Armadillidium pulchellum (Zencker, 1798)

Boeraeve, Pepijn, Arijs, Gert, Segers, Stijn, Smedt, Pallieter De, Spinicornis & Utm, Belgium. Every grid cell of the, 1908, Habitat and seasonal activity patterns of the terrestrial isopods (Isopoda: Oniscidea) of Belgium, Belgian Journal of Entomology 116, pp. 1-95 : 62

25. Armadillidium pulchellum (Zencker, 1798)

( Fig. 19 h , Fig. 29 , Map 25 , Table 27)

Armadillidium pulchellum is almost exclusively found in forests (96.4 % of habitat records, see table 27) with observations widespread throughout the country ( Map 25 ). Most isolated populations in the north of the country are in large ancient forest patches and therefore the species could be a good indicator for old and relatively undisturbed forest habitat ( DE SMEDT & VANDEKERKHOVE, 2020). Some isolated populations are on sandy soils, where no other rare species are present. This species is commonly found on the bark of trees where it hides during daytime between fissures, mosses and cracks.

The corrected number of records shows a high peak in May–June ( Fig. 29 ), which could be explained by the high drought tolerance of the species ( DIAS et al., 2013) but it is unclear whether this is a real peak in activity or rather a coincidental effect due to the relatively low number of records.

Figures

Map 25. Distribution map for Armadillidium pulchellum.

Fig. 19. a, Oniscus asellus; b, Philoscia affinis; c, Philoscia muscorum; d, Platyarthrus hoffmannseggii; e, Armadillidium album; f, Armadillidium nasatum; g, Armadillidium opacum; h, Armadillidium pulchellum.

Fig. 29. Corrected number of observations per two-month period for Armadillidium pulchellum (N = 54).