Common Pill Woodlouse
ExploreInvertebrate
Common Pill Woodlouse
armadillidium vulgare
The Common Pill Woodlouse is a tiny creature that can roll into a ball when scared! It loves to hide under rocks and leaves in damp places.
Habitat: They live in moist environments like gardens, forests, and under rocks.
Appearance
The Common Pill Woodlouse is a small, oval-shaped crustacean, usually dark grey to brown, sometimes mottled. It has a distinctly segmented body and seven pairs of legs. Its smooth, rounded back allows it to roll into a perfect ball.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassMalacostracaOrderIsopodaFamilyArmadillidiidaeGenusArmadillidium
Category
InvertebrateRarity
Common
Danger
0/5 · No known danger
Snaps
105
Interesting facts
A mother woodlouse carries her eggs in a pouch under her belly.
Their blood is actually blue, thanks to a special copper protein!
They drink water through tiny tubes on their bottoms!
They shed their old skin in two pieces, like a top and bottom half!
Special abilities
Ability
Armor Ball
Common Pill Woodlouse can roll into a tight, impenetrable ball because of its segmented exoskeleton that helps them hide from danger.
Ability
Recycle Master
Common Pill Woodlouse can munch on dead leaves and decaying plants because of its specialized mouthparts that helps them recycle nutrients into the soil.
Ability
Gills on Land
Common Pill Woodlouse has gill-like structures on its underside that help them breathe by absorbing oxygen from moist air.
Measurements & details
- Length
- 1.5 cm
- Weight
- 0.2 g
- Lifespan
- 3 years
Diet & Feeding
They are nature's tiny recyclers, feasting on dead plants and decaying organic matter.
Primary Foods
- Decaying leaves
- Rotten wood
- Fungi
- Dead plant matter
Foraging Method
- Foraging
Ecological connections
eats
Woodlouse Hunter Spider
Dysdera crocata
This spider has fangs adapted to pierce woodlouse armor.
eats
Common Red Centipede
Lithobius forficatus
Centipedes are speedy hunters that prey on many invertebrates.
eats
Common Blackbird
Turdus merula
Birds often forage for woodlice in leaf litter and under logs.
Traits
Solitary
Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
Burrowing
Burrowing animals dig tunnels and chambers in the ground, using these subterranean structures for shelter, hunting, or breeding.
Herbivorous
This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
Decomposer
Describes organisms that break down dead organic material, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.
Forest
Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
Also known as
roly-polywood louse
Collections
Safety
Danger
0/5 · No known danger
No special safety notes yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to identify Common Pill Woodlouse?
The easiest way to identify Common Pill Woodlouse is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.
How long is Common Pill Woodlouse?
1.5 cm
How much does Common Pill Woodlouse weigh?
0.2 g
How long does Common Pill Woodlouse live?
3 years
What does Common Pill Woodlouse eat?
They are nature's tiny recyclers, feasting on dead plants and decaying organic matter.
Where is Common Pill Woodlouse usually found?
They live in moist environments like gardens, forests, and under rocks.
How does Common Pill Woodlouse hunt?
Foraging
Snap Map
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Recent Snaps
Jun 8, 2026
Morton Arboretumi
Photo attribution
(c) Belinda Ramos, some rights reserved (CC BY)
License: CC BY 4.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
Jun 7, 2026
Skylandsi
Photo attribution
(c) gwt2102, some rights reserved (CC BY)
License: CC BY 4.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
Jun 4, 2026
Las Vegas High School Neighborhood Historic Districti
Photo attribution
(c) Katrina Smith, some rights reserved (CC BY)
License: CC BY 4.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
Jun 1, 2026
Julia Davis Parki
Photo attribution
(c) Sam Kieschnick, some rights reserved (CC BY)
License: CC BY 4.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
May 6, 2026
Zoologická zahrada Děčín - Pastýřská stěnai
Photo attribution
(c) kyselinasirova, some rights reserved (CC BY)
License: CC BY 4.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
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