Woodlice
Oniscidea
Classification
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Subphylum: Crustacea
- Class: Malacostraca
- Superorder: Peracarida
- Order: Isopoda
- Suborder: Oniscidea
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Oniscidea: /ɒnɪˈsɪdiə/
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Images
Summary
Woodlice are terrestrial isopods belonging to the suborder Oniscidea, known for their diverse adaptations to land, ability to conglobate, and ecological roles as decomposers.
Physical Characteristics
Dorso-ventrally flattened body, segmented, with seven pairs of jointed legs; shell-like exoskeleton that must be molted. Uropods vary in shape and size between families.
Identification Tips
Flagellomere count, uropod and telson shape and size, dorsal color pattern, and number of lungs (white patches under abdomen). Pillbugs have flattened uropods and special grooves under their body.
Habitat
Cool, dark, moist places such as under rocks and logs; some species can also be found in dry habitats and semi-aquatic environments.
Distribution
Worldwide in terrestrial biomes; primarily found in cool, moist areas.
Diet
Detritivores, mainly feeding on dead plant material; they can occasionally feed on live soft plants under certain conditions.
Life Cycle
Females carry fertilized eggs in a marsupium; young hatch as mancae and undergo a series of molts to reach maturity.
Reproduction
Primarily sexual reproduction, although some species can reproduce asexually.
Predators
Insectivores, including spiders, land planarians, and various other predators.
Ecosystem Role
Primary decomposers of leaf litter and secondary decomposers of dung; important in nutrient cycling.
Economic Impact
Generally beneficial in gardens, aiding in compost production, but some species can damage cultivated plants.
Cultural Significance
Popular in educational contexts and as pets for children and hobbyists.
Collecting Methods
- Use of pitfall traps
- Hand collection
Preservation Methods
- Ethanol
- Freezing
- Drying
Evolution
Evolved from marine isopods during the Carboniferous period; fossil records date back to the Cretaceous.
Similar Taxa
- Crumbling insects
- Pill millipedes
Misconceptions
Often mistaken for insects or marine critters; not harmful to humans or structures.
Tags
- Woodlice
- Invertebrates
- Crustaceans
- Ecosystem
- Detritivores