Bug Identifier
Woodlouse (specifically a Pill Bug or Sowbug)
Community identification

Woodlouse (specifically a Pill Bug or Sowbug)

Armadillidium vulgare / Porcellio scaber

Order & Family
Order Isopoda, Family Armadillidiidae or Porcellionidae
Size
3 to 18 millimeters in length
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Found in moist environments like under rocks, logs, leaf litter, and occasionally indoors in damp areas like basements.

Diet & Feeding

Primarily detritivores, feeding on decaying organic matter such as rotting wood, leaves, and fungi.

Behavior Patterns

Nocturnal animals that require high humidity to breathe through gill-like structures. Many species curl into a ball (volvation) when threatened.

Risks & Benefits

Harmless to humans; they do not bite or sting. They are beneficial decomposers that help recycle nutrients into the soil.