As with the Millipedes and Centipedes, woodlice belong to the Phylum Arthropoda and I don't think that there is anybody who doesn't know what a woodlouse is...but boy!! do they have some colloquial names, these include; bibble-bugs, sow-bugs, cud-worms, tiggy-hogs, shoe-laces, sink-lice, slaters, and coffin cutters.

A total of 42 species of woodlice have been recorded from the British Isles, as far as I know, but no more than 29 of these can be considered native to these islands. Some of the others have been imported with plants and have become well established as Synanthropes (this is a name that means "with man", that is, we provide the ideal living conditions in our house, greenhouse, cafe and kitchens etc.), but obviously there will be a restriction with distribution. Many of our native species are confined to coastal habitats or to woodlands, and only six species can be regarded as garden animals. All woodlice are much more abundant on lime rich soils, than in other regions, as they need the lime for making their shells.

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