Common Rough Woodlouse Porcellio scaber

Woodlice are crustaceans (external exoskeleton) recycling dead wood and leaf debris. They are mainly nocturnal, hiding in the day. The Common Rough Woodlouse is native to Europe but now has a worldwide distribution. It grows to 20mm long.

Shrews, centipedes, spiders and birds prey on them. The name "rough" relates to the small pimples on the shell. Woodlice have 7 pairs of legs.

The Common Rough Woodlouse is usually uniform grey, but can be variegated pink and orange with grey - different populations since colour variations are genetic.