Armadillidium nasatum Budde-Lund, 1885

Common name

Nosey Pill-Woodlouse

Synonyms

Armadillidium speyeri Jackson, 1923

Status:

GB IUCN status: Least Concern

ID Difficulty

Identification

Our seven Armadillidium species and Eluma caelata (Family Armadillidiidae) are readily recognised in the field by their truncated 'square' uropods that end flush with the body and their ability to roll into a protective sphere (similar truncated uropods are also seen in the non-native Armadillidae species).

Armadillidium nasatum is a large pill-woodlouse (to 12mm body length) is reminiscent of the common A. vulgare.  However the narrow protruding scutellum (snout), reminiscent of the peak of a base-ball cap, is diagnostic. It  usually has a dark grey body marked with pale longitudinal stripes that give a semi-translucent appearance, but dark and coloured forms may also be encountered.  When disturbed it forms an imperfect ball, with its antennae protruding.

J.P. Richards
J.P. Richards
Keith Lugg
Christian Owen
Christian Owen
Keith Lugg
Nicola Garnham

Distribution

Armadillidium nasatum occurs patchily across southern England and south Wales, with outlying populations in Scotland and Ireland. 

Habitat

It is characteristic of dry, sparsely vegetated habitats, both semi-natural and synanthropic, that are subject to high levels of insolation. In more southern areas this includes coastal grassland, limestone screes, disused limestone quarries, railway lines, industrial waste ground and garden centres. Further north it becomes increasingly restricted to garden centres and inside greenhouses. 

It is typically found under rocks, stones, pieces of wood, potted plants and other debris or amongst rubble, often with A. vulgare

This summary is based on the detailed account in Gregory (2009).

References

Gregory, S. (2009) Woodlice and Waterlice (Isopoda: Oniscidea & Asellota) in Britain and Ireland.  Field Studies Council/Centre for Ecology & Hydrology.

BRC code

79

idBmigTaxa

Cru_1089