Ant Woodlouse

''Platyarthrus hoffmannseggii'' is a species of woodlouse which is closely associated with ants' nests, particularly those of ''Lasius flavus'', ''Lasius niger'' and species of ''Myrmica'', where it feeds on ant droppings or mildew. It is white, 4 millimetres long, and has a distinctive oval shape and short antennae. Its distribution appears to follow those of the ants with which it lives, and the British Isles are the north-westerly limit of its range. Elsewhere, ''P. hoffmannseggii'' extends south to the Mediterranean Sea. It is found outside Europe in North Africa and Turkey, and has been introduced to Australia and North America. The aggregation of woodlice in dark and moist places is considered an adaptation to land life and most studies are focused on its functionality or on the behavioural mechanisms related to the individual's response to abiotic factors. Until now, no clear experimental demonstration was available about aggregation resulting from inter-attraction between conspecifics.