''Armadillidium nasatum'' is a large, Western European-based species of

woodlouse A woodlouse (plural woodlice) is an isopod crustacean from the polyphyleticThe current consensus is that Oniscidea is actually triphyletic suborder Oniscidea within the order Isopoda. They get their name from often being found in old wood. ...

that has been introduced to

North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Car ...

, along with ''

Armadillidium vulgare ''Armadillidium vulgare'', the common pill-bug, potato bug, common pill woodlouse, roly-poly, slater, doodle bug, or carpenter, is a widespread European species of woodlouse. It is the most extensively investigated terrestrial isopod species. ...

'' also found in other parts of Europe.

Description

''Armadillidium nasatum'' can reach lengths of up to 21 millimetres.Powerpoint Presentation - nasatum.pdf
/ref> Though similar in outwards appearance to ''Armadillidium vulgare'' in dark grey color, the main distinguishing feature is pale longitudinal stripes spanning from head to rear and rectangular-like protrusion towards the apex of the head. Like ''Armadillidium depressum'', it does not form a complete ball when enrolled. The tail has a rounded tip with incurved sides, as opposed to most genus ''

Armadillidium ''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 ...

'' species which have a flat tail.

Distribution

''Armadillidium nasatum'' occurs in patches in southern

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

, with concentrated areas in its range and sporadic occurrences in

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...

. It lives in dryer areas than most woodlice, is

synanthropic A synanthrope (from the Greek σύν ''syn'', "together with" + ἄνθρωπος ''anthropos'', "man") is a member of a species of wild animal or plant that lives near, and benefits from, an association with human beings and the somewhat artific ...

, and is frequently found in non-inhabited areas such as railway lines and industrial waste ground. Like other woodlice, it is found under stones and wood.

Subspecies

There are five recognized subspecies in the species ''Armadillidium nasatum'': * ''

Armadillidium nasatum flava ''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 ...

'' Colinge, 1989 * ''

Armadillidium nasatum mehelyi ''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 ...

'' Verhoeff, 1930 * ''

Armadillidium nasatum nasatum ''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 ...

'' Budde-Lund, 1885 * '' Armadillidium nasatum nigrescens'' Collinge, 1918 * '' Armadillidium nasatum saidovni'' Arcangeli, 1950

References

External links

* {{Taxonbar, from=Q2585227 Woodlice of Europe Crustaceans described in 1885 Woodlice