''Armadillidium'' () is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...

of the small terrestrial

crustacean Crustaceans (Crustacea, ) form a large, diverse arthropod taxon which includes such animals as decapoda, decapods, ostracoda, seed shrimp, branchiopoda, branchiopods, argulidae, fish lice, krill, remipedes, isopoda, isopods, barnacles, copepods, ...

known as the woodlouse. ''Armadillidium'' are also commonly known as pill woodlice, leg pebbles, pill bugs, roly-poly, or potato bugs, and are often confused with pill millipedes such as ''

Glomeris marginata ''Glomeris marginata'' is a common European species of pill millipede. It is a short millipede, rounded in cross-section, which is capable of rolling itself up into a ball ("volvation") when disturbed. This behaviour is also found in the pill wo ...

''. They are characterised by their ability to roll into a ball (" volvation") when disturbed.

Distribution and habitat

They typically feed on moss, algae, bark and other decaying organic matter. They are usually found in moist areas such as decomposing leaf matter and soil. '' Armadillidium vulgare'' is the most abundant species in

Europe Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a Continent#Subcontinents, subcontinent of Eurasia ...

and has been introduced worldwide. However, the vast majority of species are endemic to small regions close to the

Mediterranean Sea The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean Basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Western and Southern Europe and Anatolia, on the south by North Africa, and on ...

, in much lower numbers than common species such as ''A. vulgare'', and hence are understudied.

Description

Unlike other terrestrial

arthropod Arthropods (, (gen. ποδός)) are invertebrate animals with an exoskeleton, a segmented body, and paired jointed appendages. Arthropods form the phylum Arthropoda. They are distinguished by their jointed limbs and cuticle made of chiti ...

s such as insects and spiders, pill bugs do not have a waxy cuticle that would reduce evaporation from their bodies. Pill bugs also use modified lungs, called pseudotrachea, for respiration, and the lungs must remain moist to function. Individual pill bugs typically live for two or three years, and females brood eggs once or twice each summer. Several hundred eggs are brooded at a time in the marsupium, a pocket on the ventral side of the female pill bug. The marsupium must also be kept filled with water until the young hatch and crawl away. The colouration especially of young '' A. klugii'' resembles the red hourglass marking of the Mediterranean black widow ''

Latrodectus tredecimguttatus ''Latrodectus tredecimguttatus'', also known as the Mediterranean black widow, or the European black widow, is a species in the genus '' Latrodectus'' of the widow spiders. It is commonly found throughout the Mediterranean region, ranging fro ...

''. This is probably a kind of

mimicry In evolutionary biology, mimicry is an evolved resemblance between an organism and another object, often an organism of another species. Mimicry may evolve between different species, or between individuals of the same species. Often, mimicry f ...

, to ward off predators that mistake the harmless animal for a venomous spider.Revision of the Armadillidium klugii-group (Isopoda: Oniscidea)
/ref>

Species

File:The British Woodlice 68.png, '' Armadillidium depressum'' File:A-granulatum (Alvesgaspar) PD-original D dorsal.jpg, ''

Armadillidium granulatum ''Armadillidium'' () is a genus of the small terrestrial crustacean known as the woodlouse. ''Armadillidium'' are also commonly known as pill woodlice, leg pebbles, pill bugs, roly-poly, or potato bugs, and are often confused with pill millipe ...

'' File:Armadillidium lagrecai crop.tif, ''

Armadillidium lagrecai ''Armadillidium'' () is a genus of the small terrestrial crustacean known as the woodlouse. ''Armadillidium'' are also commonly known as pill woodlice, leg pebbles, pill bugs, roly-poly, or potato bugs, and are often confused with pill millipe ...

'' File:Armadillidium-pictum-07-VIII-2007-01.jpg, '' Armadillidium pictum'' File:The British Woodlice 67.png, '' Armadillidium pulchellum'' File:Armadillidium vulgare 001.jpg, '' Armadillidium vulgare'' File:Armadillidium nasatum 01.jpg, '' Armadillidium nasatum'' File:Isópodo (Armadillidium opacum), Hartelholz, Múnich, Alemania, 2020-06-28, DD 640-678 FS.jpg, Macro shot of an '' Armadillidium opacum'' There are 189 recognised species in the genus ''Armadillidium'': * '' Armadillidium absoloni'' Strouhal, 1939 * '' Armadillidium aegaeum'' Strouhal, 1929 * ''

Armadillidium aelleni ''Armadillidium'' () is a genus of the small terrestrial crustacean known as the woodlouse. ''Armadillidium'' are also commonly known as pill woodlice, leg pebbles, pill bugs, roly-poly, or potato bugs, and are often confused with pill millipe ...

