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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Crustaceans (Crustacea) » Malacostracans (Malacostraca) » Peracarida » Isopods (Isopoda)

Order Isopoda - Isopods

Family Porcellionidae - Porcellio scaber Common Rough Woodlouse - Philoscia muscorum Woodlouse - Philoscia muscorum Isopod - Armadillidium vulgare Armadillidium nasatum sowbug - Trachelipus rathkii Ligia pallasii woodlouse
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Crustacea (Crustaceans)
Class Malacostraca (Malacostracans)
Superorder Peracarida
Order Isopoda (Isopods)
Other Common Names
cress bug, pill bug, sow bug, wood louse, rock slater, roly poly,
Size
2mm - over 30 cm.
Habitat
Found in cool moist areas. They can usually be found under rocks or logs.
Food
Feed on seaweed,humus,fungi,dead vegetation.
Life Cycle
Incomplete metamorphisis. Young hatch looking just like adults. They shed their skin as they grow.
Remarks
Pillbugs and sowbugs, being crustaceans, breathe by means of gills. This is why they need moisture, but they will drown if submerged
Print References
A golden Guide - Spiders and their Kin
Internet References
Guide to Coastal Isopods of California
Information and Pillbug Anatomy Drawing
Tree of Life- information and drawing
Kentucky Sowbug Site
FossWeb - Educational site on Isopods
Contributed by Troy Bartlett on 16 February, 2004 - 12:31pm
Additional contributions by Lynette
Last updated 30 September, 2005 - 5:33pm

Woodlice
The first link to lander.edu has some great drawings to show ID if you scroll to the bottom of the site.
… Lynette Schimming, 21 March, 2005 - 8:21am

Woodlice
Woodlice feed on humus and fungi. North of Mexico there are nearly 100 species. Eggs and young are carried in a brood pouch by the female. (1)
… Lynette Schimming, 21 March, 2005 - 7:02am

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