
Community identification
Woodlouse (specifically the Common Pill Bug)
Armadillidium vulgare
- Order & Family
- Order Isopoda, Family Armadillidiidae
- Size
- Up to 18 mm (approx. 0.7 inches) in length.
Natural Habitat
Moist terrestrial environments such as under rocks, logs, leaf litter, and in gardens/soil.
Diet & Feeding
Primarily detritivorous, feeding on decaying plant matter, fungi, and sometimes live plant seedlings.
Behavior Patterns
Night-active and slow-moving; notable for its ability to roll into a tight ball (conglobation) when threatened or to prevent dehydration.
Risks & Benefits
Harmless to humans; beneficial to the ecosystem as decomposers that recycle nutrients and help clean soil of heavy metals like lead and cadmium.