Bug Identifier
Woodlouse (specifically a Pill Bug or Sowbug)
Community identification

Woodlouse (specifically a Pill Bug or Sowbug)

Armadillidium vulgare / Porcellio scaber

Order & Family
Order Isopoda, Family Armadillidiidae or Porcellionidae
Size
Typically 1/4 to 3/4 inches (5 to 19 mm) in length.
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

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

Diet & Feeding

Mostly detritivores, feeding on decaying organic matter, dead plants, and occasionally young seedlings.

Behavior Patterns

They are nocturnal land crustaceans that breathe through gill-like structures, requiring high moisture. Some species roll into a ball (volvation) when threatened.

Risks & Benefits

Harmless to humans; they do not bite or sting. They are beneficial to the ecosystem as decomposers that recycle nutrients back into the soil and remove heavy metals from the ground.