Woodlice belong to the suborder Oniscidea within the family Isopoda and are crustaceans that have adapted to life on land. Woodlice are small animals ranging from 1.5 to 30 mm as adults and live in the most varying types of environments worldwide. They prefer wet climates as they adapt to moist environments, and the natural habitats of terrestrial species are mainly deep underground and under leaves and rocks [1].
Woodlice is an integral part of bioactive systems as it helps break down waste and other organic matter. They also aerate the soil, adding beneficial bacteria and helping to maintain the balance of the bioactive system. Therefore, they are essential for ecosystem functions of nutrient breakdown and recycling in some habitats [1, 2, 3].
Key Functions
● Decomposes waste and other organic material
● Aerating the soil
Threath
● Final felling or thinning, clearing and grubbing of older forests.
● Re-planting and spontaneous overgrowth of arable land, meadows and pastures
● Overgrowth of deciduous meadows and pastures
● Changed cultural landscape
Common Species
There are around 4000 recognised species, with probably some not yet validated. In Sweden, there are 39 species [1], of which four are near threatened [4]. The most common species in Sweden is the Common Woodlouse.
Some species to discover in nature:
● Common Woodlouse
University of Puget Sound – Common Woodlouse 
● Common rough woodlouse (Porcellio scaber)
Bug Guide – Common rough woodlouse
● Common striped woodlouse (Philoscia muscorum)
Naturspot – Common Striped Woodlouse
● Roly-poly or Common Pill Woodlouse (Armadillidium vulgare)
iNaturalist – Roly-poly or Common Pill Woodlouse
● Porcellio spinicornis
Wikipedia – Porcellio Spinicornis
Sources
- Cyber Zoo – Woodlouse (Oniscidea) – Care and facts
- Entomologi.se – Woodlouse – Isopoda
- Wikipedia – Woodlouse
- Waltham Forest Gov.UK – Woodlice fact sheet
June 2023, TÄNKOM | Revised February 2024 RETHINK
