by You have probably found them under a rock, a lodge, or crawling around damp environments. You might have even felt disgusted by their appearance. You might have even wondered what on the planet Earth these creatures are or what’s the function of their existence. Well, let me tell you the importance of Oniscideas, more commonly known as woodlice.
These isopod crustaceans crawl around the soil feeding off decayed organic matter, consuming dead plant matter, and turning it into healthy soil. They act as catalyzers in the process of decomposition of the earth by processing the nutrients in their environment to make it accessible for plants. That’s why woodlice are so useful for gardening.
Even though their hard, rigid, exoskeletons might look dirty all the time, they possess beautiful colors under all that dirt, with strikes and patterns of blue, green, and gold among different individuals. I remember seeing blue, light grey, and gold woodlice under the same lodge. Another interesting fact about these arthropods is that they molt in halves. The first shed the back half of their exoskeleton, and days later they shed the front halve. So remember, they might look dirty, but they have their own form of beauty.
After all, if they look dirty it’s because they are doing the dirty job! Their fourteen limbs might also look disturbing when swirling around, especially when you find them laying on their backs. Might look scary for some people, but they aren’t dangerous at all. In fact, they protect our planet by removing heavy metals like lead and cadmium from the soil, preventing water resources from being contaminated.
So, next time you see woodlice around your backyard think twice before smashing them. They might be scary but at least they are not feet long like their giant aquatic cousins! You might wonder if they help you in any way, but please remember that they help the organisms who live in their environment. By helping one individual in the world you help the entire planet!
