Bug Identifier
Woodlouse (also known as Sowbug or Roly-poly)
Community identification

Woodlouse (also known as Sowbug or Roly-poly)

Porcellio scaber (Common Rough Woodlouse)

Order & Family
Order Isopoda, Family Porcellionidae
Size
10-20 mm in length
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Damp, dark places such as under rocks, leaf litter, rotting logs, and occasionally moist indoor areas like basements.

Diet & Feeding

Detritivore; primarily eats decaying plant matter, fungi, and occasionally small dead insects.

Behavior Patterns

Nocturnal crustaceans that require moisture to breathe through gill-like structures. They often congregate in moist areas to avoid desiccation. Unlike pillbugs, sowbugs cannot roll into a perfect ball.

Risks & Benefits

Harmless to humans; they provide ecological benefits as decomposers that recycle nutrients into the soil. They are not considered pests unless they appear in large numbers indoors, which usually indicates a moisture problem.