Woodlice are crustaceans and related to crabs and lobsters. Though they have evolved to live out of water, they still breathe through a type of gill so can only survive in damp places. Look under logs and stones to find them! Visit the NatureSpot gallery on woodlice and crustaceans found in Leicestershire and Rutland.
Common Shiny Woodlouse
One of the commonest woodlice and found under logs and amongst leaf litter.
ID: Large (to 16mm). Brown and glossy, with pale markings.
Common Rough Woodlouse
Probably our most common woodlouse and frequently found in gardens. Can withstand slightly drier conditions.
ID: Medium (10-12mm). Usually grey, sometimes mottled, and covered in tiny tubercles. Can have orange, yellow or red tinges.
Pill Woodlouse
This woodlouse can withstand drier conditions than other species so is the main species to be sometimes found indoors.
ID: Up to 18mm. Slate grey sometimes with paler spots. Rolls into a ball when disturbed.
Common Striped Woodlouse
This species is often immediately obvious by its speed when disturbed, scurrying away faster than other woodlice. It looks similar to Porcellio spinicornis but easily distinguished by its 'stepped' outline.
ID: Medium size (10-11mm). Yellowish brown with pale patches and a dark central stripe. Black head. Stepped outline.
Common Pygmy Woodlouse agg.
Very common and found in a wide range of habitats. There are two almost identical species (T. pusillus and T. provisorius) which are very hard to tell apart so they are usually treated as an aggregate group.
ID: Small (5mm). Mottled reddish brown with a smooth surface. Head speckled.
Rosy Woodlouse
A common and fast-moving woodlouse. Typically found under large stones and rubble.
ID: Small (6mm). Pink-orange with a yellow stripe (which splits towards the tail end). Covered in tubercles.
Porcellio spinicornis
Though similar to the Common Striped Woodlouse, it lacks the stepped outline of that species. Often found in mortared walls.
ID: Medium (12mm). Yellow-brown with a dark central stripe. Black head. Rows of yellow blotches along each side. Smooth outline (not stepped).
Ant Woodlouse
Ant woodlice live in ant nests are are unmistakeable - the only white woodlouse. The ants seem to be quite comfortable sharing their homes with these ghostly white miniature woodlice.
ID: Small (4mm) and all white. Within an ant nest.
