Woodlouse (also known as Pill Bug, Roly-Poly, or Sowbug)
Scientific Name: Armadillidium vulgare
Order & Family: Order: Isopoda, Family: Armadillidiidae
Size: Typically 8 to 18 mm (approx. 0.3 to 0.7 inches) in length.
Natural Habitat
Damp, dark places such as under rocks, logs, rotting vegetation, and in leaf litter; occasionally found indoors in basements or bathrooms with high moisture.
Diet & Feeding
Primarily detritivores, feeding on decaying organic matter, rotting wood, fungus, and occasionally live seedlings.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal creatures that seek moisture to breathe through gill-like structures. Many species (the 'pill bug' types) can roll into a tight ball for protection against predators and desiccation.
Risks & Benefits
Harmless to humans; they do not bite or sting. Benefit ecosystems significantly by decomposing organic matter and recycling nutrients back into the soil; rarely considered a minor garden pest if they consume young plants.
Identified on: 1/4/2026