Common Rough Woodlouse

Porcellio scaber

Woodlice have segmented, flattened grey-to-brown oval bodies, seven pairs of legs, and hard external shells. As decomposers, they feed on rotting wood, leaves, and fungi. Woodlice are terrestrial crustaceans that are more closely related to crabs, lobsters, and shrimps than to insects. Although they inhabit land, woodlice breathe through modified gill-like structures that require moisture. They do not have a waxy outer layer, which makes them susceptible to dehydration, so they typically reside in dark, damp environments such as under logs, stones, and beneath bark.