Common Pill Woodlouse Armadillidium vulgare

Pill woodlice are able to roll up in a ball when threatened, although there is a small gap where head meets body (unlike pill millipedes). The Common Pill Woodlouse has several other names including pill bug and is native to Europe.

It is usually plain dark grey with light borders to segments (as in photo top left), but can have yellowy-green patches, as above centre, or reddish patches (above left). (There is also a Southern Pill Woodlouse, Armadillidium depressum which looks similar but with a flared skirt edge.)

It grows to 18mm long. Woodlice have 7 pairs of legs.