Woodlice College Essay Example

from Australia (family Scyphacidae), various Trichoniscidae species, and Thailandoniscus annae from the northern hemisphere (family Styloniscidae). Some species like Typhlotricholigoides aquaticus from Mexico and Cantabroniscus primitivus from Spain are believed to live in water. The exclusive predator of woodlice is the specialist Dysdera crocata, which feeds solely on them. Woodlice are consumed by different insectivores, but only spiders of the genus Dysdera, such as the woodlouse spider Dysdera crocata, prey specifically on woodlice. [22] [9]

Woodlice, which are in the class of arthropods and originally lived in water, have not completely shed their aquatic tendencies despite now living on land. Their skins are not completely waterproof, so they easily become dehydrated in dry environments. Consequently, most woodlice prefer damp areas and only come out to feed at night when the air is cooler and more humid. Many woodlice species require a thin layer of moisture on their bodies to breathe and would drown if submerged in water.

Woodlice, Millipedes, and Centipedes are all part of the Phylum Arthropoda. They are known by various colloquial names such as bibble-bugs, sow-bugs, cud-worms, tiggy-hogs, shoe-laces, sink-lice, slaters, and coffin cutters. In the British Isles, there are 42 species of woodlice known but only 29 are native.

Certain species have been introduced through plants and have successfully established themselves as Synanthropes. This means they thrive in environments such as our homes, greenhouses, cafes, and kitchens. However, their distribution is limited. Most native species are confined to coastal habitats or woodlands, with only six commonly encountered in gardens. Woodlice are more abundant in regions with lime-rich soils because they need lime for shell formation.

Despite their

negative reputation with gardeners and housewives, woodlice are harmless creatures that should not be exterminated. While they may occasionally eat young seedlings, their primary diet consists of dead leaves and decaying material. Interestingly, having a woodlouse inside the house is often seen as unlucky in many locations. However, their presence in the garden is more likely to bring benefits rather than harm.

Woodlice or pill bugs were consumed alive in the past for treating digestive issues, as they were believed to have medicinal properties. They were also fed to cattle, earning them the nickname "cud-worms." Despite this practice being discontinued, woodlice are still commonly referred to as pill bugs. These crustaceans, like crabs and lobsters, were originally aquatic creatures but have adapted to living on land while retaining some characteristics inherited from their marine ancestors.

Woodlice have skins that are not completely waterproof, causing them to dry out rapidly in dry environments. Consequently, they predominantly inhabit damp areas and only forage at night when conditions are cooler and moister. Certain species rely on a delicate moisture film on their bodies for respiration, but would perish if fully submerged in water. Although a woodlouse's body consists of three main regions, these divisions are less pronounced compared to those found in insects.

The head of the organism is compact and situated deeply within its body, resulting in a curved appearance. It possesses two sets of antennae, although only one set is readily visible. Like other arthropods, these antennae function as sensory organs for both touch and smell. The feeding mechanism, which includes robust jaws, remains concealed beneath the head. The largest segment of the body, known

as either the pereion or thorax, is encased in seven broad plates that overlap one another. Seven pairs of legs are located on the underside of the body.

The pleon or abdomen of the woodlouse is sometimes indistinguishable from the perion. It consists of six segments, but only four dorsal plates or shields are visible. The telson serves as the final plate and is often triangular. In contrast to regular legs, the initial five pairs of legs in the pleon have significant differences. Each leg has two leaf-like flaps that overlap each other. The inner flap is thin and well-supplied with blood, acting as a gill for oxygen absorption from the air. However, this process only occurs when there is a thin film of water surrounding it for oxygen to dissolve within.

Woodlice experience dehydration and suffocation in dry environments. Nevertheless, certain species have found a solution by growing small breathing tubes on their abdominal limbs' outer flaps. These tubes vary in size and allow air to enter through a small opening on the surface. The air then circulates within the limb, while the moist tube walls aid in oxygen absorption into the bloodstream.

The animal possesses pseudotracheae, which can be observed as small white patches on its underside. These pseudotracheae enhance the creature's capacity to thrive in arid environments. Nevertheless, the woodlice continue to heavily depend on their gills. The pleon's last pair of legs stands out from the rest and resembles actual legs. These distinctive legs are referred to as uropods and protrude from the rear end. Each uropod is divided into two branches, with the outer branch generally being

thicker than the inner branch.

The uropods function as sensory organs, like the hind legs of specific centipedes. They also generate repellent fluids that shield the animals from certain predators. These protective fluids are secreted from multiple body segments. Despite having these fluids, woodlice are preyed upon by different animals such as shrews, toads, ground beetles, centipedes, and specific spiders. Furthermore, woodlice can be susceptible to parasitic attack from various types of blow-fly.

The female blow-fly is attracted to the smell and actively seeks out woodlouse habitats to lay their eggs. Once hatched, the maggots penetrate the woodlice and feed on their tissue, similar to how the Cluster Fly targets worms. Typically, there is only one maggot per woodlouse. As the maggot reaches maturity, the woodlouse becomes a mere shell. Throughout the summer breeding season, females develop a brood pouch beneath the pereion.

The female woodlice possess a pouch formed by overlapping plates that grow in from the sides of their bodies. This pouch acts as a pseudo floor, filled with liquid between the body and the false floor. The female woodlice deposit their eggs into this liquid-filled pouch. Studies indicate that it takes around one month for the eggs of Porcellio scaber to hatch. Once hatched, the fluid gradually dissipates from the pouch, and within a few days, the young woodlice, resembling grains of rice in size, emerge. At this stage, they are pale and only have six thoracic segments. However, they undergo molting shortly after to reveal seven thoracic segments.