The Rough Woodlouse (Porcellio scaber) is an isopod that is probably living in a wet place very near you right now. Nash Turley and Hamilton Boyce discuss various aspects of their biology, talk about a behavioral study, and explore their huge variety of common names from around the world, for example, pill bug, sowbug, slater, rolly polly…
References:
- Riggio C. Porcellio scaber. Animal Diversity Web. https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Porcellio_scaber/
- Wijnhoven H, Berg MP. Some notes on the distribution and ecology of iridovirus (Iridovirus, Iridoviridae) in terrestrial isopods (Isopoda, Oniscidae). Crustaceana – International Journal Of Crustacean Research. 1999.
- Hopkin SP, Hardisty GN, Martin MH. The woodlouse Porcellio scaber as a ‘biological indicator’of zinc, cadmium, lead and copper pollution. Environmental Pollution Series B, Chemical and Physical. 1986.
- Broly P, Mullier R, Deneubourg JL, Devigne C. Aggregation in woodlice: social interaction and density effects. ZooKeys. 2012.
- Robert Graves. The Lost Love.
- Edith L. M. King. The Woodlouse.
- Mcalpine F. How Many Names do Brits Have for Woodlice? BBC America. 2014.
- Nash’s tweet asking about common names.