Wood Louse
Wood louse is also known as sow bugs, wood lice are among the few crustaceans that live permanently on land. Unlike insects, they do not have waterproof skins, and unless they kept moist they will die. A wood louse’s body has many similar looking segments. Its thoracic segments bear legs, and its abdominal segments have flaps that collect oxygen from the air. These work only if covered by a film of water.
The scientific name of wood louse is porcellio scaber. It grows up to 3/4 inch (2 cm) long. It lives in woodland, gardens and damp places. Wood louse is widely distributed in the cool regions of the northern hemisphere. The females carry eggs in a pouch; offspring emerge a few days after hatching. It lives on dead and decaying plant matter, including wood and leaves.