Latin name:  Armadillidium vulgare

Size:  Up to 18mm

Distribution:  Found throughout most of the U.K.  More frequent in the south and east.

Months seen:  All year round

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

Food:  Dead plant matter

Special features:  The Common Pill Woodlouse is usually grey in colour, often mottled with yellow. Pink specimens can sometimes be found too.  When disturbed it can roll into a perfect ball.

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 eyes are composed of a group of shiny black bumps (called 'ocelli').

Related Pages

• Woodlouse Section
• Creepy-crawlies Section
• UK Safari News