Woodlouse (specifically a Pill Bug or Sowbug)
Scientific Name: 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.
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.
Identified on: 3/16/2026