Woodlouse (also known as Sowbug or Roly-poly)
Scientific Name: Oniscidea (suborder)
Order & Family: Order Isopoda; multiple families including Porcellionidae and Armadillidiidae
Size: 3 mm to 20 mm (approx. 0.1 to 0.8 inches)
Natural Habitat
Damp, dark environments such as under rocks, logs, leaf litter, and occasionally in basements or bathrooms.
Diet & Feeding
Detritivore; primarily feeds on decaying organic matter, rotting wood, and dead plant material.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal and moisture-seeking. They are land-dwelling crustaceans that breathe through gill-like organs, requiring high humidity to survive. Some species roll into a ball (conglobation) for defense.
Risks & Benefits
Harmless to humans; they do not bite or sting. Benefit the ecosystem as decomposers by recycling nutrients back into the soil, though they can occasionally damage young seedlings in gardens.
Identified on: 12/28/2025