Scientific name
Armadillidium depressum
This woodlouse can resemble A. vulgare, but its broadened rear and raised frontal plate give it a different silhouette. Small juveniles have a pattern distinct from adults. [1]
Origin
The BMIG mainly describes it in British environments associated with human activities: walls, quarries, railways and old buildings. This does not constitute a complete map of its native range. [1]
- Conglobation
- Walls and stones
- Strongly patterned young
BMIG identification and habitats; conditions attributed to a commercial breeder.
At a glance
The broadened rear and raised frontal plate help distinguish this woodlouse from Armadillidium vulgare [1].
| DOCUMENTED SIZE | Up to 20 mm Body length, BMIG synthesis [1]. |
|---|---|
| LIFESPAN | To be documented No supported individual lifespan in the selected sources. |
| LIFESTYLE | Walls and shelters Nocturnal activity on walls documented by BMIG [1]. |
Adult size
Up to 20 mm in body length according to the BMIG. [1]
Lifespan
Individual lifespan is not established by the selected documents; no numerical value is extrapolated.
Lifestyle
Night-time observations can reveal animals active on walls, while they remain hidden beneath stones at other times. [1]
Housing
SETUP AND SHELTERS
Ventilated litter — Antpire combines litter and decaying wood, humid and drier areas; no validated minimum volume [2].
Antpire describes a well-ventilated container with litter and decaying wood, combining humid and drier areas. No experimental minimum dimensions are published. [2]
Care parameters
BREEDER REFERENCE
18–24 °C — Antpire reference, not an experimental optimum [2].
Humidity
A gradient — Humid and drier areas, with moderate to strong ventilation according to Antpire [2].
Temperature
18–24 °C at Antpire [2] A practice value when attributed to a breeder; no universal safety threshold is inferred.
Humidity and ventilation
Wet/dry gradient and moderate to substantial ventilation, according to Antpire [2] Examine substrate beneath shelters and record the enclosure’s actual conditions.
Feeding
DIET AND CALCIUM
Leaves, decaying wood, plant and protein supplements, with a calcium source according to Antpire [2].
Scope of this profile
BMIG identification and habitats; conditions attributed to a commercial breeder.
Confusions to avoid
The end of the body appears more flared than in A. vulgare; the male’s first pleopods are a specialist identification character. [1] Photograph without forcing the body to close. Identification from an isolated juvenile deserves a caveat: its pattern is not simply that of a scaled-down adult.
Layout and ventilation
The natural preference for walls does not mean an enclosure of dry stones is enough. The breeder combines shelters and decaying plant matter. [2] Choosing a layout that allows shelter checks without lifting an unstable pile makes maintenance easier. Record any added ventilation, as it can change the rate at which the humid corner dries.
Diet and calcium
Antpire suggests leaves, decaying wood, plant and protein supplements, with a calcium source such as cuttlebone or limestone. [2] Distinguish background reserves from occasional feedings in the log. If a supplement remains visible for a long time, record that observation before adding more; the useful amount depends on consumption actually observed.
Humidity and temperature
The husbandry presented relies on contrasting zones and the absence of standing water. [2] To monitor this gradient, record the shelter’s condition separately from that of the exposed surface. A dry wall does not prove that deeper substrate is also dry. Observation beneath litter must remain brief to preserve the shelter’s function.
Reproduction and small individuals
No number of young or maturation schedule is adopted. Before a transfer, also look at litter fragments and the undersides of bark: the smallest individuals can be hard to see. Dating the appearance of several size classes helps track the colony without attempting to assign each animal a precise age.
Observing at night with restraint
Field observations make an occasional evening check relevant, without imposing continuous monitoring. [1] Recording time and lighting allows outings to be compared. Reduced activity observed at a different time does not necessarily mean deterioration. Antpire’s recommendations remain commercial practice, distinct from the natural-history description.
Checklist
- Keep the group’s provenance and identification.
- Prepare resources and shelters before arrival.
- Define a simple check without regularly dismantling the environment.
Observations to record
- Manual intervention log
- Substrate and food condition
- Young, moults and deaths observed
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Sources
Document-based overview; not a substitute for veterinary advice.
- British Myriapod and Isopod Group — Armadillidium depressum
Source accessed - Antpire — Armadillidium depressum, élevage déclaré
Source accessed