Painted Woodlouse
Porcellio spinicornis
The painted woodlouse is a patterned Porcellio often found around limestone, old walls and buildings. Adults typically have a dark head and a dark stripe down the back, bordered by contrasting yellow mottling. It is maintained by isopod hobbyists, with leaf litter and decaying organic material providing food and cover.
A colony needs a moist retreat without losing ventilation or drier shelter. Females carry developing young in a brood pouch and release live offspring. It cannot roll into a protective ball like Armadillidium.
