Brief SummaryRead full entry BiologyWoodlice feed on dead
organic matter, which they detect by means of taste and smell
(3). The common woodlouse is gregarious, and typically spends
the day concealed beneath stones, logs and other objects. When
threatened, this species defends itself by clamping down onto
the surface; the feet can grip the substrate very tightly, and
this woodlouse is able to cling on tenaciously (3). Mating tends
to take place at night, and is very rarely observed for this
reason. When a male finds a receptive female, he climbs onto her
back and drums her with his front legs whilst 'licking' her head
with his mouthparts. He moves to one side of the female, bending
his body beneath hers, and transfers sperm to one of the
female's genital openings. He then moves to the other side and
transfers sperm to the remaining genital opening (3). During the
breeding season, reproductive females develop a 'brood pouch',
which consists of overlapping leaf-like structures known as
'oostegites', which form