
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)
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.