Common Rough Woodlouse

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Latin name:  Porcellio scaber

Size:  Up to 17mm

Distribution:  Found throughout the U.K.

Months seen:  All year round

Habitat:  Damp, shaded places such as under stones and logs

Food:  Dead plant matter

Special features:  Probably the commonest species of woodlouse found in the UK, sometimes even showing up in houses.

The common rough woodlouse is usually grey in colour, but can be mottled with yellow or brown.  When viewed under a hand lens you'll see where the "rough" name comes from.  The upper surface is covered in bumps.

If you turn the creature over you'll notice it has two pairs of lungs, which appear as white patches near the tail end.

The end of the antennae (known as the 'flagellum') is in two segments.  The eyes are composed of a group of shiny black bumps (called 'ocelli').

Related Pages

• UK Safari Woodlouse Section
• UK Safari Invertebrate Section
• Identify other wildlife
• What's Out Now?