
Community identification
Woodlouse
Porcellio scaber
- Order & Family
- Isopoda, Porcellionidae
- Size
- 3 to 20 millimeters long
Natural Habitat
Damp, dark environments like under rocks, rotting wood, and occasionally indoor bathrooms or basements.
Diet & Feeding
Detritivore feeding primarily on decaying plant matter, fungi, and occasionally dead insects.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal and active in humid conditions. They breathe through modified structures resembling gills and roll into a ball when threatened.
Risks & Benefits
Completely harmless to humans, do not bite or transmit disease, and benefit ecosystems by recycling organic matter.