Blog

[A woodlouse, plural: woodlice]

Woodlice may look like insects, but are crustaceans related to shrimps, crabs, and lobsters. Woodlice have been on our planet far longer than human beings. Some believe that these small creatures roamed the earth already 100 million years ago.

Woodlice are native to Central and Western Europe. They like damp, dark places and can be found hiding in walls, under stones and in compost heaps.

Rough woodlice (Porcellio scaber) have an oval body and grow up to 18 millimeters long. They are usually gray although brown, blue, yellow, orange, or pinkish hues may also be observed. The upper surface of their segmented exoskeleton is covered in a series of small tubercles hence its common name.

Rough woodlice have 7 pairs of legs, corresponding to the 7 segments of the thorax. They have a pair of antennae to help them find their way around. They have two compound eyes that can sense light and dark.