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UK
Safari Tip:
Discover more facts and identification tips about the different species of
woodlouse found in the UK with this superbly illustrated ID chart - click
here
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Latin name: Oniscus asellus
Size: Up to 15mms long
Distribution: Found throughout the UK
Food: Feeds on decaying wood and plants
Habitat: Prefers dark and damp conditions under rocks and logs
Special features: Woodlice are not really lice at all. In fact they are related to lobsters and crabs. They walked out of the sea around 50 million years to live on dry land. They don't like it too dry though. They still prefer to live in damp conditions.
They are covered in a grey coloured, segmented shell. It has white fringes and
the body underneath it is cream coloured. They have seven pairs of legs, and at the
back end of their body they have two pointed tails, known as 'uropods'.
Although they have small eyes, which can detect variations in light levels, they generally feel their way around in the dark using their antennae.
There are around 5,000 species of woodlice in the world. About 40 species can be
found in the U.K.
Some local names given to woodlice include 'tiggyhogs', 'God's little pigs' and 'sowbugs'.
Woodlice predators include; toads, shrews, centipedes and spiders - notably the Woodlouse
spider which has specially developed fangs for piercing the shells of
woodlice.
Did You Know?
Woodlice are not insects. In fact they are crustaceans.
UK Safari White Woodlouse Page
UK Safari Creepy-Crawlies Section
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