As Winter deepens, little creatures in our gardens curl up and go to sleep.
They are the woodlice, maligned by many, appreciated by few, even though they have been harmlessly, importantly munching on decayed wood and leaves for 110 million years.
They exist in every continent apart from Antarctica, with over 3500 species worldwide, some even have 7 pairs of lungs. Despite common misconceptions of woodlice being insects, they are actually more related to crabs and lobsters. They’re classified as isopods, which means ‘equal feet’, and they’re the only creature of their type to have successfully colonised dry land.
Move over Eskimos with their 52 words for snow, in the UK, a list of over 176 common names for them has been collected: Monkey Pea, Chuggy Pig and Chisel Hog to name three!
They have even be used as a herbal medicine for loss of eye sight.
Woodlice are integral parts of our ecosystems here in the UK, contributing to nutrient cycling, decomposition, and overall health of gardens and natural environments.
You can find woodlice in damp and decaying environments. Your garden, with hidden corners under rocks, logs, and leaf litter, provides an ideal haven for many woodlice. They love these damp and dark environments due to the presence of decaying plant material, which is their main food source.
When woodlice eat decaying matter, whether it be fallen leaves, rotting wood, or decomposing vegetation, they play a crucial role in cleaning the garden. They chew decayed materials into smaller pieces, accelerating the decomposition process. This, therefore, returns nutrients into the soil faster, meaning plants have the nutrients necessary to grow, especially unestablished plants. Without woodlice, plants may lack access to the essential nutrients needed for growth and development.
Furthermore, woodlice are generally benign and don’t pose any threat to healthy plants. In fact, to ensure a healthy garden, woodlice should be encouraged due to their role in maintaining balance in the ecosystem. They also act as a food source for many other creatures, like foxes, owls and shrews, creating a delicate life cycle that sustains plants and other wildlife.
Woodlice’s own life cycle is also particularly interesting. It begins with egg fertilisation in spring, which females continue to carry in a pouch until they hatch and can survive on their own. The newly emerged woodlice, known as Mancas, continue to grow in the outside world, shedding their outer shells in a process called molting. By late summer they have transform into fully grown adults.
Other adaptations that woodlice have which make them unique include the small ‘tubes’ they have on their backs to aid in navigation, although some species use them to produce chemicals that deter predators. Another is that due to their ancestry in aquatic creatures, their gills are a reminder of their evolutionary history.
Here in the UK, we host a variety of woodlice, however here is a list of the ‘famous 5’ most common woodlouse species:
- Common pygmy woodlouse. Most abundant isopod in Britain. Very small, never longer than 5mm, and is a purple-red colour.
- Shiny woodlouse. Max 16mm. Usually grey with irregular light patches with (like the name) a glossy body.
- Striped woodlouse. Max length 11mm. Usually yellow or brownish in colour and has pale patches and a black head. Has a dark stripe along the back
- Rough woodlouse. Max 17mm. Usually grey and has a rough and non-shiny appearance. This species can have spotting of yellow, red, or orange.
- Common pill woodlouse. Curls itself into a tight ball when threatened, hence the name pill woodlouse. Usually grey and roundish.
Woodlice demonstrate a great display of adaptation, cooperation, and ecological balance. Despite their closest relatives being lobsters and crabs, and their history as marine creatures, they have adapted amazingly to living on land. It’s incredible to think that they play such an important role in nutrient recycling and decomposition despite our fear of them when we lift a pot up from the patio in Spring!
What to do in January
The biggest jobs are the pruning of deciduous plants like Roses, Wisteria and fruit trees.
The best place to go to learn proper pruning methods is a professional gardener, the RHS Pruning Manuel or Youtube!
Example- If you type in “Pruning a small apple tree” you will get all sorts of well meaning gardeners showing you what they do. Choose to listen to an expert though there are different options. Try RHS first. Also make sure the apple tree looks like your one as there are different types.
Also in January you can sow in your greenhouse all sorts of vegetables ready to be transplanted in Spring into your plot.
Plus you can start to force your Rhubarb by placing as big a pot as you can find over the heads.
Where to visit this January
If you want to walk off those extra Xmas calories you can take a trip up to Kew Gardens. They have such a huge range of trees even in the middle of winter there is so much to see. Plus you can hang out in the cafes or Tropical Greenhouse for a warm break. They also have after-dark tours. Or visit a local forest!