'' Caruso & Ferrara, 1982 * ''

Armadillidium alassiense ''Armadillidium'' () is a genus of the small terrestrial crustacean known as the woodlouse. ''Armadillidium'' are also commonly known as pill woodlice, leg pebbles, pill bugs, roly-poly, or potato bugs, and are often confused with pill millipe ...

'' Verhoeff, 1910 * ''

Armadillidium albigauni ''Armadillidium'' () is a genus of the small terrestrial crustacean known as the woodlouse. ''Armadillidium'' are also commonly known as pill woodlice, leg pebbles, pill bugs, roly-poly, or potato bugs, and are often confused with pill millipe ...

'' Arcangeli, 1935 * ''

Armadillidium albomarginatum ''Armadillidium'' () is a genus of the small terrestrial crustacean known as the woodlouse. ''Armadillidium'' are also commonly known as pill woodlice, leg pebbles, pill bugs, roly-poly, or potato bugs, and are often confused with pill millipe ...

'' Verhoeff, 1901 * ''

Armadillidium album ''Armadillidium'' () is a genus of the small terrestrial crustacean known as the woodlouse. ''Armadillidium'' are also commonly known as pill woodlice, leg pebbles, pill bugs, roly-poly, or potato bugs, and are often confused with pill millipe ...

'' Dollfus, 1887 * ''

Armadillidium ameglioi ''Armadillidium'' () is a genus of the small terrestrial crustacean known as the woodlouse. ''Armadillidium'' are also commonly known as pill woodlice, leg pebbles, pill bugs, roly-poly, or potato bugs, and are often confused with pill millipe ...

'' Arcangeli, 1914 * ''

Armadillidium amicorum ''Armadillidium'' () is a genus of the small terrestrial crustacean known as the woodlouse. ''Armadillidium'' are also commonly known as pill woodlice, leg pebbles, pill bugs, roly-poly, or potato bugs, and are often confused with pill millipe ...

'' Rodríguez & Vicente, 1993 * '' Armadillidium anconanum'' Verhoeff, 1928 * '' Armadillidium apenninigenum'' Verhoeff, 1936 * '' Armadillidium apenninorum'' Verhoeff, 1928 * '' Armadillidium apfelbecki'' Dollfus, 1895 * '' Armadillidium apuanum'' Taiti & Ferrara, 1995 * '' Armadillidium arcadicum'' Verhoeff, 1902 * '' Armadillidium arcangelii'' Strouhal, 1929 * '' Armadillidium argentarium'' Verhoeff, 1931 * '' Armadillidium argolicum'' Verhoeff, 1907 * '' Armadillidium artense'' Strouhal, 1956 * '' Armadillidium assimile'' Budde-Lund, 1885 * '' Armadillidium atticum'' Strouhal, 1929 * '' Armadillidium azerbaidzhanum'' Schmalfuss, 1990 * '' Armadillidium badium'' Budde-Lund, 1885 * '' Armadillidium baldense'' Verhoeff, 1902 * '' Armadillidium banaticum'' Verhoeff, 1907 * '' Armadillidium beieri'' Strouhal, 1937 * '' Armadillidium bensei'' Schmalfuss, 2006 * '' Armadillidium bicurvatum'' Verhoeff, 1901 * '' Armadillidium bosniense'' Strouhal, 1939 * '' Armadillidium boukorninense'' Hamaied, Charfi-Cheikhrouha & Lombardo, 2018 * '' Armadillidium brentanum'' Verhoeff, 1931 * '' Armadillidium bulgaricum'' Frankenberger, 1941 * '' Armadillidium calabricum'' Verhoeff, 1908 * '' Armadillidium canaliferum'' Verhoeff, 1908 * '' Armadillidium capreae'' Verhoeff, 1944 * '' Armadillidium carniolense'' Verhoeff, 1901 * '' Armadillidium carynthiacum'' Verhoeff, 1939 * '' Armadillidium cavannai'' Arcangeli, 1960 * '' Armadillidium cephalonicum'' Strouhal, 1929 * '' Armadillidium chazaliei'' Dollfus, 1896 * '' Armadillidium clausi'' Verhoeff, 1901 * '' Armadillidium clavigerum'' Verhoeff, 1928 * '' Armadillidium corcyraeum'' Verhoeff, 1901 * '' Armadillidium cruzi'' Garcia, 2003 * '' Armadillidium cythereium'' Strouhal, 1937 * '' Armadillidium dalmaticum'' Strouhal, 1939 * ''

