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INTRODUCTION. These land-dwelling crustaceans are arthropods but not insects.  They are worldwide in distribution.  In the United States, the 2 most common species are Porcellio laevis Koch and P. scaber (Latreille), both in the family Porcellionidae and of worldwide distribution.

RECOGNITION. Adults up to about 5/8in (16 mm) long, convex above but flat or hollow beneath.  Color dark to slate gray.  Typical of crustaceans, sowbugs with 7 pairs of similar legs; 2 pairs of antennae, 1 tiny, the other readily visible; body dorsoventrally flattened (top to bottom).  With 2 prominent taillike appendages (uropoda) which project out from body on posterior or rear end.  Capable of rolling up into only a very loose ball when distrubed.

HABITS. Because water loss is such a problem, sowbugs are inactive during the day and remain hidden under objects to reduce moisture loss.  During the day, they can be found around buildings in such places as under trash, boards, rocks, flower pots, piles of grass clippings, flower-bed mulches, and other decaying vegetation.

     They occasionally enter buildings via door thresholds, especially homes with sliding-glass doors on the ground level.  Indoor invasion typically means that there is a large population immediately outside the building.  Usually they do not survive indoors for more than a couple of days unless there are moist conditions and a supply of food present.

     Sowbugs are scavengers and feed on decaying organic matter, usually plant material.  They cause no damage and are considered a nuisance pest indoors.  Outdoors, they occasionally injure young plants.

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