Woodlouse (also known as Pill Bug, Roly-poly, or Sowbug)
Scientific Name: Armadillidiidae (family) or Porcellionidae (family)
Order & Family: Order: Isopoda; Family: Armadillidiidae
Size: 3 to 20 mm (0.1 to 0.8 inches) in length.
Natural Habitat
Damp, dark environments such as under rocks, logs, leaf litter, or in basements and crawl spaces with high moisture.
Diet & Feeding
Detritivorous; they primarily eat decaying organic matter, rotting wood, and fungi, acting as natural decomposers.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal animals that seek moisture to breathe through gill-like structures. Many species (the 'pill bug' variety) can roll into a tight ball for protection when threatened.
Risks & Benefits
Harmless to humans; they do not bite or sting. They are highly beneficial to ecosystems by recycling nutrients into the soil. In homes, they are considered a nuisance pest and an indicator of a moisture problem.
Identified on: 4/16/2026