Woodlouse (specifically a Pill Bug or Roly-poly)
Scientific Name: Armadillidium vulgare
Order & Family: Order: Isopoda; Family: Armadillidiidae
Size: Up to 18 mm (approx. 0.7 inches) in length
Natural Habitat
Damp, dark places such as under rocks, logs, leaf litter, and occasionally in basements or bathrooms with high moisture.
Diet & Feeding
Primarily detritivorous, feeding on decaying plant matter, fungi, and occasionally live seedling roots.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal; they are famous for their ability to roll into a tight ball (conglobation) when threatened. They breathe through gill-like structures and must remain in moist environments to survive.
Risks & Benefits
They are harmless to humans and do not bite or sting. Benefit the ecosystem by decomposing organic matter and recycling nutrients into the soil; however, they can be minor pests in gardens if they eat young plants.
Identified on: 3/1/2026