Pill Woodlouse

Name: Pill Woodlouse

Scientific name: Armadillidium spp

Category: Minibeasts

Nature Stars: 30

What are nature stars?

About: Woodlice feed on mildew and rotting, plants, and can be very numerous in compost heaps or under rocks in the garden. The Pill Woodlouse is rounded, about 1.5cm long and shiny grey. When disturbed, it rolls up into a ball.

How to identify: The Pill Millipede (Glomeris marginata) looks very similar and also curls up into a ball. The best way to tell the two apart is by counting their legs. Woodlice have seven pairs of walking legs. Millipedes have around 18 pairs.

Where: Widespread

Natural Superpowers

• Predator: 10
• Agility: 60
• Rarity: 40
• Cute factor: 60
• Traveller: 20

Fantastic fact: The scientific name Armadillidium means 'little armadillo'.

Photograph credit: Photo credit tbc