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Common Rough Woodlouse
ExploreInvertebrate
Common Rough Woodlouse
porcellio scaber
The Common Rough Woodlouse is a tiny creature that looks like a little armored bug! It loves to hide under rocks and in damp places, where it can scurry around safely.
Habitat: Common Rough Woodlice are often found in gardens, forests, and under logs or stones.
Appearance
The Common Rough Woodlouse is a small, oval-shaped crustacean with a distinctly bumpy, greyish-brown segmented body. It has seven pairs of legs and two visible antennae, making its textured back different from smoother woodlice.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassMalacostracaOrderIsopodaFamilyPorcellionidaeGenusPorcellio
Category
InvertebrateRarity
Common
Danger
0/5 · No known danger
Snaps
15
Interesting facts
Female woodlice carry their babies in a special pouch, just like a kangaroo!
They are crustaceans, related to crabs and lobsters, not insects!
They can survive for months without food if conditions are just right!
Woodlice drink water by sucking it up through their rear end, like a tiny straw!
Special abilities
Ability
Armored Back
Common Rough Woodlouse has a tough, segmented exoskeleton that helps protect it from drying out and hungry predators.
Ability
Chemical Defender
Common Rough Woodlouse can release a foul-tasting liquid because it's stored in glands, deterring predators with a bad flavor.
Ability
Moisture Magnet
Common Rough Woodlouse can detect humidity changes because specialized sensors help them find damp, dark places to survive.
Measurements & details
- Length
- 1.7 cm
- Weight
- 0.1 g
- Lifespan
- 3 years
- Clutch Size
- 50
Diet & Feeding
These tiny recyclers munch on decaying plants and fungi, helping to clean up the environment!
Primary Foods
- decaying leaves
- rotting wood
- fungi
- dead insects
- algae
Foraging Method
- Foraging
Ecological connections
hunts
Woodlouse Spider
Dysdera crocata
This spider hunts woodlice specifically with its large fangs.
hunts
Common Centipede
Lithobius forficatus
A speedy predator that ambushes woodlice in damp places.
eaten by
Common Toad
Bufo bufo
An opportunistic amphibian predator that often dines on woodlice.
eaten by
Common Shrew
Sorex araneus
A small mammal that forages for invertebrates like woodlice.
Traits
Social
Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.
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.
Diurnal
Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.
Also known as
Armored BugCommon PillbugRough WoodlouseWood Bug
Collections
Safety
Danger
0/5 · No known danger
No special safety notes yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to identify Common Rough Woodlouse?
The easiest way to identify Common Rough Woodlouse is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.
How long is Common Rough Woodlouse?
1.7 cm
How much does Common Rough Woodlouse weigh?
0.1 g
How long does Common Rough Woodlouse live?
3 years
What does Common Rough Woodlouse eat?
These tiny recyclers munch on decaying plants and fungi, helping to clean up the environment!
Where is Common Rough Woodlouse usually found?
Common Rough Woodlice are often found in gardens, forests, and under logs or stones.
How does Common Rough Woodlouse hunt?
Foraging
How many eggs does Common Rough Woodlouse lay?
50
Snap Map
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Recent Snaps
May 28, 2026
Cushman Dami
Photo attribution
no rights reserved
License: CC0 1.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
Where to spot
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Davisville Historic District
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Park46 sightings50 species
Virginia, US
Gloucester Downtown Historic District
You might spot Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Fowler's Toad, and Monarch.
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Park47 sightings50 species
Kentucky, US
Kentucky Horse Park
You might spot Bird's-Eye Speedwell and Barn Swallow.
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Park44 sightings50 species
Washington, US
Lower Cushman Dam
You might spot Barrow's Goldeneye and Pacific Banana Slug.
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