What is special about woodlice?

Woodlouse is one of the rare animals that is able to produce and safely eliminate ammonia in the gaseous form via its shell (it does not produce urine like other animals). Oxygen-rich blood of woodlouse is blue-colored. Natural enemies of woodlice are shrews, toads, centipedes, millipedes and spiders.

Do woodlice have eyes?

Woodlouse senses are centred around the jointed antennae and simple eyes that have only about 25 individual ocelli – probably enough to detect light and shade and largish moving objects, but probably incapable of forming images with a very high degree of resolution.

Why do woodlice go into a ball?

The pill woodlouse is rounded and slate grey, and when it is disturbed, it rolls up into a ball (resembling a small pill) to protect itself. It feeds on dead and decaying matter and is an important nutrient-recycler.

Do woodlice lay eggs?

Some species, known as pillbugs,can roll themselves into a ball when threatened. Woodlice produce eggs in spring and these are retained inside the female’s body until they hatch. The newly hatched woodlice, known as mancas, are kept in a brood pouch on the underside of the female for a few days before they disperse.

Can woodlice harm you?

Are woodlice harmful? Woodlice are harmless creatures, and don’t present any health risks to humans. As mentioned, they may cause superficial damage to wooden upholstery, but woodlice are otherwise benign.

What do woodlice turn into?

Woodlice may look like insects, but in fact they’re crustaceans and are related to crabs and lobsters. Woodlice are sometime called pill bugs and slaters. The pill woodlouse gets its name because it can roll itself up into a ball.

Are woodlice bad?

Do woodlice bite?

Woodlouse spiders are found across the UK wherever their woodlouse prey is common. This spider’s jaws are strong enough to give humans a painful nip if handled.

Why do I keep finding woodlice in my house?

Not only that, but if you do find a lot of them inside the house, it’s a sign of a humidity problem: woodlice actively seek out damp areas. They also tend to congregate in dark, sheltered locations, and are mostly active at night.

What is the main predator of woodlice?

A common woodlouse can live for three-four years. Apart from man, its main predators are centipedes, toads, shrews and spiders.

Are woodlice bad in the house?

Woodlice, which are not known to transmit disease, may cause superficial damage to decorations and possibly furnishing in your home. Woodlice feed on mould growth, leaves and rotting wood, they are known to damage wallpaper which may be due to feeding on minute mould growth on the paper causing incidental damage.

How do I get rid of woodlice?

How to get rid of Woodlice. No treatment is necessary but if they persist put right any dampness, remove infested vegetation and use an insecticidal powder or long-lasting spray around door-thresholds or other points of entry. Amateur use products are available from your local garden centre or hardware store.

What do you need to know about woodlice?

This woodlice fact sheet includes different facts about woodlice, your kids will learn everything about how this minibeast lives including: The facts are all presented alongside some wonderful, hand-drawn illustrations. All facts are also inside fun coloured bubbles to make reading and understanding the fact sheet easy for young kids.

Which is the biggest woodlice in the world?

The common woodlouse is one of the biggest woodlice in Europe. Like other woodlice, it thrives in damp, dark environments. It feeds on dead plants and rotting animals. Curling up Some species of woodlouse, like the pill woodlouse, roll into a ball when they are scared.

What kind of bug looks like a woodlice?

Woodlice can be a pest in the garden when the eat young seedlings. Altough sowbugs and pillbugs look very much alike, those that roll up into a ball when distubed are known as pillbugs or roly-polies.

Why do woodlice roll into a ball when scared?

Some species of woodlouse, like the pill woodlouse, roll into a ball when they are scared. This protects their legs and soft bellies with the harder shell on the outside. Privacy & Cookies Contact Us FAQs