Woodlouse (specifically the Common Pill Bug)
Scientific Name: 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.
Identified on: 5/16/2026