Observations were made on the body mass; transpiration rate; assimilation efficiency; gross and net production efficiencies; feeding, assimilation, conversion and metabolic rates of the pillbug Armadillo officinalis Dumeril acclimatized at 14º and 21 °C for 15 days and fed on the dry leaf of Punica granatum (Pomegranate). A brief description is given on the chemical composition of P. granatum leaf. The difference in body mass increments of A. officinalis between the acclimatized temperatures was not significant (t = 1.09; p>0.05). However, significant differences were discernible on the transpiration rate (t = 9.53; p<0.01), moisture (t = 9.01; p<0.01), assimilation efficiency (t = 5.16; p<0.01), feeding (t = 3.76; p<0.05) and conversion (t = 2.58; p<0.05) rates between the woodlice acclimatized at 14º and 21 °C. Better feeding of P. granatum leaf by these animals was observed at 21° C, but better assimilation efficiency at 14 °C. Only 3.21% assimilated food at 14° C and 6.30% at 21 °C were converted into the production of new tissues. The food consumption of A. officinalis at 14º and 21° C was 2.05% and 3.79% body mass/day respectively. The effect of temperature on the activity of A. officinalis in the field is discussed.

Observations were made on the body mass; transpiration rate; assimilation efficiency; gross and net production efficiencies; feeding, assimilation, conversion and metabolic rates of the pillbug Armadillo officinalis Dumeril acclimatized at 14º and 21 °C for 15 days and fed on the dry leaf of Punica...