Bug Identifier
Common Pill Bug (Woodlouse)
Community identification

Common Pill Bug (Woodlouse)

Armadillidium vulgare

Order & Family
Order Isopoda, Family Armadillidiidae
Size
Up to 18 mm (0.7 in)
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Damp, dark areas like soil, under rocks, rotting logs, and leaf litter.

Diet & Feeding

Detritivore; primarily eats decaying plant matter, fungi, and occasionally live young plants.

Behavior Patterns

Nocturnal; known for 'conglcbation' or rolling into a tight ball when threatened to protect their soft underside.

Risks & Benefits

Harmless to humans; beneficial to the ecosystem as decomposers that return nutrients to the soil and help keep heavy metals out of groundwater.