# 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.

- **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.

## About

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.

## Sources

- Plate: https://gaia-dex.com/species/3cb33c15-8473-492a-b576-5422abee542c
- iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/130169
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porcellio spinicornis
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List category, as recorded by Gaia-Dex
- Photo: https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/63521480/medium.jpg (Gilles San Martin, CC-BY-SA, via iNaturalist)

Habitat, diet, size and similar notes are AI-written summaries; check them against the linked sources before relying on them.