- Armadillidium
Taxobox
name = "Armadillidium granulatum"
image_width = 250px
image_caption = Various positions of "Armadillidium granulatum
regnum =Animal ia
phylum =Arthropoda
classis =Malacostraca
ordo =Isopoda
familia =Oniscidea
genus = "Armadillidium"
species = "Armadillidium granulatum"
binomial = "Armadillidium granulatum"
binomial_authority =Latreille , 1804Armadillium is a genus of
woodlouse common to many areas of the globe. They can be identified as their typical reaction to stimulus, such as a light tap on their midsection, is to curl up into a ball.Common name
Potato bug, pill bug, roly poly (or roly-poly, rolly-polly, etc.) and "Monkey Pea" in Kent, UK.
Range
"Armadillidium vulgare" are native to southern Europe and North Africa, but can be found all over the world in moist soil.
Habitat
"Armadillidium vulgare" loves moisture. The most common place which they can be found is damp soil under stones or flowerpots . Spring and autumn are good seasons to find them.
Description
There are two pairs of antennae; one pair is vestigial and barely visible, the other easily seen. Pill bugs have two compound eyes, one pair of maxilliped (mouth parts), and seven pairs of legs. Males have genital projections. The lungs are located in the first pleopod.
They have gill-like lungs, like other crustacea, and need moisture to breathe.
Behavior
"Armadillidium vulgare" live in family groups. The male and female gather food for the family. Usually, the male protects the family. In spring, the young make their own family group within 10 to 100m of the original family’s burrow.
When they are stimulated, they immediately roll up their body into a globe. This is an excellent defense from their predators such as centipedes, spiders and birds, as it protects sensitive organs.
Diet
"Armadillidium vulgare" feed on fungi, fallen leaves, or dead animals. They seem to like congregating under wood mulch or anyplace dark and moist. They can be prolific in compost heaps. To keep them from eating the roots of annual flowers, one needs to keep wood mulch away from the plant base by about 3 inches.
Reproduction
"Armadillidium vulgare" usually mate once a year in spring. They reproduce offspring on land, not in water. After the eggs are fertilized, the eggs develop in a brood pouch filled with fluid. The young stay a few days in the brood pouch after hatching. When they fully develop, they are released into the soil. About three weeks later, the young are a light tan color and about two to three millimeters long.
Molting
Their style of molting is biphasic molting, which means the posterior region molts before the anterior region. After pill bugs finish molting, they eat their empty shell to gain the calcium.
Life span
About two to three years.
Importance
"Armadillidium vulgare" are known as soil decomposers which browse biogenic residue and waste matter. They fertilize and aerate soil which aids plant respiration and growth.
References
The Encyclopedia of insects. Ed. Christopher O’Toole. New York: facts on File Publications, 1980. Page11
Brusca, R.C. and G.J.Brusca. Invertebrates. 2001. Page 534-537
Work Cite
Rife,S.Gwynne. 1993. Key to the Isopoda of Ohio-after "AAW 1964"
http://www.geocities.com/~gregmck/woodlice/ohio_key.htm
Links
Schmalfuss,H. 2003. World catalog of terrestrial isopods (Isopoda:Oniscidea)
http://www.oniscidea-catalog.naturkundemuseum-bw.de/Cat_terr_isop.pdf
Brown,C.1999. Armadillidum vulgare
http://animaldiversity.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Armadillidium_vulgare.html
Richard,F. 2006. Invertebrate Anatomy Online, Armadillidum vulgare.
http://webs.lander.edu/rsfox/invertebrates/armadillidium.html
Hamel,C. Isopoda
http://academic.evergreen.edu/curricular/symbiosis/Symbiosis2004/patjac17/symbiosis/isopoda.htm
External links
* [http://www2.evergreen.edu/wikis/ize/index.php?title=Invertebrate_Zoology_and_Evolution&redirect=no Link back to IZE Species Pages]
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