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 (0.12 to 0.71 inches)
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Damp, dark environments such as under rocks, logs, leaf litter, and occasionally damp basements or crawl spaces.

Diet & Feeding

Detritivorous, primarily feeding on decaying organic matter, rotting wood, and fungi.

Behavior Patterns

Nocturnal animals that require high humidity to breathe through gill-like structures. Some species (pill bugs) can roll into a ball for defense.

Risks & Benefits

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