Woodlice

Here are four, of the 37 species of woodlouse that occur in the wild in UK; probably the four commonest garden species. The Common Pygmy Woodlouse was the first of this species I found in the garden, though I guess i haven’t been looking that hard. Woodlice are crustaceans from the order Isopods, and live mostly on algae, fungi and rotting organic matter, though they will scavenge a meal off dead creatures given the chance. As with most gardens there’s plenty of them in mine, and they are present year-round quietly getting on with their lives.

In the days prior to antacid tablets, people used to dry woodlice and grind them into powder as a treatment for indigestion, seeing as the shells are rich in calcium carbonate. Something to think of if you are locked down and can’t get to the pharmacy!

#64 Common Rough Woodlouse (Porcellio scaber)

#240 Common Striped Woodlouse (Philoscia muscorum)

#717 Common Pygmy Woodlouse (Trichoniscus pusillus)

#394 Common Shiny Woodlouse (Oniscus asellus)