Brickwork Woodlouse
Porcellio spinicornis
Unlike many woodlice, this species cannot roll into a ball; instead, it relies on its flat profile to squeeze tightly into microscopic rock crevices.
- Scientific name
- Porcellio spinicornis
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Arthropoda › Malacostraca › Isopoda › Porcellionidae › Porcellio
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- urban
- Habitat
- Limestone cliffs, old brick walls, mortar crevices, and stony ruins.
- Diet
- Decaying plant matter, algae, lichen, and fungi scraped from damp stone surfaces.
- Range
- Europe, North America
- Size
- 10-15 mm
- Lifespan
- 2-3 years
- Active
- nocturnal
- Threats
- Loss of traditional lime mortar in modern construction, heavy pesticide use in urban gardens.
- Safe to approach?
- Completely harmless to humans. They do not bite, sting, or carry diseases. If found indoors, they are likely lost and searching for moisture; gently scoop them up and place them outside in a damp, shady garden or near a stone wall.
Porcellio spinicornis is a species of woodlouse in the genus Porcellio belonging to the family Porcellionidae. This species is widespread in Europe, and has also been introduced to North America. The body have no spots, but the frontal lateral lobes are large.
Photo: Gilles San Martin, CC-BY-SA, via iNaturalist
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