Cochinillas de la humedad (Woodlouse) | Venezuela

joslud (74)modCCS Quality Hunterin CCS • 24 days ago (edited)

Woodlouse --- Armadillidium vulgare

I always thought that "woodlice" were insects, but that's not the case. They're not from the millipede family either. This small invertebrate is actually a crustacean, a family of crabs and lobsters.

The woodlice is a terrestrial crustacean that, although it lives in the wild, has adapted to living with humans in their homes, in those areas where humidity prevails in our homes.

Close Up


There, I found a group of about five specimens. I was watering the plants in the garden, and when I lifted a flowerpot, I saw them half-trapped in the flowing water that had formed a puddle. I immediately went to get my cell phone to take some photos. There was one that stood out because of its size and color, which I began to follow. In Venezuela, we know them as "woodlice." According to Wikipedia, in other American countries, they are given names such as: "Cochinillas de la humedad", "bichos bolita", "cochinitos" "chanchitos de tierra", "marranitos". "Woodlouse" or "pig-pigs" or "wood scale insects" (as they like to live under and inside old wood). See [1] y [2]

There, I found a group of about five specimens. I was watering the plants in the garden, and when I lifted a flowerpot, I saw them half-trapped in the flowing water that had formed a puddle. I immediately went to get my cell phone to take some photos.

There was one that stood out because of its size and color, which I began to follow. In Venezuela, we know them as "woodlice." According to Wikipedia, in other American countries, they are given names such as:

"Cochinillas de la humedad", "bichos bolita", "cochinitos" "chanchitos de tierra", "marranitos". "Woodlouse" or "pig-pigs" or "wood scale insects" (as they like to live under and inside old wood). See [1] y [2]

Habitat and behavior.


Here, at our house, I have placed them especially and in large numbers, under small and large flowerpots in areas of the garden and near the house. At night, it is common to see them enter the house, perhaps attracted by light or smells. They seek out the scents of rotting fruits and vegetables. Their body is protected by a kind of articulated shell, in several sections, which allows them, like lobsters and shrimp, to curl their tails. Woodlouse can curl their entire bodies into a small ball. This behavior serves as protection, as they remain within their exoskeleton and pass for dead.

Here, at our house, I have placed them especially and in large numbers, under small and large flowerpots in areas of the garden and near the house. At night, it is common to see them enter the house, perhaps attracted by light or smells. They seek out the scents of rotting fruits and vegetables.

Their body is protected by a kind of articulated shell, in several sections, which allows them, like lobsters and shrimp, to curl their tails. Woodlouse can curl their entire bodies into a small ball. This behavior serves as protection, as they remain within their exoskeleton and pass for dead.

Investigation


Following Wikipedia, I present the classificatory taxon: - Species: Armadillidium vulgare Genus: Oniscidea - Genus: Isopoda - Family: Armadillidiidae - Order: Malacostraca - Class: Crustacea - Phylum: Arthropoda

See post

Info:

Item	Description
Equipment:	Umidigi Cell Phone A7S Camera
Mode:	Macro Mode. Layer: 3:4
Author:	@joslud
Edition:	Lightroom
Location:	Outdoor
Date:	Fry, Sep/12/ 25
In Inaturalist.org	Coordenadas: 9.1524683333, -70.6941833333 Armadillidium vulgare by @joslud

See you soon

Sources

Images
- Images and screenshots are my property. Taken with my UMIDIGI phone. Also based on screenshots on Steemit.
- [1] Oniscidea
- [2] Woodlouse
- Qué son las cochinillas de la humedad