health
‘They are such neat, busy little folk’: the unexpected superpowers of the common woodlouse
This detritivore – known by a range of colourful names – tidies up our world and can withstand toxic pollution
TL;DR
- Woodlice have over 300 regional names in Britain alone, reflecting a widespread fondness for them.
- They are ancient land colonizers, having transitioned from water to land approximately 500 million years ago.
- As detritivores, woodlice play a crucial role in decomposition by feeding on rotting plant matter and wood.
- Woodlice have the ability to withstand toxic pollution and can accumulate heavy metals within their bodies, aiding in environmental detoxification.
- A reader shared an anecdote where a bamboo slab, once heavy, became paper-light after a woodlouse colony consumed it, demonstrating their biodegrading capabilities.