Other common names: Pill bug, sowbug, woodlice, roly-poly, doodlebug
Order
Isopoda
Suborder
Oniscidea
Distribution
Found all over Australia
Identification
Slaters are the only terrestrial crustaceans that exist. They have seven thoracic segments, each bearing a pair of legs. They have six abdominal segments and a small head. They can roll into a ball.
Habitat
They are often found in areas that are dark, with high humidity and ground moisture so their waxless exoskeleton would not dry out, and so that predators would not find them.
Slater as pests
Slaters eat decaying plant matter and are important decomposers. However, sometimes they eat new roots, plant seedlings, leaves, and fruits that touch the soil. They also sometimes intrude homes, which makes them a nuisance.