Armadillidium vulgare “Mocca”

Technical Data Sheet: Armadillidium vulgare “Mocca”

Common Name: Pill bug, roly-poly, woodlouse, isopod “Mocca”

Scientific Name: Armadillidium vulgare “Mocca”

Taxonomic Classification:

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Arthropoda
• Class: Malacostraca
• Order: Isopoda
• Family: Armadillidiidae
• Genus: Armadillidium
• Species: A. vulgare
• Variety: “Mocca”

Physical Description:

• Color: Characteristic chocolate brown (“mocca”) color.
• Size: Between 8 and 18 mm in length.
• Shape: Oval and convex with the ability to roll into a perfect ball as a defense mechanism (volvulation).
• Antennae: Two pairs of antennae, with the second pair being longer and more prominent.
• Legs: Seven pairs of legs.

Habitat:

• Distribution: Widely distributed worldwide, especially in temperate regions.
• Environment: Moist soils rich in organic matter, under stones, logs, and fallen leaves.

Behavior:

• Diet: Detritivore, feeding on decomposing organic matter such as dead leaves and rotten wood.
• Activity: Nocturnal, seeking humid conditions to avoid desiccation.

Life Cycle:

• Reproduction: Oviparous. Females carry the eggs in a ventral pouch until the young hatch.
• Development: Undergoes several molts before reaching maturity. The full life cycle can last from 1 to 3 years, depending on environmental conditions.

Adaptations:

• Defense: Ability to roll into a ball to protect against predators.
• Respiration: Adaptations to breathe in humid environments through pseudotracheae (specialized respiratory structures).

Ecological Importance:

• Decomposition: Plays a crucial role in the decomposition and recycling of organic matter, contributing to fertile soil formation.
• Soil Health Indicator: Its presence indicates a healthy and well-balanced soil in terms of humidity and organic matter.

Care in Captivity:

• Terrarium: Maintain in a humid environment with suitable substrate such as garden soil mixed with leaves and decomposing wood.
• Humidity: High, around 70-90%.
• Temperature: Ideally between 18-24°C.
• Diet: Decomposing plant material, occasionally supplemented with fresh vegetables.

Interesting Facts:

• Name: “Armadillidium” refers to its ability to roll up like an armadillo.
• Behavior: Despite being terrestrial, they descend from marine crustaceans and retain certain physiological characteristics of these ancestors.