

This is the familiar large pill woodlouse species that can often be found in gardens. It grows up to 18mm long and is recognised by its truncated square uropods that, rather than projecting, end flush with the end of its body, which allows it to roll into a ball when disturbed. They are typically uniform slate grey in colour, but with some individuals being orange, red or brown, or even mottled. Their eyes comprise numerous black ocelli, and their antennal flagella have two segments.

Small mottled specimens could possibly be confused with the much rarer and sought after Armadillidium pictum or A.pulchellum except those species are far more attractively marked and have a characteristic dark patch on the seventh epimera lateral edge. They're more likely to be mistaken for Armadillidium depressum or possibly A.nasatum, which are two somewhat similar forms that can be found in some southern counties. A good way of distinguishing these species is by the way they enroll themselves as only Armadillidium vulgare has the ability of rolling into a completely enclosed near-perfect sphere, whereas A.depressum and A.nasatum both leave a gap, the latter with its antennae held over the dorsal surface.

Armadillidium vulgare is particularly abundant in areas of the south east, common across the south and some central counties, but becoming scarcer further north. It has a preference for open dry habitats that receive plenty of sunlight including, grasslands and heath, as well as waste ground, churchyards and gardens. As with most woodlice species, they like hiding under stones or deadwood, or in other dark places during the day coming out to feed at night. In gardens they may be found under flower pots or stone ornaments.

The following photos show a variety of colour forms, including orange as well as both pale and dark brown mottled varieties. The individual in the third photo from Kitt's Grave is with a Shiny Woodlouse [Oniscus asellus].