There are 30-40 species of woodlice in the UK and around 3,500 species globally. Some of the common names for woodlice are WILD. Woodlice are known as cheeslogs in Reading, Chiggy-pigs in Devon, and Granny Greys here in South Wales. However, I have a soft spot for the Welsh Mochyn Coed – Wood pig. Whether you call them roly-polys or curly-bobs here are some of the absolute stars of the woodlouse world.

Rosy woodlouse (Androniscus dentiger)

The spectacular colour of the rosy woodlouse can vary from red-orange to salmon pink! Rosy woodlice can be found in damp habitats in gardens and underground. Living underground may explain why its bright colour doesn’t make it an easy snack for predators.

Fast Phill (Philoscia muscorum)

As its name suggests, this woodlouse is smaller and faster than other woodlice. This gorgeous stripy little guy can be found in grassy habitats under deadwood or stones.

The Shiny Woodlouse (Oniscus asellus)

A classic and family favourite. This is probably the woodlouse we see most often when you turn over plant pots in the garden. It gets its name from its shiny carapace.

Porcellio dilatatus

These bad boys can grow up to 2cm long! Making them one of the largest isopods in the UK. These isopods specialise in manure heaps. When horse travel was more common, these woodlice could be found across the UK. P.dialatatus is now restricted to habitats like stables or seabird colonies.

Although they look like insects, woodlice are crustaceans - distant cousins of the crabs and lobsters. Like their marine relatives, woodlice need water to respire but can survive with just enough dampness to cover their external gills. The damp floors of a woodland is a woodlouse paradise. The decomposing leaf litter makes for a delicious buffet, helping to restore nutrients from plant material back to the soil to be re-used. Woodlice are also able to accumulate heavy metals, removing harmful build-up from the environment! Hopefully this has inspired you to get outside, flip a rock and appreciate a woodlouse today.