Woodlouse (also known as Sowbug or Roly-poly)
Scientific Name: Porcellio scaber (Common Rough Woodlouse)
Order & Family: Order Isopoda, Family Porcellionidae
Size: 10-20 mm in length
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.
Identified on: 4/13/2026