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Photo#41477
Pillbug - Armadillidium vulgare
Copyright © 2006 Chuck Entz

Pillbug - Armadillidium vulgare
Encino, Los Angeles County, California, USA
January 7, 2006
Size: 1/2 inch
A very large, distinctively colored individual found in leaves at the edge of my front lawn. It rolled up into a ball, so it's not a sowbug.

It looks almost exactly like Armadillidium vulgare as shown in this pdf document.

Images of this individual: tag all
Pillbug - Armadillidium vulgare Pillbug - Armadillidium vulgare
Contributed by Chuck Entz on 23 January, 2006 - 3:47am
Last updated 29 January, 2007 - 7:42am

Moved
Moved from Pillbugs.
… Chuck Entz, 29 January, 2007 - 7:42am

Yes, this is certainly an A.
Yes, this is certainly an A. vulgare.
Identification marks (visible in these pictures):

- the trapezoid shape of the telson
- coloration (dark grey color with yellow patches), margins are never white
- the head has no significant middle lobe (compared with e.g. A. nasatum.
… Ferenc Vilisics, 29 January, 2007 - 7:28am

 
Thanks!
I figured this was a pretty straightforward ID, but we didn't have anyone knowledgable in isopods to verify it.
… Chuck Entz, 29 January, 2007 - 7:40am

Distinctive color
I have found sowbugs and pillbugs with these yellow markings also (in British Columbia), and was told that they are the result of Bacillus thuringiensis. Can anyone substantiate this?
… Charlene Wood, 22 November, 2006 - 6:19pm

I agree
However, I'm not sure that there aren't similar species that look like this. I'm pretty sure you're safe to place it at the genus level until an expert can give more info, or someone can provide a professional opinion.
… Lynette Elliott, 23 January, 2006 - 9:44am

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