
Community identification
Woodlouse (specifically a Sowbug)
Porcellio scaber
- Order & Family
- Order Isopoda, Family Porcellionidae
- Size
- Typically 10 to 20 mm in length.
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.