About Armadillidium pictum Brandt, 1833
Armadillidium pictum Brandt, 1833 is a species of woodlouse. It is found across most of Europe, but is not present in the Mediterranean Basin or Southeast Europe. In the British Isles, it has only been recorded at a small number of sites, leading some sources to call it "Britain's rarest woodlouse". All of these known sites, located in Cumbria and Powys, are far from human settlements, so researchers believe the species is native to the area rather than an introduced introduction. Armadillidium pictum is primarily a forest-dwelling species. It can be found several metres above ground, under loose bark or inside holes in rotting wood. It looks very similar to the related species Armadillidium pulchellum. It differs from A. pulchellum by its darker body colour, its less distinct mottling that is arranged in lengthwise lines along the body, and its slightly larger maximum size. Armadillidium pictum can reach up to 9 mm (0.35 in) long.
