Bug Identifier
Woodlouse (specifically a Sowbug)
Community identification

Woodlouse (specifically a Sowbug)

Porcellio scaber

Order & Family
Order Isopoda, Family Porcellionidae
Size
Typically 10 to 20 mm in length.
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Moist, dark environments such as under rocks, logs, leaf litter, and in damp basements or crawl spaces.

Diet & Feeding

Detritivore; primarily eats decaying organic matter, rotting wood, and fungi, though they occasionally nibble on living seedlings.

Behavior Patterns

Nocturnal and moisture-seeking. Unlike pill bugs, sowbugs cannot roll into a complete ball. They are terrestrial crustaceans that breathe through gill-like structures, requiring high humidity to survive.

Risks & Benefits

Harmless to humans; they do not bite or sting. They provide significant ecosystem benefits as decomposers, recycling nutrients back into the soil, though they can be a minor nuisance if they enter homes in large numbers.