Woodlouse (also known as Sowbug or Roly-poly)
Scientific Name: Oniscidea (Suborder)
Order & Family: Order Isopoda, Family various (e.g., Porcellionidae or Armadillidiidae)
Size: 3 to 30 millimeters (approximately 0.1 to 1.2 inches)
Natural Habitat
Damp, dark environments such as under rocks, logs, leaf litter, or in basements and crawl spaces.
Diet & Feeding
Detritivore; they primarily consume decaying organic matter, rotting wood, and fungi.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal and moisture-dependent. They are terrestrial crustaceans that breathe through gill-like structures, requiring humidity to survive. Some species can roll into a ball (volvation) as a defense mechanism.
Risks & Benefits
Harmless to humans; they do not bite or sting. They are beneficial to the ecosystem by decomposing organic matter and recycling nutrients back into the soil, though they can occasionally damage young seedlings in gardens.
Identified on: 3/17/2026