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Woodlice

Common Pill Woodlouce (Armadillidium vulgare): Large (2cm) grey temperate species. Hatchling lice are an ideal food for small or juvenile Newts and Toads.

Common Striped Woodlouce (Philoscia muscorum): Medium sized (11mm) light grey temperate species with a distinct dark line down its back. Loved by many Salamanders and Toads.

Common Shiny Woodlouce (Oniscus asellus): Large (16mm) light grey species with small white blotches and a shiny appearance. Suitable for use as a food for species that require a higher humidity.

Common Rough Woodlouce (Porcello scaber): Small grey-brown temperate species with white spots and 2 distinct tails. Again loved by many Salamanders and Toads.

Dwarf Tropical Woodlouce (Trichorhina tomentosa): Small white Central American Species (8mm). These are a nice soft-bodied louce loved by many tropical species of Salamander and Toad.

Common Rough Woodlouce (Porcellio scaber)

Dwarf Tropical Woodlouce (Trichorhina tomentosa)

Common Striped Woodlouce (Philoscia muscorum)

Common Shiny Woodlouce (Oniscus asellus)

Culturing Woodlice:

1: First you will need a medium sized plastic pot with a tight fitting lid such as a margarine tub or Tupperware.

2: Fill the tub to about 1/3 with a substrate of compost. This must be kept permanently moist, as if allowed to dry up the culture will die off.

3: Cover the substrate with a layer of dead leaves, this will provide your lice with both food and an a place to hide.

4: Place a small amount of potato peelings, carrot, or mushrooms on top of the leaves as an additional food source. Commercial Porcellio food is available from some mail order specialists but can prove expensive. The foodstuff over time will begin to grow moulds and fungi at this point replace with fresh.

5: Place pieces of bark, rock or slate on top of the leaves to provide hiding places.

6: Seed the container with a number of adult lice from your starter culture and close the lid firmly.

7: Store the culture in a dark area as Woodlice only breed in the dark.

8: Spray the culture at regular intervals to keep the substrate moist but not overly wet.

9: Woodlice take a long time to get established (2 months or more) but once established the culture will rapidly produce hundreds of hatchlings.

10: To use your culture simply lift up a piece of bark, rock or slate and shake over the vivarium.