Armadillidium decorum ''Armadillidium'' () is a genus of the small terrestrial crustacean known as the woodlouse. ''Armadillidium'' are also commonly known as pill woodlice, leg pebbles, pill bugs, roly-poly, or potato bugs, and are often confused with pill millipe ...

'' Brandt, 1833 * '' Armadillidium delattini'' Verhoeff, 1943 * '' Armadillidium depressum'' Brandt, 1833 * '' Armadillidium djebalensis'' Vandel, 1958 * '' Armadillidium dollfusi'' Verhoeff, 1902 * '' Armadillidium elysii'' Verhoeff, 1936 * '' Armadillidium epiroticum'' Strouhal, 1956 * '' Armadillidium espanyoli'' Cruz, 1990 * '' Armadillidium esterelanum'' Dollfus, 1887 * '' Armadillidium etruriae'' Ferrara & Taiti, 1978 * '' Armadillidium euxinum'' Verhoeff, 1929 * '' Armadillidium fallax'' Brandt, 1833 * '' Armadillidium ficalbii'' Arcangeli, 1911 * '' Armadillidium flavoscutatum'' Strouhal, 1927 * '' Armadillidium fossuligerum'' Verhoeff, 1902 * '' Armadillidium frontemarginatum'' Strouhal, 1927 * '' Armadillidium frontetriangulum'' Verhoeff, 1901 * '' Armadillidium furcatum'' Budde-Lund, 1885 * ''

Armadillidium galiciense ''Armadillidium'' () is a genus of the small terrestrial crustacean known as the woodlouse. ''Armadillidium'' are also commonly known as pill woodlice, leg pebbles, pill bugs, roly-poly, or potato bugs, and are often confused with pill millipe ...

'' Schmölzer, 1955 * '' Armadillidium germanicum'' Verhoeff, 1901 * '' Armadillidium gestroi'' Tua, 1900 * '' Armadillidium ghardalamensis'' Caruso & Hili, 1991 * '' Armadillidium gionum'' Schmalfuss, 2012 * ''

'' Brandt, 1833 * '' Armadillidium grimmi'' Schmalfuss, 2006 * '' Armadillidium hauseni'' Schmalfuss, 1985 * '' Armadillidium herzegowinense'' Verhoeff, 1907 * '' Armadillidium hessei'' Verhoeff, 1930 * ''

Armadillidium hirtum ''Armadillidium'' () is a genus of the small terrestrial animal, terrestrial crustacean known as the woodlouse. ''Armadillidium'' are also commonly known as pill woodlice, leg pebbles, pill bugs, roly-poly, or potato bugs, and are often confused ...

'' Budde-Lund, 1885 * '' Armadillidium humectum'' Strouhal, 1937 * '' Armadillidium ichkeuli'' Hamaied & Charfi-Cheikhrouha, 2017 * '' Armadillidium insulanum'' Verhoeff, 1907 * '' Armadillidium irmengardis'' Strouhal, 1956 * '' Armadillidium janinense'' Verhoeff, 1902 * ''

Armadillidium jaqueti ''Armadillidium'' () is a genus of the small terrestrial crustacean known as the woodlouse. ''Armadillidium'' are also commonly known as pill woodlice, leg pebbles, pill bugs, roly-poly, or potato bugs, and are often confused with pill millipe ...

'' Dollfus, 1897 * '' Armadillidium jerrentrupi'' Schmalfuss, 2008 * '' Armadillidium jonicum'' Strouhal, 1927 * '' Armadillidium justi'' Strouhal, 1937 * '' Armadillidium kalamatense'' Verhoeff, 1907 * '' Armadillidium kalamium'' Strouhal, 1956 * '' Armadillidium klaptoczi'' Verhoeff, 1908 * '' Armadillidium klugii'' Brandt, 1833 * '' Armadillidium kochi'' Dollfus, 1887 * ''

Armadillidium kossuthi ''Armadillidium'' () is a genus of the small terrestrial crustacean known as the woodlouse. ''Armadillidium'' are also commonly known as pill woodlice, leg pebbles, pill bugs, roly-poly, or potato bugs, and are often confused with pill millipe ...

'' Arcangeli, 1929 * '' Armadillidium kuehnelti'' Schmalfuss, 2006 * '' Armadillidium laconicum'' Strouhal, 1938 * ''

'' Vandel, 1969 * '' Armadillidium laminigerum'' Verhoeff, 1907 * '' Armadillidium lanzai'' Taiti & Ferrara, 1996 * '' Armadillidium littorale'' Taiti & Ferrara, 1996 * '' Armadillidium lobocurvum'' Verhoeff, 1902 * '' Armadillidium lymberakisi'' Schmalfuss, Paragamian & Sfenthourakis, 2004 * '' Armadillidium maccagnoae'' Arcangeli, 1960 * '' Armadillidium maculatum'' Risso, 1816 * '' Armadillidium maniatum'' Schmalfuss, 2006 * '' Armadillidium mareoticum'' Budde-Lund, 1885 * ''

Armadillidium marinense ''Armadillidium'' () is a genus of the small terrestrial crustacean known as the woodlouse. ''Armadillidium'' are also commonly known as pill woodlice, leg pebbles, pill bugs, roly-poly, or potato bugs, and are often confused with pill millipede ...

'' Verhoeff, 1902 * '' Armadillidium marinensium'' Verhoeff, 1928 * '' Armadillidium marmoratum'' Strouhal, 1929 * '' Armadillidium marmorivagum'' Verhoeff, 1934 * '' Armadillidium mateui'' Vandel, 1953 * '' Armadillidium messenicum'' Verhoeff, 1902 * '' Armadillidium meteorense'' Schmalfuss, 2012 * '' Armadillidium mohamedanicum'' Verhoeff, 1929 * '' Armadillidium nahumi'' Garcia, 2020 * '' Armadillidium narentanum'' Verhoeff, 1907 * '' Armadillidium nasatum'' Budde-Lund, 1885 * '' Armadillidium niger'' Kortshagin, 1887 * '' Armadillidium nigrum'' Arcangeli, 1956 * '' Armadillidium obenbergi'' Frankenberger, 1941 * '' Armadillidium odhneri'' Verhoeff, 1930 * '' Armadillidium oglasae'' Ferrara & Taiti, 1978 * ''

Armadillidium omblae ''Armadillidium'' () is a genus of the small terrestrial crustacean known as the woodlouse. ''Armadillidium'' are also commonly known as pill woodlice, leg pebbles, pill bugs, roly-poly, or potato bugs, and are often confused with pill millipe ...

'' Verhoeff, 1900 * '' Armadillidium opacum'' (C. Koch, 1841) * '' Armadillidium ormeanum'' Verhoeff, 1931 * '' Armadillidium paeninsulae'' Ferrara & Taiti, 1978 * '' Armadillidium pallasii'' Brandt, 1833 * '' Armadillidium pallidum'' Verhoeff, 1907 * '' Armadillidium pangaionum'' Schmalfuss, 2008 * '' Armadillidium panningi'' Strouhal, 1937 * '' Armadillidium pardoi'' Vandel, 1956 * '' Armadillidium pelionense'' Strouhal, 1928 * '' Armadillidium peloponnesiacum'' Verhoeff, 1901 * ''

Armadillidium peraccae ''Armadillidium'' () is a genus of the small terrestrial crustacean known as the woodlouse. ''Armadillidium'' are also commonly known as pill woodlice, leg pebbles, pill bugs, roly-poly, or potato bugs, and are often confused with pill millipe ...

'' Tua, 1900 * '' Armadillidium petralonense'' Schmalfuss, 2008 * '' Armadillidium phalacronum'' Schmalfuss, 2008 * '' Armadillidium pictum'' Brandt, 1833 * '' Armadillidium pieperi'' Schmalfuss, 2008 * '' Armadillidium pilosellum'' Dollfus, 1896 * '' Armadillidium ponalense'' Verhoeff, 1934 * '' Armadillidium portofinense'' Verhoeff, 1908 * '' Armadillidium pretusi'' Cruz, 1990 * '' Armadillidium pseudassimile'' Taiti & Ferrara, 1980 * '' Armadillidium pseudovulgare'' Verhoeff, 1902 * '' Armadillidium pulchellum'' (Zenker, 1798) * '' Armadillidium quinquepustulatum'' Budde-Lund, 1885 * '' Armadillidium rhodopinum'' Verhoeff, 1936 * '' Armadillidium rojanum'' Verhoeff, 1936 * ''

Armadillidium rosai ''Armadillidium'' () is a genus of the small terrestrial crustacean known as the woodlouse. ''Armadillidium'' are also commonly known as pill woodlice, leg pebbles, pill bugs, roly-poly, or potato bugs, and are often confused with pill millipedes ...

'' Arcangeli, 1913 * '' Armadillidium ruffoi'' Arcangeli, 1940 * '' Armadillidium rupium'' Verhoeff, 1928 * '' Armadillidium sanctum'' Dollfus, 1892 * '' Armadillidium savonense'' Verhoeff, 1931 * '' Armadillidium saxivagum'' Verhoeff, 1901 * '' Armadillidium scaberrimum'' Stein, 1859 * '' Armadillidium scabrum'' Dollfus, 1892 * '' Armadillidium schmalfussi'' Caruso & Lombardo, 1982 * '' Armadillidium serrai'' Cruz & Dalens, 1990 * '' Armadillidium serratum'' Budde-Lund, 1885 * '' Armadillidium sfenthourakisi'' Schmalfuss, 2008 * '' Armadillidium siculorum'' Verhoeff, 1908 * '' Armadillidium silvestrii'' Verhoeff, 1931 * ''

Armadillidium simile ''Armadillidium'' () is a genus of the small terrestrial crustacean known as the woodlouse. ''Armadillidium'' are also commonly known as pill woodlice, leg pebbles, pill bugs, roly-poly, or potato bugs, and are often confused with pill millipe ...

'' Strouhal, 1937 * '' Armadillidium simoni'' Dollfus, 1887 * '' Armadillidium sordidum'' Dollfus, 1887 * '' Armadillidium stagnoense'' Verhoeff, 1902 * '' Armadillidium steindachneri'' Strouhal, 1927 * '' Armadillidium stolikanum'' Verhoeff, 1907 * '' Armadillidium storkani'' Frankenberger, 1941 * '' Armadillidium strinatii'' Vandel, 1961 * '' Armadillidium stymphalicum'' Schmalfuss, 2006 * '' Armadillidium sulcatum'' Milne-Edwards, 1840 * '' Armadillidium tabacarui'' Gruia, Iavorschi & Sarbu, 1994 * '' Armadillidium teramense'' Verhoeff, 1933 * '' Armadillidium tigris'' Budde-Lund, 1885 * '' Armadillidium tirolense'' Verhoeff, 1901 * '' Armadillidium torchiai'' Taiti & Ferrara, 1996 * '' Armadillidium traiani'' Demianowicz, 1932 * '' Armadillidium tripolitzense'' Verhoeff, 1902 * '' Armadillidium tuberculatum'' Schmalfuss, 2008 * '' Armadillidium tunisiense'' Hamaïed & Charfi-Cheikhrouha, 2007 * '' Armadillidium tyrrhenum'' Taiti & Ferrara, 1980 * '' Armadillidium vallombrosae'' Verhoeff, 1907 * '' Armadillidium valonae'' Arcangeli, 1952 * '' Armadillidium verhoeffi'' Rogenhofer, 1915 * '' Armadillidium versicolor'' Stein, 1859 * '' Armadillidium versluysi'' Strouhal, 1937 * '' Armadillidium virgo'' Caruso & Bouchon, 2011 * '' Armadillidium vulgare'' (Latreille, 1804) * '' Armadillidium werneri'' Strouhal, 1927 * ''

Armadillidium xerovunense ''Armadillidium'' () is a genus of the small terrestrial crustacean known as the woodlouse. ''Armadillidium'' are also commonly known as pill woodlice, leg pebbles, pill bugs, roly-poly, or potato bugs, and are often confused with pill millipe ...

'' Strouhal, 1956 * '' Armadillidium zangherii'' Arcangeli, 1923 * '' Armadillidium zenckeri'' Brandt, 1833

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q640213 Woodlice Isopod genera Taxa named by Johann Friedrich von Brandt

Distribution and habitat

Description

Species

See also

References